Shin Bet Tracks Terrorists In Shul Arson

In less than twenty-four hours after it became clear that Palestinian terrorists have made attacks on battei knesiot and tashmishei kadusha part of their terror campaign, the Shin Bet and police have launched an investigation into the destruction of a beit knesset in the south Har Chevron area, where soldiers training nearby discovered that it was burned down in recent days with all the sifrei kodesh inside it.

Soldiers who were training in the Yatir Forest found the charred remains of a caravan that had been used as a beit knesset for local residents. Initial signs are that it was the work of terrorists.

Meanwhile, investigators are inclined to believe that Palestinian terrorists were the ones who set fire to a shul in Givat Sorek, next to the community of Carmei Tzur in Gush Etzion.

The structure was established last year in memory of the three teens murdered by Hamas – Naftali Frenkel, Gilad Shaer and Eyal Yifrach, Hy”d, in June 2014 – that was an impetus to Operation Protective Edge. According to Carmei Tzur officials, the shul is used daily. It was erected in view of the cave where the bodies of the three teens were found after a week-long search.

Congregants said that the Arabs placed the sefarim in a pile and set fire to them. Residents noted that Arabs have set fire to the shul in the past. The building sustained heavy damage, and many sefarim and siddurim – including a sefer Torah – were burned in the fire. IDF troops began hunting for the culprits, with the search centering on the village of Halhoul. No arrests have been made yet.

This article appeared in print on page 9 of the February 8th, 2016 edition of Hamodia.