Israeli soldiers pose with statue of Virgin Mary with cigarette, sparking new scandal

A photo of an Israeli soldier posing with a statue of the Virgin Mary, placing a lit cigarette in its mouth, went viral on social media.
The IDF quickly responded, calling the incident very serious and inconsistent with the army’s values.
IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said the photo was taken several weeks ago and that disciplinary action will be taken against the soldier.
This is not the first such incident; in mid-April, a soldier was filmed smashing a statue of Jesus with a hammer in the Christian village of Debel.
The IDF claims to respect religious symbols and holy sites, but critics doubt the effectiveness of the announced disciplinary measures.