Maronite Archeparchy of Haifa Calls for Investigation After Church Vandalized in Nahariya, Israel

Unidentified individuals entered the Maronite Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Nahariya, a northern Israeli city of about 60,000 people close to the border with Lebanon, and damaged and destroyed its contents, according to Vatican News. The vandalism took place on November 1, the feast of All Saints. Vatican News reports that worshippers discovered broken statues and vandalized religious images inside the church on Sunday.

Reinformation.tv gives a somewhat different account of the timing and damage, saying the church was vandalized on November 1 in the afternoon. That report says several icons, including one of Jesus on the cross, were slashed, and that statues were broken.

The Maronite Archeparchy of Haifa issued a public statement, signed by Archbishop Moussa El-Hage, condemning the attack. Reinformation.tv reports that the archbishop described the attack as serious and unacceptable and called for an investigation to be launched quickly. The Archeparchy, as quoted by Vatican News, calls on the competent authorities and security services to investigate, identify, apprehend and bring the perpetrators to justice, a call that reflects the principle of a fair hearing before conclusions are drawn (Proverbs 18:17).

The Archeparchy also demands measures to protect the place of worship and prevent any recurrence, according to Vatican News.

Reinformation.tv reports that the perpetrator reportedly left a handwritten English message on the altar apologizing and asking for forgiveness. That detail appears only in this report and has not been confirmed by the other account.

Reinformation.tv also notes that Lebanese Maronites settled in northern Israel in the 2000s, after the Israeli army withdrew from southern Lebanon.

The Christian community will continue to use the hall and hold prayers there while awaiting the outcome of the judicial process, Vatican News reports.