Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for an end to attacks on Christians in Nigeria, echoing concerns raised by US President Donald Trump weeks ago.
In a Christmas message on social media, Netanyahu condemned persecution of Christians globally, specifically mentioning Nigeria alongside Middle Eastern countries like Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey.
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“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,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu’s statement aligns with Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over alleged Christian genocide, with Trump threatening military intervention if the Nigerian government doesn’t act swiftly.
Israel is the only country to publicly support the US stance on Christian persecution in Nigeria, while other international bodies like the EU and ECOWAS frame the situation as a broader security challenge.
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Netanyahu emphasised Israel’s commitment to protecting Christians, highlighting Jerusalem’s annual Christmas tree distribution and contrasting it with incidents like a Christmas tree being burned in Jenin.
“Israel will always stand with Christians around the world,” he said.
