An Israeli soldier is facing disciplinary action after a photo surfaced showing him placing a cigarette in the mouth of a Virgin Mary statue in the village of Debl.
Incident with the Virgin Mary Statue: Israeli Army Promises Punishment
The photograph of the Israeli soldier was released recently, but preliminary information suggests it was taken several weeks ago in Debl, a village near the Israeli border inhabited by Maronite Christians.
The Times of Israel reported that the Israeli army is treating the incident seriously, stating that the soldier’s behavior deviates from the values expected of soldiers. The soldier is to be disciplined, though the specific penalty has not been disclosed.
This is another case of Christian symbol desecration in the same village. In late April, another soldier destroyed a statue of Jesus in Debl. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned that incident, and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called it shameful, apologizing to the Christian community. The soldier who destroyed the statue was removed from combat service and sentenced to 30 days of arrest, a punishment also applied to the soldier who photographed the event.
Israel Appoints Envoy for Christian Relations
Following international criticism and reactions from Christian communities, Israel announced the appointment of a special envoy for relations with the Christian world on April 23.
The Israeli operation in southern Lebanon is ongoing. In early March, Hezbollah joined the war in Iran on Tehran’s side. Israel then began intensive actions against this group, which is supported and financed by Iran and remains outside the control of the Lebanese government.
A “yellow line” has been designated in southern Lebanon, covering the area occupied by Israeli forces from the border to the Litani River. According to military data, over 2,700 people have died in attacks since March 2, including 17 Israeli soldiers and one civilian working for the army.