Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday condemned an incident in which an Israeli soldier damaged a Jesus statue in southern Lebanon, stressing that the act runs counter to Israel’s values and will be investigated.
In a statement posted on X, Netanyahu said he was “stunned and saddened” by the incident, which he condemned “in the strongest terms.”
“Yesterday, like the overwhelming majority of Israelis, I was stunned and saddened to learn that an IDF soldier damaged a Catholic religious icon in southern Lebanon. I condemn the act in the strongest terms,” Netanyahu said.
He added that military authorities are conducting a criminal probe and would take “appropriately harsh disciplinary action” against the individual responsible.
An image of an Israeli soldier hitting a statue of Jesus Christ in south Lebanon was widely circulated on social media. The image appears to show an Israeli soldier using a sledgehammer to strike the head on a statue of a crucified Jesus that had fallen off a cross.
“As the Jewish state, Israel cherishes and upholds the Jewish values of tolerance and mutual respect between Jews and worshippers of all faiths,” Netanyahu said.
“All religions flourish in our land and we view members of all faiths as equals in building our society and region.”
He also expressed regret over the incident, saying Israel apologizes “for any hurt this has caused to believers in Lebanon and around the world.”
Separately, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described the act as “grave and disgraceful,” welcoming the Israeli army for condemning the incident and launching an investigation.
“The damaging of a Christian religious symbol by an IDF soldier in southern Lebanon is grave and disgraceful,” Saar said. “This shameful action is completely contrary to our values.”
“I’m confident that the necessary strict measures will be taken against whoever carried out this ugly act,” he added.
Israel’s army said in a post on its official X account on Monday that it viewed the incident with “great severity,” adding that the “soldier’s conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops.”
The statements come amid ongoing tensions along Israel’s northern front, where incidents in southern Lebanon continue to draw scrutiny.
@Alarabiya News
