Nahariya Maronite veterans hall found with broken statues and English apology
Police are investigating the vandalism of a prayer hall serving 1,100 former soldiers, which was discovered damaged Sunday evening.
By Andrew Bennett ·
A prayer hall in Nahariya serving the city's South Lebanon Army veteran community was found vandalized on Sunday evening. Worshipers discovered smashed statues and damaged religious images when they arrived for a service scheduled for 7 p.m.
Father Yosef Yaakov, the spokesperson for the Maronite community in Israel, said the damage was spotted around 5:30 p.m. He noted that a note written in English sat on the altar. The message asked for forgiveness and included the phrase, "I don't know what came over me." Yaakov said the identities of the people responsible and their motives are still unknown.
The hall sits on municipal property next to a garden. It serves a community of approximately 1,100 Lebanese Maronite veterans. While several dozen people attend weekly services, hundreds gather for major religious holidays. Yaakov said the incident caused anger and distress. He added that some members feel unwelcome. Families with children also use the space, and the damage raised concerns about their safety in a place meant for peace.
Nahariya police opened an investigation immediately after receiving the complaint. Officers are examining all leads to identify the perpetrators. The Israel Police stated that it views violations of holy places seriously. The force said it will act decisively to find those responsible and bring them to justice. They emphasized that all avenues of inquiry are currently being explored.
The Maronite Archdiocese in Haifa condemned the event in a statement. The church described the vandalism as an attack on the sanctity of the site and the right to worship freely. Leaders called on authorities to protect the hall and prevent future incidents. The archdiocese stated that the community would continue holding services at the location despite the damage.
The statement read, "We will not allow this act of vandalism to deter us from exercising our natural right to pray and worship God. We will continue to use this hall and hold our prayers there, with faith, determination, and peace." The church added that it does not respond to destruction with hatred. However, leaders stressed that tolerance does not mean remaining silent or giving up their rights.
Yaakov said the community is waiting for police results before deciding if the act was driven by religious hatred. He described the pain felt by those who visit the hall for spiritual comfort. The next scheduled services will proceed as planned at the same location.
