Israel Defense Forces said it is investigating an Israeli soldier who was filmed and photographed smoking a cigarette and placing one in the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary in occupied southern Lebanon.
The IDF said Wednesday that they saw the 'incident gravely' and promised action against the soldier, according to The Times of Israel.
The head of Debel's congregation, Father Fadi Felfeli,told the BBC: 'Honestly, this issue really provoked us, especially after the apology regarding the cross.'
'It also shows that there are individuals within the [Israeli] army that lack ethics and values and are bigoted. This reflects a great deal of fanaticism,' he said.
Father Felfeli confirmed that the Virgin Mary statue was still intact and not broken, but he still called the action 'unethical.'
'They reflect extremism and intolerance that should not exist, especially toward a village that values peace and neutrality and is not involved in the war,' he said. 'The IDF respects freedom of religion and worship, as well as holy sites and religious symbols of all religions and communities,' the IDF said in a statement.
At least 2,715 people have been killed in Lebanon since start of the war on 2 March, according to the Lebanese health ministry.
The act was also condemned as 'disrespectful and outrageous behaviour' by the Catholic Church's representative in the Holy Land.
'We call on the Israeli government and the IDF to act and send a clear message that such behaviour is unacceptable, must not happen again, and that the case be handled with the utmost seriousness,' the Custodia Terrae Sanctae told Israel's Haaretz newspaper.
The Times of Israel said that an initial inquiry found the photo was taken in the Christian-majority village of Debel a few weeks ago, though it was only put online on Wednesday.
Source: International Business Times UK
