JERUSALEM/BEIRUT ¨C A photo showing the desecration ?of a crucifix smashed by an Israeli soldier in a southern Lebanese village home to Christians drew widespread condemnation on Monday from Israeli leaders, the United States and church leaders.
A photo that emerged online over the weekend shows a soldier taking the blunt side of an axe to a fallen sculpture of Jesus on the ?cross. It was posted by Younis Tirawi, a Palestinian reporter who has also posted images ?of Israeli ?soldiers¡¯ apparent misconduct in Gaza.
Reuters verified the location of the image as ?Debel, one of the few villages in southern Lebanon where residents remained through an Israeli military campaign against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia that began on March 2 after the group fired rockets at Israel in ?support of Iran.
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