Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said that Israel is working on an agenda to support persecuted Christian communities in Nigeria and other parts of the world, describing the country as the only one capable of defending Christians globally.
Netanyahu made the remarks on Friday during a meeting with evangelical community leaders in Florida, where he pledged support for Christian minorities facing persecution, particularly in Africa and the Middle East.
“I see the battle against us and the battle against our Judeo-Christian tradition, basically being waged around the globe. And it’s waged primarily by two forces, radical Shiite Islam and radical Sunni Islam.
“That means the axis that is led by Iran, much battered, admittedly, but still there, and the Sunni axis led by the Muslim Brotherhood, which permeates everything.
“They go to Europe, they go to the United States, they go to Africa, Nigeria. And we are conscious of the fact that Christians are being persecuted, across the Middle East, in Syria, in Lebanon, in Nigeria, in Turkey and beyond,” he said.
Netanyahu declared that Israel remains the only country committed to protecting and promoting the growth of Christian communities around the world.
He said, “We’re also aware of the fact, as you are, that one country protects the Christian community, enables it to grow, defends it, and makes sure that it thrives, and that country is Israel. There is no other. None.”
He said Israel would join international efforts aimed at assisting Christian communities under threat.
Netanyahu further stated, “We are joining an effort to have basically a united nations or countries that support Christian communities around the world, beleaguered communities who deserve our help.
“Just as you are helping us, we want to help back; and we’re capable of doing this. In Africa, with intel, in the Middle East, with a lot of means that I won’t itemize each one.
“This is what our agenda is; it’s a main part of our agenda.”
Netanyahu’s comments came a day after his meeting with US President, Donald Trump, who announced U.S. airstrikes in Nigeria on Christmas Day in response to alleged attacks on Christian communities.
Israel becomes the only country to openly support the U.S. stance on what it describes as Christian persecution in Nigeria.
Both Israel and the United States maintain a long-standing alliance and share common positions on global security and religious freedom.