Some 150 Jewish leaders decry IDF soldier's destruction of Lebanese Jesus statue
The Jerusalem Post • • world
Key Points:
- Over 150 Jewish leaders from various denominations condemned an IDF soldier's destruction of a Jesus statue in Lebanon, calling it a desecration of God's name and apologizing to the global Christian community in an open letter.
- The letter emphasized that the act contradicts Jewish values, harms Jewish-Christian relations, and does not represent the majority of Israelis, urging moral clarity during times of conflict.
- Israel365 leaders and other rabbis highlighted the strategic damage to interfaith bonds, with some calling the incident "repulsive" and stressing the importance of respecting all faiths.
- The IDF confirmed the authenticity of the photograph, removed the soldier who damaged the statue and the one who photographed it from combat roles, and sentenced them to 30 days of military detention, with further disciplinary actions planned for others present.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the act, affirmed Israel's commitment to religious tolerance, and expressed regret for the hurt caused to Christians in Lebanon and worldwide.
