An Israel Defence Forces (IDF) soldier was photographed placing a cigarette into the mouth of a Virgin Mary statue in Debel, a Christian village in southern Lebanon that has now been the site of three documented incidents of Israeli troops showing contempt for civilian and religious property in less than a month.
The photographsurfaced online on 6 May, though the IDF said an initial inquiry found it was taken several weeks earlier. The image shows the soldier smoking while holding another cigarette up to the statue's mouth.
📸 Israeli soldier desecrating a Virgin Mary statue by placing a cigarette in its mouth in southern Lebanon.pic.twitter.com/tD1xiVCnQn
Debel, a Maronite Christian village roughly 5 kilometres (3.2 miles) from the Israeli border, was also wherea soldier smashed a statue of Jesus with a sledgehammeron 19 April, drawing condemnation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Christian leaders worldwide. That soldier and a second soldier who filmed the act were removed from combat duty and sentenced to 30 days in military prison. Six other soldiers who failed to stop or report the act were summoned for disciplinary discussions.
A photo circulating widely on social media appears to show a soldier in IDF uniform using a sledgehammer to strike and damage a large crucifix/statue of Jesus Christ in the predominantly Maronite Christian village of Debel in southern LebanonThe Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has…pic.twitter.com/u2K4VnKvxE
Days later, footage aired by Lebanese media showed military excavators destroying solar panels in the same village. Those panels provided electricity to homes and powered the local water supply for hundreds of residents who had remained in the village with Israel's permission. That incident remains under investigation.
Israel continues to destroy civilian infrastructure as shown in this video, which captures the Israeli army destroying solar panels in southern Lebanon.Amnesty International has previously documented extensive destruction by the Israeli military along Lebanon’s border before…pic.twitter.com/yXTTvtzlXT
IDF spokesperson Lt Col Nadav Shoshani said the military 'views the incident with utmost severity and emphasises that the conduct of the soldier completely deviates from the values expected of its personnel.' Heconfirmedthat 'command measures' would follow the investigation.
The IDF views the incident with utmost severity and emphasizes that the conduct of the soldier completely deviates from the values expected of its personnel.Following an initial review, the image in question was taken several weeks ago. The incident will be investigated, and…
The IDF also said it 'respects freedom of religion and worship, as well as holy sites and religious symbols of all religions and communities.' But the repeated nature of the incidents in Debel raises questions about whether those stated values are reaching troops on the ground.
Source: International Business Times UK
