Maronite veterans' church in Nahariya vandalized as police open probe

Nahariya police launched an immediate investigation after members of the local Christian community discovered broken statues and defaced religious images inside a prayer hall on Sunday evening. The facility serves the Lebanese Maronite community and is located on municipal land next to a public garden. The incident was found at approximately 5:30 p.m. by a worshipper entering ahead of a 7 p.m. service.

A note written in English was left on the altar. It apologized for the damage and stated that the person responsible did not know what came over them. Father Yosef Yaakov, spokesperson for the Maronite community in Israel, confirmed that the identities of those responsible and their motives remain unknown. He stated that it was too early to determine if religious hatred played a role in the act.

The prayer hall is used by a community of about 1,100 people. Several dozen attendees typically join Sunday services, while hundreds gather for major religious holidays. The group consists largely of veterans from the South Lebanon Army. Yaakov said the damage caused anger and distress among the faithful. He noted that the incident created a feeling that the community was unwelcome and raised safety concerns for families with children who attend services.

The Maronite Archdiocese in Haifa released a statement condemning the vandalism. The archdiocese described the act as an attack on the sanctity of the place of worship and the right of believers to practice their religion with dignity. Church leaders called on authorities to identify those responsible and bring them to justice. They also demanded protective measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

The archdiocese declared that the community would continue holding services at the site despite the damage. The statement said the group would not respond to destruction with hatred and would continue using the hall with faith and peace. Leaders emphasized that tolerance did not mean remaining silent or relinquishing their rights to worship freely.

Israel Police stated that the Nahariya station opened an investigation as soon as a complaint was received. Investigators are examining all possible avenues of inquiry. Police said they view violations of holy places seriously and will use all means at their disposal to locate those responsible.

The investigation is currently ongoing. Police are working to identify the individuals behind the vandalism and determine their motives. The community continues to hold services at the hall while waiting for results from the police probe.