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Jerusalem Latin cleric condemns destruction of Jesus statue by Israeli soldier

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Bishop William Shomali. [Wikipedia]

William Shomali, an auxiliary bishop for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, condemned Monday the destruction of a statue of Jesus Christ by an Israeli soldier in southern Lebanon, calling it a “shameful and disgraceful act,” Anadolu reports.

Speaking to Anadolu, Shomali denounced the incident a day after the Israeli army acknowledged that one of its soldiers had smashed the statue in the town of Debel in Nabatieh province.

The acknowledgement followed a report by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which said Sunday that a soldier had destroyed a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon.

Shomali said the act is “shameful, disgraceful, and constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law and a sign of disrespect for religions.”

“What we saw is contempt for religions. It is absolutely unacceptable and must not be allowed,” he said.

Responding to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s condemnation of the incident, Shomali said that “in my view, the killing of innocent civilians and children in Lebanon is more serious.”

READ: Israeli soldier smashes statue of Christ in southern Lebanon

“The breaking of the cross is not the only tragedy in Lebanon. Innocent people are dying every day as a result of this war, which must stop,” he added.

Netanyahu condemned the incident early Monday, claiming that Israel “respects all religions” at a time when Tel Aviv is attacking several countries in the region, resulting in deaths and injuries among civilians.

Since March 2, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed 2,294 people, wounded 7,544, and displaced more than 1 million, according to official figures.

US President Donald Trump announced Thursday a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon following calls with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli officials.

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