Jewish Home MK Yinon Magal spoke to Arutz Sheva on Thursday, condemning the arson attack against a church in Tiberias. 

“I see this as a grave matter,” he said. “This is not just a very serious act but also a stupid one that harms our image worldwide.”

“We are not ISIS,” he added, referring to the brutal Islamic State terrorist organization.

Magal noted, however, that coverage of attacks on non-Jewish synagogues have received far more condemnations and press time than similar acts against Jewish institutions in Israel. 

“Having said that, I also expect to see Arab MKs and MKs from the Left when synagogues and Jewish cemeteries are desecrated,” he said. “We need to fight violence in Israeli society together.”

Sixteen individuals – apparently Jews from Samaria – were arrested over the arson, but at least one expert has noted that Muslim extremism may in fact be responsible for the arson attack.