Benjamin Netanyahu
By John Egie
Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu has voiced Israel’s commitment to protecting Christians in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world from religious intimidation and persecution.
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In his 2025 Christmas video message posted in his X handle, the Israeli leader said persecution of Christians or members of any religion cannot and must not be tolerated and called for an end to Muslim militant attacks against Christians in Nigeria.
“From Jerusalem I send warm greetings to our Christian friends around the world. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Holy Land, Israel, the only country in the Middle East where the Christian community is still thriving.
Israel is only country in the Middle East where Christians can practise their faith with full rights and in total freedom, where Christian pilgrims are embraced with open arms and are so deeply appreciated, where Christians can celebrate proudly their traditions and openly do so without any fear.
“In Jerusalem, the city municipality officially distributes Christmas trees every year and has been doing so for the past 20 years. Whereas, a few days ago, in the Palestinian town of Jenin, Palestinians burnt a Christmas tree in the Holy Redeemer church.”
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He expressed concern over declining Christian population in neighbouring countries due to systematic discrimination and oppression. In contrast, Israel’s Christian population is growing.
The systematic discrimination and oppression happens in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey and areas within Palestinian Authority.
“The birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem, used to have 80 per cent Christian population when Bethlehem was under the Authority of Israeli government, but when Bethlehem was given to Palestinian Authority, Christian population has dwindled from 80 per cent to 20 per cent.
“I am sending Israel’s Christmas blessings to our Christian friends around the world and I ask you to know that Israel will always stand with you.”
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Benjamin Netanyahu is not a Christian. He is Jewish and leads the Likud party in Israel.
Netanyahu is widely described as a secular Jew. While he is not considered a strictly observant or “religious” man in the Orthodox sense, he frequently uses biblical and theological references in his public speeches to connect with religious voters and international allies.
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He was born in Tel Aviv to Jewish parents; his father, Benzion Netanyahu, was a scholar of Jewish history and a secular Jew from Poland.
Netanyahu maintains a very close relationship with Christian Evangelicals, whom he has described as Israel’s “best friends in the world”. He frequently addresses Christian conferences and issues annual holiday greetings to the global Christian community.
He often emphasizes a shared “Judeo-Christian heritage” and positions Israel as the only safe haven for Christians in the Middle East to build diplomatic support among Christian Zionists.
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