Israeli Foreign Ministry formally apologizes to Christians for damaging a statue of Jesus Christ in Lebanon

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed official apologies to the Christian community in connection with the incident in southern Lebanon, where an Israeli soldier damaged a statue of Jesus Christ. The head of the ministry called the soldier’s actions «shameful» and emphasized that they completely contradict the values of the Jewish state, which respects religious shrines of all faiths.

According to TASS, the incident took place in the Lebanese settlement of Dibel. The reason for the international outcry was the footage published in the media, which depicts the moment of defacing a religious symbol by a soldier of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). In an official statement, Gideon Sa’ar said that damaging the Christian symbol was a «grave and shameful act» and emphasized Israel’s commitment to tolerance and mutual respect.

The IDF Command promptly confirmed the identity of the perpetrator and announced the opening of an internal investigation. Army officials assured that those responsible will be held accountable in accordance with the law. «We apologize for this incident to every Christian whose feelings were hurt,» — summarized the Foreign Minister, reaffirming Israel’s status as a state that supports interfaith peace.

Recall, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched an official investigation into the soldier who damaged the statue of Jesus Christ in the Lebanese village of Debel. The incident drew sharp condemnation from both local authorities and the Israeli command, which promised to restore the shrine and bring the perpetrators to justice amid ongoing tensions in the region.