Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly condemned the act of an Israeli soldier who vandalized a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military confirmed the authenticity of a widely circulated photo showing a soldier smashing the religious icon with a sledgehammer. Netanyahu stated the soldier will face harsh disciplinary action, emphasizing Israel's commitment to religious tolerance.
The incident occurred in Debel, a Christian village near the Israeli border. The defacement also triggered a public dispute on X between Israeli officials and Poland's Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski, who criticized the IDF while Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar apologized for the soldier's actions.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also called for swift and severe consequences for the soldier's actions. The incident risks escalating tensions between Israel and Lebanon amid a fragile ceasefire. Lebanon's Christian population, a significant minority, has often been caught in the crossfire of regional conflicts.
This act follows a series of diplomatic incidents involving religious sites in the region, including restrictions on religious leaders accessing holy sites in Jerusalem and the reported killing of a Maronite priest by an Israeli tank.