Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for an immediate end to attacks on Christians in Nigeria and other parts of the world, describing such acts as unacceptable.
Gatekeepers News reports that Netanyahu made the remarks in a video message posted on his official X account as part of his Christmas greetings to Christians globally.
“The persecution of Christians or members of any religion cannot and must not be tolerated, and Muslim militant displacement and attacks against Christians in Nigeria, that too must end, and it must end now,” the Israeli leader said.
While condemning what he described as global persecution of Christians, Netanyahu also cited Middle Eastern countries including Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Turkey as places where Christians are allegedly targeted.
Echoing similar comments made by his ally, United States President Donald Trump, Netanyahu said Israel would always stand with Christians worldwide.
“To all our Christian friends around the world – Merry Christmas!” he said.
Netanyahu further asserted that Israel was the only country in the Middle East where Christians enjoy full religious freedom.
“Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Christians can practice their faith with full rights and in total freedom, where Christian pilgrims are embraced with open arms and are so deeply appreciated,” he said.
“Where Christians can celebrate proudly their traditions and openly do so without any fear. In Jerusalem, the city municipality every year officially distributes Christmas trees. It’s been doing so for two decades,” Netanyahu added.
He contrasted this with events in the occupied West Bank, claiming that “a few days ago in the Palestinian town of Jenin, Palestinians burned a Christmas tree in the Holy Redeemer Church.”
“That’s the difference,” he said.
Netanyahu’s comments align Israel with the United States in its position on what it describes as the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. However, other international organisations, including the European Union (EU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), have condemned violence in Nigeria while framing it as a broader security challenge rather than targeted religious persecution.
In recent weeks, President Trump re-designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over allegations of a Christian genocide and warned of possible military intervention if the Nigerian government failed to act, accusing it of complicity.
The Nigerian government has rejected the allegations, insisting that it respects freedom of religion and that victims of violence in the country cut across religious lines.
