Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for an end to attacks on Christians in Nigeria, echoing recent concerns raised by U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a Christmas message posted on social media, Netanyahu condemned the persecution of Christians worldwide, naming Nigeria alongside Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Turkey.
“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.
Netanyahu’s stance aligns with Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” a move accompanied by warnings of possible U.S. action.
Israel is the only country to publicly support the U.S. framing of the crisis as targeted persecution, while bodies like the EU and ECOWAS describe a broader security issue.
Netanyahu highlighted Israel’s efforts to protect Christian communities, noting annual Christmas tree distributions in Jerusalem and contrasting them with recent incidents of vandalism. “Israel will always stand with Christians around the world,” he said.