Posted on 04/24/2026 5:50:44 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
Israel’s military removed two soldiers from combat duty and placed them in military detention for 30 days after they destroyed the town’s crucifix. The social media picture of an Israeli soldier taking the blunt side of an axe to a fallen sculpture of Jesus on the cross drew worldwide condemnation and apologies from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni thanked the Italian soldiers, saying: “I thank Commander Diodato Abagnara and the entire Italian contingent of UNIFIL for their decision to donate a new crucifix to the Lebanese village of Debel.”
One of the Lebanese women, Alice Hajj, posted on Facebook: “Hallelujah … JESUS will never leave us, we are a people who believe in him and live in him every moment in our lives.”
“We believe that God, in his divine power, has put Debel on the world map to protect it, to hear its voice, and to remind the world that faith is never defeated, no matter how dark it gets,” said one townperson, who is not named.
“He who destroyed the cross did not realize its meaning. … After the cross comes the resurrection. What some thought is weakness has become our strength. The cross was and will remain our protector, our hope and the sign of our salvation,” the person said.
(Excerpt) Read more at osvnews.com ...
“We are the sons of peace and sons of forgiveness; like Jesus said when he was being crucified, ‘God forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.’ ” - Father Felefli, CNN
✨Ping 🕊️
“Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni thanked the Italian soldiers, saying: “I thank Commander Diodato Abagnara and the entire Italian contingent of UNIFIL for their decision to donate a new crucifix to the Lebanese village of Debel.””
Good for these Italian soldiers!
That clarifies some earlier reports.
The Lebanese folks didn’t reject the crucifix the Israeli’s offered but instead placed it in a position of honor inside the church, and apparently are preferring for outside the more realistic style given by the Italians that matches the one that was destroyed.
Thumbs up to both militaries that offered replacements!
This highlights the difference between Israelis and mohammedans ... The Israelis admitted they effed up, dealt appropriately with the individuals who offended, and made amends. Hamastards wouldn’t do that ...
Israel made a decent, previous gesture with the small crucifix, but there are still the widely-circulated videos of IDF soldiers (still not denied by the Israeli government) mocking Catholic rites in Catholic churches in Lebanon.
The Israeli anti-Christian hate act was monstrous and profoundly offensive
By Adam Parsons, Skynews Middle East correspondent
The Israeli military, not to mention the Israeli government, knew that justice had to be swift and visible.
Now two soldiers have been imprisoned for a paltry 30 days - one for smashing the statue,
the other one for filming the attack - and six others will be disciplined for failing to intervene.
The IDF has reiterated its regret over the attack, saying that its soldier had “deviated from the orders values” of the military.
The problem for Israel was threefold.
Firstly, the attack was clearly a monstrous act - desecrating a statue of Jesus by an IDF soldier sledge hammering its head.
Secondly, it was caught on camera.
Thirdly that image, capturing the very millisecond when the sledgehammer hit the statue’s head, was seen around the world.
And it looked appalling.
The Israeli government has a pretty thick skin. It is well accustomed to criticism of its policies and rhetoric.
But this was something else - grotesque behavior from Jewish soldiers whose conduct has often been questioned.
Clearly, smashing a statue in a Lebanese Christian’s backyard shrine to Jesus does not have the same devastating consequences as killing Christian civilians in Gaza or Lebanon.
But when the latter happens, the IDF can always blame the operational demands of its wars against Hamas or Hezbollah.
Many may disagree, but “the fog of war” offers convenient cover.
This Lebanese hammering incident, and the image that came from it, had no such solution.
There is nothing anyone could have said that would have excused this.
It looked monstrous and profoundly offensive, precisely because that is exactly what it was.
The fallout for “US taxpayer-dependent Israel” is the IDF sledge hammering Christ on the cross signifies that Israelis have had wild thoughts about obliterating any reminders of the reason Jesus Christ was on that cross.
Unfortunately for Israel, there are widely-circulated videos of IDF
soldiers mocking Catholic rites in Lebanon’s Catholic churches.
The Holy Family Catholic Church compound in Gaza City, was used to shelter hundreds of civilians from Israeli violence. Three civilians, including a woman and the church janitor, were killed, and multiple others were injured.
The Israeli attack, reported as a direct tank strike on the compound, destroyed key facilities such as water tanks and solar panels. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) expressed regret... suggesting that fragments from a shell fired during operational activity in the area hit the church “mistakenly”.
The Catholic compound was previously targeted and damaged, including an Israeli incident in December 2023 where church women were killed by an Israeli sniper. CNN
The Israeli strike was condemned by Catholic church officials, and the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and other church leaders visited the site to express solidarity. CNN
As midterms approach, Americans are paying $100 and more per tankful, after
Netanyahu mercilessly dragged Trump into the bottomless Mideast quagmire.
Even higher gas prices are expected and Trump wants $200 billion more tax
dollars to sink deeper into the Mideast mess, on top of the billions already spent.
Reports from late March/early April 2026 noted that Democrats had grabbed more seats and flipped 30 state legislative seats from Republican control. While Democrats were winning seats, Netanyahu was kissing up bigtime as Trump went to Jerusalem to receive the coveted “Israel Prize.”
Mmmmmm. Did Trump ever consider why Netanyahu latched onto him........and wont let go?
The Jewish Democratic Council of America tells us supporters see Trump’s actions as “strong leadership,” others suggest Trump’s Mideast approach has befouled the “Israeli-US special relationship.”
