From the Liveblog of
Monday, April 20, 2026
FM Sa’ar calls soldier’s smashing of Jesus statue in Lebanon ‘shameful’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleForeign Minister Gideon Sa’ar says an IDF soldier’s damaging of a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon is a “shameful action” and apologizes for the incident.
An image shared on social media yesterday by a Lebanese journalist and authenticated by the IDF showed the soldier smashing a statue of Jesus with a sledgehammer.
“The damaging of a Christian religious symbol by an IDF soldier in southern Lebanon is grave and disgraceful. I commend the IDF for its statement, for condemning the incident, and for conducting an investigation into the matter,” Sa’ar writes on X.
“I’m confident that the necessary strict measures will be taken against whoever carried out this ugly act. This shameful action is completely contrary to our values. Israel is a country that respects the different religions and their sacred symbols, and upholds tolerance and respect among faiths. We apologize for this incident and to every Christian whose feelings were hurt,” he adds.
The damaging of a Christian religious symbol by an IDF soldier in southern Lebanon is grave and disgraceful.
I commend the IDF for its statement,
for condemning the incident, and for conducting an investigation into the matter. I’m confident that the necessary strict measures…— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) April 20, 2026
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