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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for an immediate end to attacks on Christians in Nigeria and other parts of the world, strongly condemning what he described as the persecution of Christians and followers of other faiths.
Netanyahu made the statement in a video message posted on his official X account as part of his Christmas greetings to Christians around the globe.
“The persecution of Christians or members of any religion cannot and must not be tolerated,” he said. “Muslim militant displacement and attacks against Christians in Nigeria must end, and they must end now.”
While addressing the situation in Nigeria, the Israeli leader also spoke about what he described as widespread persecution of Christians in several Middle Eastern countries, including Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey, where he said Christian communities continue to face ongoing threats.
Aligning with a position previously taken by former United States President Donald Trump, Netanyahu stated that Israel would continue to stand in solidarity with Christians worldwide.
“Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Christians can practice their faith with full rights and complete freedom,” he said. “Christian pilgrims are welcomed with open arms, and Christian traditions are celebrated openly and without fear.”
He pointed to Jerusalem as an example, noting that the city’s municipality has officially distributed Christmas trees every year for more than two decades. In contrast, Netanyahu referenced a recent incident in the Palestinian town of Jenin, where a Christmas tree was reportedly burned at the Holy Redeemer Church.
“That is the difference,” he said.
Netanyahu’s remarks place Israel alongside the United States in framing the violence in Nigeria as religious persecution. This view differs from the position of other international bodies, including the European Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which have condemned the violence but described it primarily as a broader security crisis rather than targeted religious attacks.
In recent weeks, former President Trump re-designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” citing allegations of a genocide against Christians. He also warned of possible military action if the Nigerian government failed to take decisive steps to address the situation.
The Nigerian government has rejected these claims, maintaining that it upholds freedom of religion and that victims of violence in the country come from multiple religious backgrounds, rather than one specific faith group.
