Netanyahu Calls for End to Attacks on Christians in Nigeria in Christmas Message
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said attacks on Christians in Nigeria must come to an end, making the remarks as part of his Christmas message to Christians around the world on Wednesday night.
In his message, Netanyahu highlighted the shared roots between Judaism, Israel’s dominant religion, and Christianity, describing them as closely linked Abrahamic faiths that trace their origins to ancient Israel. While Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah, Jews continue to await his arrival. Christmas marks the celebration of Jesus’ birth.
While extending Christmas greetings, the Israeli leader condemned what he described as the global persecution of Christians, pointing to countries in the Middle East, including Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Turkey. Outside the region, he singled out Nigeria.
Echoing the position of his closest ally, US 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,” Netanyahu said.
Israel’s position makes it the only country to have publicly aligned with the United States on claims of “Christian persecution” in Nigeria.
Other international organisations, including the European Union (EU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), have condemned violence in Nigeria but have largely framed it as part of a wider security crisis rather than targeted religious persecution.
Trump, however, 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—whom he accused of complicity—failed to act decisively.
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