Israel’s military said it is investigating an Israeli soldier after a photo circulated showing him smoking while placing another cigarette in the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon.
The image was taken in the Christian village of Debel, an area in occupied southern Lebanon where a separate incident involving Israeli soldiers smashing a Jesus statue also sparked international outrage. The Israel Defense Forces said it was treating the latest incident seriously as well.
The military said it viewed the case with "utmost severity" and that the soldier’s conduct "completely deviates from the values expected of its personnel." IDF spokesperson Lt Col Nadav Shoshani said the photo was taken several weeks ago and that "command measures" would be imposed based on the outcome of the military’s review: "The IDF respects freedom of religion and worship, as well as holy sites and religious symbols of all religions and communities," he said.
The latest image also drew criticism from local Christian leaders in Lebanon. The head of Debel’s congregation, Father Fadi Felfeli, told the BBC: "Honestly, this issue really provoked us, especially after the apology regarding the cross. It also shows that there are individuals within the [Israeli] army that lack ethics and values and are bigoted. This reflects a great deal of fanaticism."
Felfeli said the Virgin Mary statue remained intact, but called the soldier’s behavior "unethical." He added, "They reflect extremism and intolerance that should not exist, especially toward a village that values peace and neutrality and is not involved in the war." The Roman Catholic Church’s representative in the Holy Land also condemned the act as "disrespectful and outrageous behaviour."
"We call on the Israeli government and the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] to act and send a clear message that such behaviour is unacceptable, must not happen again, and that the case be handled with the utmost seriousness," the Custodia Terrae Sanctae told Haaretz.
The incident follows a separate case involving two Israeli soldiers who were disciplined after one was photographed using a sledgehammer to damage a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon while another filmed the act. The image circulated widely on social media and drew backlash from Christian communities internationally.
The two Israeli soldiers were lightly disciplined following an internal investigation, with the Israel Defense Forces saying both soldiers were removed from combat duty and sentenced to 30 days in military prison. The IDF said the findings determined that “the soldiers’ conduct completely deviated from IDF orders and values”.
The image was taken in the Christian village of Debel, an area in occupied southern Lebanon where a separate incident involving Israeli soldiers smashing a Jesus statue also sparked international outrage. The Israel Defense Forces said it was treating the latest incident seriously as well.
The military said it viewed the case with "utmost severity" and that the soldier’s conduct "completely deviates from the values expected of its personnel." IDF spokesperson Lt Col Nadav Shoshani said the photo was taken several weeks ago and that "command measures" would be imposed based on the outcome of the military’s review: "The IDF respects freedom of religion and worship, as well as holy sites and religious symbols of all religions and communities," he said.
The latest image also drew criticism from local Christian leaders in Lebanon. The head of Debel’s congregation, Father Fadi Felfeli, told the BBC: "Honestly, this issue really provoked us, especially after the apology regarding the cross. It also shows that there are individuals within the [Israeli] army that lack ethics and values and are bigoted. This reflects a great deal of fanaticism."
Felfeli said the Virgin Mary statue remained intact, but called the soldier’s behavior "unethical." He added, "They reflect extremism and intolerance that should not exist, especially toward a village that values peace and neutrality and is not involved in the war." The Roman Catholic Church’s representative in the Holy Land also condemned the act as "disrespectful and outrageous behaviour."
"We call on the Israeli government and the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] to act and send a clear message that such behaviour is unacceptable, must not happen again, and that the case be handled with the utmost seriousness," the Custodia Terrae Sanctae told Haaretz.
The incident follows a separate case involving two Israeli soldiers who were disciplined after one was photographed using a sledgehammer to damage a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon while another filmed the act. The image circulated widely on social media and drew backlash from Christian communities internationally.
The two Israeli soldiers were lightly disciplined following an internal investigation, with the Israel Defense Forces saying both soldiers were removed from combat duty and sentenced to 30 days in military prison. The IDF said the findings determined that “the soldiers’ conduct completely deviated from IDF orders and values”.
