Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) officials expressed outrage during an interview with Israel Radio’s Reshet Bet as they described the “extensive damage” to the Hamat Tiveria Park, especially the shul which dates back to the Byzantine period.

Dina Avshalom Gor, a senior archaeologist for the IAA calls the attack “brutal vandalism for the sake of destruction” while Israel Radio correspondent Guy Kotev explained the tiled floor, itself an antiquity “to put it mildly” was significantly damaged along with the aaron kodesh and other areas of the shul. Graffiti was written in Hebrew and some targeted senior IAA officials, leading police and IAA officials to suspect extremist elements among the chareidi tzibur that have been protesting ongoing construction in Tiveria on a new hotel.

Earlier this month Gavaad Eida Chareidis Shlita traveled to Tiveria to take part in tefilos and a peaceful protest, seeking to show the significance of the protest actions by personally participating.

Asra Kadisha first tried the judicial system, but failed in efforts to obtain a court order to halt the construction of the Boutique Hotel on Alchadif Street in Tiveria,  which rabbonim insist is being construction on the ruins of kevarim R”L.

YWN-ISRAEL reported in March 2012 that the hotel is being built by a son of Tiveria Mayor Zohar Oved.

Due to the Asra Kadisha protests and pashkavilim against the construction in chareidi areas, IAA officials are pointing a finger of suspicion at chareidi vandals. An investigation has been launched. IAA experts place the damage from the attack in the millions of NIS.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)