Nahariya, Israel, prayer hall vandalized; Church leaders call for investigation

Vandals broke into a prayer hall serving the Syriac Maronite Christian community in Nahariya, northern Israel, smashing religious statues and damaging Christian icons. Church leaders condemned the attack and called for an investigation. The hall is dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul and is located in a municipal building.

The damage was discovered on the evening of 1 November, when a member of the community arrived to prepare for a scheduled prayer service. Worshippers found religious images and statues broken and scattered across the floor, including symbols depicting Jesus Christ and other revered Christian figures.

The community numbers about 1,100 people, many of whom are former members of the South Lebanon Army (SLA) and their families. According to reports by The Jerusalem Post and other Israeli media, an apology note written in English was left on the altar. The note reportedly said, “I am so sorry, I don’t know what came over me.” The identity of the person responsible and the motive remain unclear. Although the possibility of religiously motivated vandalism has been raised, community representatives have urged people not to draw conclusions before the investigation is complete.

The community’s priest, Father Rody Noura, described the destruction as unprecedented during the community’s 26 years in Nahariya. He told Israeli media that he did not suspect anyone in particular and said he forgave whoever was responsible, showing the life lesson of pursuing peace with others where it depends on oneself (Romans 12:18).

The Syriac Maronite Archeparchy of Haifa, led by Archbishop Moussa el-Hage, condemned the incident as a serious violation of the sanctity of a place of worship and of believers’ right to practise their faith freely, safely, and with dignity. The archeparchy stressed that religious sites must be protected regardless of denomination or religious affiliation, and it called on the authorities to investigate, identify those responsible, and ensure they are brought to justice.

The Melkite Greek (Rûm) Catholic Diocese of Haifa, Acre, Nazareth, and All Galilee issued a separate statement under Bishop Youssef Matta. He described the attack as an affront not only to the Syriac Maronite community but to the wider Church, warning that targeting places of worship undermines religious freedom, human dignity, and the principles of coexistence. He expressed full solidarity with Archbishop el-Hage, the Syriac Maronite clergy, and the community in Nahariya, and said churches in the Holy Land must stand together against attacks on their institutions and congregations. The diocese called for “freedom of belief and worship” to be protected and called on police and relevant authorities to launch a serious and urgent investigation, identify the perpetrators, and take practical measures to prevent similar incidents. It also said forgiveness and coexistence should not be read as acceptance of injustice or violations of worshippers’ rights.

Nahariya’s municipality also condemned the damage and expressed solidarity with the affected community. It described the former SLA community as an integral part of the city’s social fabric, noting its 26 years in Nahariya. The municipality said it stood with the community and trusted the police to investigate and hold those responsible accountable.

Nahariya police confirmed that an investigation had been opened after a complaint about damage to the municipal building used by the Christian community. In an update published on 4 November, the local outlet Kfar Vradim reported that police investigators were carrying out various investigative procedures and examining all possible leads.