Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged an immediate end to attacks on Christians in Nigeria and elsewhere, denouncing what he termed the intolerable persecution of Christians and adherents of other religions worldwide.In a Christmas message posted as a video on his official X account, Netanyahu extended greetings to Christians globally while highlighting ongoing threats."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 stated.Netanyahu pointed to persistent threats faced by Christians in several Middle Eastern countries, including Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey.Echoing sentiments previously expressed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, the Israeli leader reaffirmed Israel's solidarity with Christians around the world."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," Netanyahu said.He noted that Christians in Israel celebrate their traditions openly and without fear, adding that the Jerusalem municipality has officially distributed Christmas trees for two decades."By contrast, 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 remarked.Netanyahu's statement aligns Israel with the United States in characterizing violence in Nigeria as targeted religious persecution. This contrasts with assessments from bodies like the European Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which have condemned the violence but framed it as a broader security issue rather than exclusively religious attacks.
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