Zero tolerance for church arsonists

This week's torching of the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes is an attack on a precious Christian landmark.

But it has also hurt Israel's image, because the Jewish state failed to stop the arsonists in their track. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed Shin Bet security agency chief Yoram Cohen to use the resources at his disposal to track down the perpetrators. Netanyahu, it appears, believes the arsonists belong to a school system in which democracy is not a major part of the curriculum. The graffiti they spray-painted -- "False idols will be utterly cut off" --- is taken from the Aleinu prayer Jews recite several times a day. It can provide clues as to their whereabouts.

The church was founded in the fourth century C.E. It was later expanded, only to be destroyed by the Sasanian Empire in the seventh century. The site's excavation in 1932 was followed by a large-scale restoration effort, and in the early 1980s it became the magnificent site it is today. According to Christian tradition, Jesus prayed and taught in nearby Capernaum after he left Nazareth. Archaeologist Michael Avi-Yonah disputed this claim, based on the coins found in excavations. This debate sparked even more interest among the many tourists who flock to the area (including a German group that was supposed to arrive there Thursday).

Christian priests lamented Thursday that Christian sites have been repeatedly targeted over the past several years, among them the Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem. The vandals usually avoid punishment, resulting in more brazen attacks. The Shin Bet must act forcefully. If it refuses to engage in meticulous intelligence gathering, it will not see results. A miracle is unlikely to recur at Tabgha in 2015.

The Jewish people and the Roman Catholic Church have a troubled history, laden with blood libels, torched buildings and torn parchments. Jews have often begrudged Pope Pius XII for not addressing the plight of the Jews during the Holocaust. In 1993, the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel signed the first Oslo Accord. The peace process paved the way for talks between then-Israeli Ambassador to Italy Avi Pazner and the Holy See, culminating with a formal recognition of the Jewish state on Dec. 30, 1993. A year later, then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat received the Nobel Peace Prize.

Israel-Vatican relations have had their ups and downs. The current pope, Francis, has befriended many Jews. But the relations have gone through a rough patch as of late. In May, the Vatican and the Palestinian Authority finalized a treaty that includes a recognition of "Palestine." This was the pope's way of expressing displeasure with Jerusalem's policies. (He has since put the treaty on the back burner, perhaps because of the ensuing Israeli condemnation.)

Israel-Vatican relations are essential for the Jewish state and the Jewish Diaspora. This is all the more true in light of the violent manifestations of radical Islam, which threatens both Jews and Christians. Tolerance toward other faiths is part the Jewish credo, owing to our desire to see our holy sites preserved. Interior Minister Silvan Shalom acted wisely Thursday when he said Israel would help pay for the cleanup efforts and reparations at Tabgha.

But this is only the first step. Israel must then find the culprits and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.

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