Israeli activist Yisca Harani condemns IDF soldier’s desecration of a cross in Lebanon, urging education, accountability, and interfaith respect.
Newsroom (21/04/2026 Gaudium Press ) The desecration of a statue of Christ in southern Lebanon by an Israeli soldier has triggered widespread condemnation and renewed scrutiny of religious intolerance, with Israeli activist Yisca Harani calling the act “one of the more violent” violations of religious freedom in recent memory.
Speaking to AsiaNews, Harani—founder of the Religious Freedom Data Center (RFDC)—framed the incident not as an isolated act, but as part of a broader and troubling trend. The organization, established in June 2023, documents incidents of religious harassment and intolerance in Israel, particularly in Jerusalem.
“What has happened is just another level of a general trend, which unfortunately comes from the religious circles. Not all of them,” Harani said. While acknowledging that many religious individuals demonstrate decency and respect, she warned of a growing current marked by “ignorance coupled with humiliating and morally wrong etiquette.”
The incident unfolded in Debel, a village in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border, an area frequently affected by military operations. Images circulating widely on social and mainstream media show an Israeli soldier repeatedly striking a cross bearing the figure of Jesus with a sledgehammer. The footage quickly went viral, sparking outrage, particularly among Middle Eastern Christian communities.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the authenticity of the images and identified the individual as one of its soldiers stationed in southern Lebanon. In a statement posted on X, the military said the act was “inconsistent” with its values and emphasized that it views the incident “with great severity.” An internal investigation has been launched, and disciplinary measures have been announced.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also issued a strong condemnation, calling the act “disgraceful and shameful” and apologizing publicly. He stressed that the behavior runs counter to Israel’s stated commitment to respecting all religions and safeguarding sacred symbols.
The episode comes at a delicate moment. A fragile 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has been in place since April 17, following a peak in hostilities earlier in the month. The truce, supported by U.S. mediation, aims to open the door to direct talks after a period of intense conflict that culminated on April 8.
For Harani, official apologies and investigations, while necessary, are insufficient on their own. “Words alone are not enough,” she said, emphasizing the need for tangible action benefiting the affected communities.
In response, she launched a fundraising campaign aimed at supporting Christian villages in the region, particularly Debel and surrounding areas that have suffered from recent military operations. The funds will be directed through the Maronite Archeparchy of Haifa and the Holy Land to provide urgently needed medicines, including life-saving treatments for cancer patients.
“The reason why I’ve created this fund is that it is a sense of solidarity and responsibility,” Harani explained. She linked the incident to deeper systemic issues, arguing that elements within the religious education system have allowed extremist attitudes to develop by neglecting engagement with other faiths.
“It’s like, in general, ignoring anything that has to do with the others,” she said.
Harani stressed that many Israelis reject such behavior. “At least half the people of Israel cannot tolerate that in their name such things are happening,” she noted, framing the fundraising effort as both practical support and a symbolic message of coexistence.
“It’s a message that we’re sending to our Christian brethren in the area,” she said, adding that it also reflects a broader commitment among Jewish Israelis to act with “humanity and religious responsibility.”
Despite acknowledging that Christians in Israel do not face persecution on the scale seen in other parts of the world, Harani described the incident as “unbearable,” particularly given the region’s identity as a land considered holy by multiple faiths.
Looking ahead, she outlined two priorities: education and enforcement. She called for improved religious education that recognizes Christians as fellow bearers of the divine image, even within a different faith tradition.
“What is really needed in Israel are two things,” she said. “Education of the religious sector about Christians being in the image of God… and also enforcement.”
Harani urged authorities to take firm action against acts of harassment and vandalism, including stricter policing and meaningful consequences for offenders. In the case of the soldier involved, she expressed hope for a sentence that would set a clear precedent.
“If there’s anything happening, we must make sure that the police take the strictest measures… and the army should put this man in prison, for I don’t know how long,” she said.
For Harani, the incident is both a warning and an opportunity: a stark reminder of the consequences of intolerance, and a call to reinforce the principles of respect and coexistence in a deeply divided region.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Asianews.it
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