A major fire resulted in widespread destruction and damage in the B’Tselem Human Rights Organization office in Yerushalayim located in the Major Chaim area of the capital. Fire inspectors have announced the blaze appears to have been an act of arson.

There was one person on the fourth floor when the fire erupted and B”H his only sustained light injuries, transported to Shaare Zedek Hospital for treatment of light smoke inhalation. The B’Tselem office is located on the first floor of the building but the blaze spread rapidly. The fire was declared under control on Sunday night the eve of Rosh Chodesh Shevat close to 23:00.

Also located on the first floor of the building are the Israel Airports Authority as well as Hand-to-Hand, the organization that backs the Bilingual School in the capital that was targeted by arsonists in 2015. The Jewish arsonists in that case were charged, tried and found guilty, and sentenced to prison terms.
In its official statement, B’Tselem officials are not jumping to conclusions and while some are already suspecting a price tag attack, B’Tselem is refraining from pointing an accusing finger in any direction pending the report from fire investigators.

The B’Tselem statement did add that if it is determined to be arson, one cannot turn a blind eye to the “wave of government incitement and smear campaigns against Israel’s human rights organizations with an emphasis on B’Tselem”. The organization’s officials’ assure the public the blaze will not prevent activists from continuing “to document and expose human rights violations under the [Israeli] occupation”.

YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)