A church in Galilee, northern Israel, which Christians believe is on the site of the Transfiguration has been vandalised and robbed.

Chalices were stolen, icons were damaged and money was taken from a donations box in the incident yesterday at the Basilica of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor.

The motive for Monday's incident is believed by church officials to have been robbery and not Jewish extremism, which has been blamed for previous vandalism at Christian sites in Israel, according to Wadie Abunassar, a spokesman for bishops in the Holy Land.

Abunassar could not say how many chalices were stolen from the church or how much money from the donation box had been taken. Communion bread had also reportedly been thrown on the ground.

Abunassar said that no graffiti was daubed on the church as usually occurs with vandalism by extremists.

A report has been made with police.

The church marks the spot where Christians believe Jesus became radiant and spoke with Moses and Elijah (as described in Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9: 2-8 and Luke 9:28-36).

Mount Tabor, in Lower Galilee, is not mentioned by name in the New Testament but is referred to in the Old Testament as a sacred mountain and a place of worship.