Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday insisted on Christian persecution in Nigeria, vowing his country will “continue to steadfastly protect the freedom of worship for all faiths”. In his Easter message shared on his X account yesterday, the 76-year-old extended greetings to Christians in Israel, the United States, and across the globe, wishing them a joyful celebration.
He said: “To our Christian friends in Israel, the United States, and around the world, we wish you a blessed and joyful Easter. “Christians are persecuted across the Middle East, in Syria, Lebanon, Nigeria, Turkey, and beyond.
But in our region, Israel alone protects our Christian community, which is growing and prospering. “In this land where the story began, as missiles are fired at our capital, the holy city of Jerusalem, and as the US and Israel stand firm against the Iranian regime and its terror proxies, we continue to steadfastly protect the freedom of worship for all faiths, especially at this sacred time.
“Even under fire, our commitment is unwavering: to defend life, to safeguard liberty, and to ensure that every believer can pray in peace.” Moved by the attacks on churches and the killing and abductions of worshippers in some parts of Nigeria last year, Netanyahu, in a Christmas message, demanded an end to violence and displacement targeting Christians in the country.
The Israeli leader said: “The persecution of Christians or members of any religion cannot and must not be tolerated. And the displacement and attacks against Christians in Nigeria, that too must end. And it must end now.” The Jewish state’s Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria Michael Freeman early this year unveiled his country’s plan to protect Christians in Nigeria centring on intelligence sharing and cooperation with the Federal Government.
The envoy said: “What Netanyahu said, and it was very clear, was that he wants to make sure that all those are persecuted around the world, and he highlighted Christians around the world, not only in Nigeria, that it is important to do what Israel can. “This is about working with Nigeria. It is not about working against Nigeria. It is working with them as a partner and as an ally.” Freeman added: “Our interest is to work with Nigeria to stop all the violence in this country.
We would be led by the Nigerian government to where we can work and partner, because this is very much about working with an ally and doing things to tackle insecurity as a whole within the country.” Meanwhile, Christians in Syria were forced to cancel Easter events this year following an outbreak of sectarian violence over the weekend.
