Maronite Prayer Room in Nahariya, Israel, Vandalized; Police Open Investigation

A Maronite prayer room in northern Nahariya was found vandalized late in the day on Sunday, November 1, by members of the local Maronite Lebanese community. Broken statues and religious images were discovered, along with several other objects.

According to Yousef Yacoub of the Maronite community in Israel, a written note in English asking for forgiveness was also found on the altar. The identity of the authors and their motives remain unknown, and police have opened an investigation.

Archbishop Moussa El-Hage, the Maronite archbishop of Haifa, described the incident as a violation of the character of the place and of the right of the faithful to practise their religion in freedom, security and dignity. He said the faithful would continue to pray.

Archbishop Youssef Matta, the Melkite archbishop of Haifa, expressed solidarity with the Maronite community and described it as an integral part of the local Church’s life. The forgiveness note, read alongside the broken statues, stands as a reminder of the need for reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18).

Source: Read the original report (translated from French)