{"id":2600125,"date":"2026-05-07T19:37:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T23:37:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israeli-military-investigating-after-soldiers-picture-with-mary-statue-draws-outrage-from-catholic-officials\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T19:38:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T23:38:11","slug":"israeli-military-investigating-after-soldiers-picture-with-mary-statue-draws-outrage-from-catholic-officials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israeli-military-investigating-after-soldiers-picture-with-mary-statue-draws-outrage-from-catholic-officials\/","title":{"rendered":"Israeli Military Investigating After Soldier&#8217;s Picture with Mary Statue Draws Outrage from Catholic Officials"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fisraeli-military-investigating-after-soldiers-picture-with-mary-statue-draws-outrage-from-catholic-officials%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2600125&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>photos circulated on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-this-average-american-is-voting-for-donald-trump\/\" title=\"Why This Average American Is Voting for Donald Trump\">social media<\/a> showing an Israel Defense Forces soldier placing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/2022-men-of-the-year-crime-wave-heroes\/\" title=\"2022 Men of the Year: Crime Wave Heroes\">lit cigarette<\/a> in the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary in the Lebanese village of Debel. The incident was said to have occurred several weeks earlier and was reported publicly only after the photo was uploaded.  <\/p>\n<p>The IDF stated it would investigate \u201cwith utmost severity,\u201d saying the behaviour \u201cwholly deviates\u201d from expected conduct, and Lebanese catholic leaders condemned the act as evidence of intolerance and lack of ethics-particularly noting it followed a prior apology related to the destruction of a Christian statue.<\/p>\n<p>The article also references a related prior incident in Debel in which two IDF soldiers were reportedly sentenced to 30 days for destroying a statue of Jesus. it adds that IDF leadership has warned that such actions reflect a broader erosion of discipline and values.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>In the second recent documented incident of an Israel Defense Forces soldier appearing to show contempt for Lebanon\u2019s Christians, photos of a soldier putting a cigarette to the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary made a social media splash on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>The photo was taken in the village of Debel, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpost.com\/christianworld\/article-895361\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Jerusalem Post<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The IDF said the incident took place several weeks ago, but the photo was uploaded to social media on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">IDF soldier seen placing cigarette Virgin Mary statue\u2019s mouth in Lebanese village <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/BZmzaWr9LA\">https:\/\/t.co\/BZmzaWr9LA<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The Times of Israel (@TimesofIsrael) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TimesofIsrael\/status\/2052115703247913463?\">May 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Debel was the same village in which another IDF soldier was photographed taking a sledgehammer to a statue of Jesus on a cross, as noted by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cddpygv2j90o\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BBC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The IDF said it would investigate with \u201cutmost severity\u201d and that the incident \u201ccompletely deviates from the values expected of its personnel.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Fadi Felfeli, leader of the local congregation of Lebanese Catholics, said, \u201cHonestly, this issue really provoked us, especially after the apology regarding the cross.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt also shows that there are individuals within the [Israeli] army that lack ethics and values and are bigoted. This reflects a great deal of fanaticism,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">JUST IN: The Israeli military has sentenced two soldiers to just 30 days in jail after they destroyed a statue of Jesus in a Christian village in southern Lebanon.<\/p>\n<p>One soldier was caught on camera swinging a sledgehammer straight at the head of the statue, which had fallen off\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/khw4JBwu4H\">pic.twitter.com\/khw4JBwu4H<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jack (@jackunheard) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jackunheard\/status\/2046605089805087056?\">April 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Actions such as putting the cigarette in the mouth of the statue he said was not <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >damaged \u201creflect extremism<\/a> and intolerance that should not exist, especially toward a village that values peace and neutrality and is not involved in the war,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>The act was also condemned as \u201cdisrespectful and outrageous behaviour\u201d by the Roman Catholic Church\u2019s representative in the Holy Land.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe call on the Israeli government and the IDF to act and send a clear message that such behaviour is unacceptable, must not happen again, and that the case be handled with the utmost seriousness,\u201d the Custodia Terrae Sanctae said.<\/p>\n<p>The IDF previously said that the soldier who destroyed the statue of Jesus and the one who photographed it were sent to a military prison for 30 days.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe IDF respects freedom of religion and worship, as well as holy sites and religious symbols of all religions and communities,\u201d Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said.<\/p>\n<p>After the sledgehammer incident, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir told senior officers that values need to be restored on the front lines, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timesofisrael.com\/idf-chief-slams-unethical-incidents-by-soldiers-says-discipline-eroded-in-recent-wars\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Times of Israel<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe unethical incidents we have seen are the product of a long and complex period, but that does not justify them. We must not compromise on our values. The erosion of norms could be no less dangerous than operational threats,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>He showed commanders a photo of a soldier whose patch read, \u201cStop the hatred. It is time for violence.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs this the army you want? If there is even one person who thinks this reflects IDF values, stand up now. This is not a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/china-threatens-nuclear-war-over-u-s-calls-for-probe-into-origins-of-covid-19\/\" title=\"China threatens nuclear war over U.S. calls for probe into origins of COVID-19\">minor incident<\/a>. This is a rebellion against IDF values,\u201d Zamir added.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/big-tech-to-ban-parler-over-lack-of-content-moderation\/\" title=\"Big tech to ban Parler over lack of content moderation\">protects freedom<\/a>, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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