Israeli Soldier Smashes Jesus Statue with Hammer... Jewish Leaders Apologize for "Blasphemy"

Israeli Soldier's Hammer Attack on Jesus Statue Sparks Outrage

Jewish Leaders Apologize for "Hateful Act"

The act of an Israeli soldier destroying a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon has sparked international outrage, with Jewish leaders worldwide strongly condemning the incident and issuing an official apology.

Jewish Leaders Apologize for 'Destruction of Jesus Statue'

An Israeli soldier striking the statue of Jesus with a hammer. X (formerly Twitter)

According to local media outlets such as the Times of Israel on April 21 (local time), more than 150 Jewish leaders from around the world jointly signed an open letter condemning the incident in which an Israeli soldier destroyed a statue of Jesus. This letter campaign was led by Israel365 Action, an Israeli organization aimed at strengthening bonds between the Evangelical Christian and Jewish communities. Leaders representing Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform branches of Judaism all participated in the statement.

In their letter, the leaders denounced the act as "a desecration of God’s name (blasphemy) and a vile betrayal of Jewish values." They added, "As Jewish leaders, we apologize to the Christian community for this hateful act," and reaffirmed, "our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the sanctity of all holy sites and sacred symbols."

Israeli Military: "We Take This Incident Very Seriously"

Previously, a photo of an Israeli soldier smashing the head of a statue of Jesus with a hammer during operations in southern Lebanon spread rapidly on social media, sparking controversy. It was reported that the photo was directly posted on social media by Yunis Tirawi, a Palestinian independent journalist active in Lebanon.

Upon learning of the incident, the Israeli military announced via X (formerly Twitter), "We take this incident very seriously," adding, "This behavior is totally inconsistent with the values of the Israel Defense Forces." The military further stated, "The Northern Command is investigating this incident and it is being handled through the chain of command," promising appropriate action against those involved. As the controversy continued, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly condemned the destruction of the religious artifact, and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also issued an official apology.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military is reportedly working with the local community to restore the damaged statue of Jesus.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.