This dynamic suggests that while Trump continues to leverage his “pro-Israel” branding, his actions are more other-related, Trump aiming for “regional integration” definitely does NOT align with the “separatist” plans of the Israeli government.
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the authenticity of a photo showing an Israeli soldier
smashing a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon while being filmed by another Israeli.
The incident occurred in the Maronite Christian village of Debl and
has sparked significant global controversy and condemnation.
Israeli attacks on or near Christian communities are rampant and involve:
<><>IDF military strikes in Christians in Lebanon/Gaza
<><>Christian-hating Jewish settler violence in the West Bank.
Reports indicate over 111 documented anti-Christian acts in 2024, with more than 2,000 deaths in Lebanon reported in 2025–2026 amidst regional conflict. Key sites in Gaza, including the Greek Orthodox St. Porphyrius Church, have been hit, along with widespread incidents in towns housing Palestinian Christians. —— OSV News
Key Regional Incidents and Data:
Lebanon (2025–2026): Lebanese Christian villages have suffered from intense Israeli bombardment, resulting in significant casualties and displacement. The Maronite church and surrounding communities in southern Lebanon have been damaged in Israeli crossfire.
Gaza Strip (2023–2025): Multiple churches were hit during Israeli military operations, including St. Porphyrius Church (October 2023) and Catholic Holy Family Church, where parishioners and staff were killed. The church was used as a shelter for Gaza Christians escaping Israeli violence.
West Bank (2024–2026): Christian villages such as Taybeh have experienced repeated arson and vandalism by land-hungry Jewish settlers, often coinciding and colluding with IDF military actions.
The Rossing Center reported 111 instances of Israeli
harassment or attacks against Christians in 2024.
Reports indicate an increase in Israeli violence against Christians in 2024–2025, perpetrated by both IDF military actions in the Gaza war and increased activity by Christian-hating Jewish settlers.
Not all Israel did this but some of its soldiers did. You have quite a shrews tongue wishing to rake all Israel over the coals for the destruction of a crucifix. Nope not gonna hate on Israel. Yes many Jews and Isrealis will find Jesus offensive and it will be the case until the Blindness the Paul spoke of is lifted from their minds.
Lots of gentile people beyond groups of Israeli soldiers mock Catholic rites. SNL did it for years with its cigarette smoking character Father Guido Sarducci. The latest Popes and high chuch officials bow to other Goddesses and play footsie with Islam are making a mockery of Catholicism treating her as though she were a Harlot, being pimped out to the world.
With their families left to pick up the pieces for the remainder of their time on earth…
Dozens of IDF soldiers commit suicide upon return, fighting endless wars largely egged on by ‘Christians’ who view their plight as a means to a prophetic end according to their interpretation and good pleasure. Popcorn prophecy binging is easy when you don’t have skin in the game.
None of those verses you allude to justify the false schedule you’ve imposed on the fate of countless souls - be they Jew or Gentile. Both can have hardened hearts, both are invited to the family of Christ as they were them, now, and always. Because Jesus will leave the 99 sheep just to find the 1 that is lost. And you’re just in a deluded haze over the 99.
Who said I was cheering on wars with that last post I made? I did not even mention the war in that last post. We were talking about a group of IDF soldiers behaving badly!
Blessed are the Peace Makers for they shall be called the children of God!(Of course the scripture wasn’t just talking about diplomacy but anyone with a knack and gift for bringing opposing groups into peaceful accord).
The Poster I was responding to was making a particular point about the particular “Israeli-ness” of the soldiers who damaged the Crucifix(she was quoting a source) then she or he added a point about other “Israeli’ soldiers making mockery of Catholic rituals. I pointed out the Catholic popes have been very good at opening up the church to open mockery all by themselves.
The poster also threw in a canard about Israel dragging the USA into the middle east conflicts as if our government had no other choices in the matter. But I wasn’t responding to the the war part, I was responding to the spirit of antisemitism that was evident in her posting.
It was all the Jews fault right? Nope I don’t buy it! Someday Jesus will intervene and Satan will be bound!
Lots of gentile people beyond groups of Israeli soldiers mock Catholic rites. SNL did it for years with its cigarette smoking character Father Guido Sarducci. The latest Popes and high chuch officials bow to other Goddesses and play footsie with Islam are making a mockery of Catholicism treating her as though she were a Harlot, being pimped out to the world.
OMG...more coffee!
I thought the headline said Lesbian...
There were actually two posters I was responding to commenting along similar tracks but still i had not mentioned anything about the war or about glprying in warfare. One was particularly pointed and using obvious language when pointing out the “Israeli” aspects of the soldier inquestion. She or he was inciting Jew hatred.
Gentiles mock Catholic rites.....SNL did with cigarette smoking character Fr Guido Sarducci.
Apples and oranges, dummy.
SNL is a TV comedy show.....
IDF soldiers sledge-hammering Jesus on the Cross represent a foreign
government, that is wholly dependent on US tax dollar billions.
Fr. Sarducci’s “Coming and going planet” — hilarious. No mockery of RC theology in it, though.
When comedic skits show other religions’ — including mine — in similar ways it doesn’t bother me at all. Just don’t cross the line and mock the Godhead or blaspheme. (IMHO)
I hadn’t known or met Catholic Priests per se when I was young so my first impressions came from actors as Catholic Priests sending demons to hell in the movies, The kindly Catholic Priest on Mash,(who was all kindness and tolerance but no real gospel and in the series had a penchant for boxing) and Father Guido on SNL! Later on I met the real thing, saw their true humanity (good stuff and the warts) and felt somewhat relieved and vaguely disappointed at the same time!
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