Monitoring cell
An image of an Israeli soldier apparently hitting a statue of Jesus with a sledgehammer in southern Lebanon has prompted widespread condemnation after being widely shared online.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was “stunned and saddened”, external by what happened. Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, said: “We apologise for this incident and to every Christian whose feelings were hurt.”
Locals say the statue was on a crucifix outside a family home on the edge of Debel, one of the few villages where residents have remained during Israel’s war with Hezbollah.
The head of Debel’s congregation, Father Fadi Flaifel, told the BBC: “We totally reject the desecration of the cross, our sacred symbol, and all religious symbols.
“It goes against the declaration of human rights, and it doesn’t reflect civility.”
He claimed similar acts had happened before. The Israeli military confirmed that the image circulating on social media was genuine, and said it viewed the incident “with great severity and emphasises that the soldier’s conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops”.
“Appropriate measures” will be taken against those involved, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) added, saying it was working with the Christian community to “restore the statue to its place”.
Thousands of Israeli troops continue to occupy a wide area of southern Lebanon after a US-brokered ceasefire came into force between Israel and Lebanon on Friday. However, The soldier who desecrated a statue of Jesus Christ and the officer who took his picture have been found guilty. In addition to being sentenced to one month in prison, both soldiers have been recalled from the front.
65
