Two Israeli soldiers jailed for destroying a statue of Jesus in Lebanon
Two Israeli soldiers have been sentenced to 30 days in military prison for destroying a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon and taking photos of the incident. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they have also been relieved of wartime duty. The IDF said six other soldiers were present at the time of the incident, but did not prevent or report the incident. They have been summoned to an explanatory meeting and may face disciplinary action if necessary.
A photo circulated on social media on Sunday (April 19) showed an Israeli soldier hitting a statue of the crucified Jesus with a hammer-like object in the southern Lebanese town of Debre. The photo also shows the statue’s head being severed from the cross and being hit. Maroun Nassif, deputy head of the Debre municipality, described the incident as an insult to religious sentiment.
The incident sparked widespread criticism and led to an investigation. The IDF and soldiers described the behavior as “completely contrary to the values expected of the military.” In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was “shocked and saddened” by the incident and strongly condemned it.
In a statement on Tuesday (April 21), the Israel Defense Forces said the damaged statue had already been replaced in coordination with local residents. The new statue is made of metal and is mounted on a new cross. The organization expressed deep regret for the incident and promised to take steps to prevent such incidents in the future.
