Smashed Statues Found in Nahariya Church
A note on the altar asked for forgiveness after Sunday's discovery of damage at a Maronite prayer hall.
By Nathaniel Hayes ·
Worshippers found smashed statues and damaged religious images inside a prayer hall in Nahariya on Sunday.
The incident occurred on municipal property next to a public garden. The site serves as a church for the local Lebanese Maronite community. About 1,100 people belong to this group. Dozens attend weekly Sunday services, while hundreds gather for major religious holidays.
The damage was discovered around 5:30 p.m. A worshipper entered the building before a 7 p.m. prayer service. Inside, they found a note in English left on the altar. The note apologized for the vandalism. It included the phrase, 'I don't know what came over me.' Father Yosef Yaakov, the spokesperson for the Maronite community in Israel, said the identities of those responsible and their motives remain unknown. He noted that it is too early to say if religious hatred was a factor.
Yaakov described the reaction among community members as one of anger and distress. He said some felt unwelcome in the city. Families with children also attend the services. The vandalism raised safety concerns for these families in a place they usually view as a source of spiritual comfort.
Nahariya police opened an investigation immediately after the complaint was filed. Investigators are examining all possible leads. The Israel Police stated that they view violations of holy places seriously. They promised to use all available means to find those responsible and bring them to justice.
The Maronite Archdiocese in Haifa issued a statement condemning the incident. The archdiocese called the damage an attack on the sanctity of worship. It affirmed the right of believers to practice their religion safely and with dignity. Church leaders asked authorities to identify the suspects and protect the hall from future incidents.
The archdiocese confirmed that the community will continue holding services at the site. The statement said, 'We will not allow this act of vandalism to deter us from exercising our natural right to pray and worship God.' It added that the community does not respond to destruction with hatred.
