A viral international media frenzy accusing Binyamin residents of torching a church in Taybeh has been definitively exposed as a lie by the Binyamin Regional Council, proving the church was untouched and revealing Jewish shepherds fought the nearby fire.
The Binyamin Regional Council has forcefully refuted a modern-day blood libel that swept through international media, falsely claiming that residents had set fire to the Saint George Church in the village of Taybeh. This damaging fabrication, which caused significant harm to Israel’s public image and the Binyamin community, has been definitively debunked through irrefutable evidence, including video footage and direct communication with Ambassador Mike Huckabee.
Over the past week, serious, baseless accusations proliferated, disseminated by influencers and opinion leaders who blamed local Binyamin residents for arson without a shred of evidence. These false claims reached a vast global Christian audience, even prompting a visit and strong condemnation from U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who was initially misled by the widely circulated misinformation.
In a swift and decisive response, the Binyamin Regional Council’s foreign affairs media desk mobilized, producing a compelling video that unequivocally shows the church completely unharmed. This visual proof was further bolstered by an Israel Police statement confirming the church sustained no damage from a fire that occurred in nearby brush areas.
Governor Yisrael Ganz maintained close contact with Ambassador Huckabee, providing him with the factual truth. In a crucial turn, Ambassador Huckabee publicly corrected the record, clarifying that no church had been burned—a testament to his commitment to truth.
Adding insult to injury, the very footage initially used as “evidence” against the residents has now been revealed to show Jewish shepherds actively engaged in extinguishing the brush fire with their own firefighting tools.
Yisrael Ganz, Governor of the Binyamin Regional Council and Chairman of the Yesha Council, expressed profound gratitude: “I want to extend my deep thanks to Ambassador Mike Huckabee for his important clarification. He is a true friend, and I value his integrity and willingness to stand with us, not only in support, but in seeking the truth. His voice carries weight among Christian communities around the world, and his commitment to uncovering the facts is a powerful blow to those who seek to defame Israel and its citizens.”
Ganz unequivocally condemned the smear campaign: “The attempt to frame the brave residents of Binyamin with a modern blood libel has failed. Anti-Israel actors are working relentlessly to divide us from our Christian allies by spreading lies and fabricated accusations. But here in Binyamin, we will continue to stand firm. We will not allow the name of the communities in Judea and Samaria, or the name of the State of Israel, to be tarnished.”
Eliana Passentin, Director of the Binyamin Regional Council’s Foreign Desk, an archaeologist dedicated to interfaith respect, described her personal dismay: “I was troubled when many of my Christian friends reached out with concern. I went to Taybeh myself, filmed the church, and confirmed it was completely unharmed. The brush fire could not pass the church’s exterior garden stone walls.” She affirmed the council’s resolve: “We are determined to find whoever started the fire nearby. I deeply appreciate Ambassador Huckabee’s clarification, his integrity and friendship mean a great deal to us.”