Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of Israel’s most loyal defenders in Congress, is demanding answers from the Israeli government following reports that Jewish extremists set fire to the grounds of a historic 5th-century Christian church in the West Bank. But new findings out of Israel suggest the accusations may not be so clear-cut.

“This is incredibly upsetting,” Graham said. “I’m sending a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office to get to the bottom of this. If settlers are responsible, they must be punished. This kind of violence has to stop.”

The incident, which occurred near the ruins of the Church of St. George in Taybeh, initially drew outrage from senior church leaders and diplomats. They claimed settlers had deliberately torched vegetation surrounding the church and a nearby cemetery.

But an investigation by Tazpit Press Service (TPS-IL) has uncovered contradictions in the allegations. Video evidence shows Jewish teens arriving with firefighting tools, attempting to extinguish the blaze. One youth, accused of arson online, was seen using a standard brush-fire suppression device. He said he was tending sheep nearby when the fire broke out.

The Israeli police confirmed the case remains under investigation. Meanwhile, advocacy groups warn of growing politicization. “Today it’s not ‘the Jew’—it’s ‘the settler,’” said Amit Barak, an advocate for Christian-Jewish relations in Israel.

Despite the controversy, Graham reaffirmed his support for Israel, calling it a model of religious freedom. “Christians and Muslims can worship freely in Jerusalem,” he said. “It’s a diverse nation.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)