DEBEL-(MaraviPost)-Widespread condemnation has followed the emergence of a disturbing image showing an Israeli soldier apparently hitting a statue of Jesus with a sledgehammer in southern Lebanon.
The incident has sparked outrage among Christians and human rights groups, with many calling for accountability.
The image, which was taken in the Christian village of Debel, shows the soldier using a sledgehammer to strike the head of a statue of a crucified Jesus that had fallen off a cross.
The Israeli military has confirmed the authenticity of the image and has launched an investigation into the incident.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the act, saying it was “stunned and saddened” by the destruction of the Catholic religious icon.
“I condemn the act in the strongest terms,” Netanyahu said in a statement on X. “Military authorities are conducting a criminal probe of the matter and will take appropriately harsh disciplinary action against the offender”.
The Israeli military has also apologized for the incident, saying it was “wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops”. “The IDF views the incident with great severity and emphasizes that the soldier’s conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops,” the military said in a statement.
The incident has sparked concerns about the treatment of Christians in the region, with some pointing out that Israel is one of the few safe havens for Christians in the Middle East.
However, others have criticized the Israeli military’s actions, saying they are inconsistent with the country’s claims of respecting religious freedom.
The incident comes amid ongoing tensions between Israel and Lebanon, with a ceasefire agreement brokered by the US having been implemented last week.
The Israeli military has said it is working with the local community to restore the statue to its place.
The incident of an Israeli soldier smashing a Jesus statue in Lebanon has sparked widespread condemnation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed “harsh action” against the soldier, saying the act was “wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops”.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also condemned the incident, labeling it “grave and disgraceful” and apologizing to Christians who felt hurt.
The international community has also reacted strongly, with the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, calling for “swift, severe, & public consequences”.
The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land has expressed “profound indignation and unreserved condemnation” of the act, calling for immediate disciplinary action and accountability.
The incident has also sparked concerns about the treatment of Christians in the region, with some pointing out that Israel is one of the few safe havens for Christians in the Middle East.
However, others have criticized the Israeli military’s actions, saying they are inconsistent with the country’s claims of respecting religious freedom.
The current situation in Lebanon remains tense, with a ceasefire agreement brokered by the US having been implemented.
The Israeli military has said it is working with the local community to restore the statue to its place.