Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for an end to attacks against Christians in Nigeria, making the appeal during his Christmas message to Christians worldwide late Wednesday night.
In his remarks, Netanyahu reflected on the historical and spiritual ties between Judaism and Christianity, describing them as closely connected Abrahamic faiths rooted in ancient Israel. While Christians celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus Christ, Jews continue to await the coming of the Messiah.
Extending Christmas greetings, the Israeli leader criticised what he described as the persecution of Christians in different parts of the world. He pointed to Middle Eastern countries such as Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Turkey, and also singled out Nigeria outside the region.
Aligning with the position earlier taken by United States President Donald Trump, Netanyahu attributed the violence to Islamist militants.
“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,” he said.
With this statement, Israel has emerged as the only country to openly support the United States’ claim that Christians are being persecuted in Nigeria. In contrast, organisations such as the European Union and the Economic Community of West African States have condemned the violence but described it as part of a wider security crisis rather than a campaign of religious persecution.
Trump had previously reclassified Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” citing allegations of a Christian genocide, and warned of possible military action if the Nigerian government—accused by him of complicity—failed to respond decisively.
Wrapping up his Christmas address, Netanyahu pledged Israel’s continued solidarity with Christians across the globe.
Meanwhile, the 2023 Christmas season unfolded under the shadow of the Israel–Hamas war. On Christmas Day, violence flared in the occupied West Bank as an attack on the Jenin refugee camp coincided with Israel’s retaliatory strikes, which reportedly left at least 52 Palestinians dead.
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