Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday condemned “in the strongest terms” the incident in which an Israeli soldier allegedly hit a statue of Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon.In a post on the website
He watches
Christians explode after an Israeli soldier hits a statue of Jesus with a sledgehammer; Under fire, the IDF launched a probe
Read also | “It offends our religious feelings”: A photo of an Israeli soldier hitting a statue of Jesus in Lebanon sparks angerHe added: “Israel, as a Jewish state, cherishes and supports the Jewish values of tolerance and mutual respect between Jews and worshipers of all faiths.
All religions flourish in our land, and we look to the people of all religions as equals in building our society and region.”
Netanyahu also said: “While Christians in Syria and Lebanon are being slaughtered by Muslims, the Christian population in Israel is thriving unlike anywhere else in the Middle East. Israel is the only country in the region where the Christian population and standard of living is growing. Israel is the only place in the Middle East that is committed to freedom of worship for all.
We express our regret for the incident and for any harm it caused to believers in Lebanon and around the world.
“The image, which was widely circulated on social media, appears to show a soldier using a hammer or similar tool to hit the head of a crucified Jesus statue that had been dislodged from its cross.Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also condemned the incident, describing it as “dangerous and disgraceful.” In a post on the X website, he said that this act “completely contradicts our values,” and stressed that Israel respects all religions and their sacred symbols. He also praised the Israeli army for condemning the act and opening an investigation.
