Netanyahu Rejects Claims of Christian Persecution in Israel

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara attended a cornerstone-laying ceremony for a monument honoring Christian soldiers who fell in service. Speaking at the event in the Lavie Forest near the Golani Junction, Netanyahu strongly refuted international criticism accusing Israel of persecuting minorities.

"We are under a global attack on the State of Israel and the IDF," Netanyahu stated, condemning the portrayal of Israel and its soldiers as war criminals and as persecutors of minorities. He contrasted Israel's treatment of minorities with the surrounding region, describing Israel as an "island of progress, tolerance, and security" in a vast area characterized by hostility and extremism.

Netanyahu specifically highlighted the flourishing Christian community in Israel, asserting it is the only place in the Middle East where Christians thrive, contrasting this with their persecution, emigration, or slaughter elsewhere. He also mentioned efforts to protect Druze communities in Syria, referencing a recent operation in Sweida. "We are not only protecting Christians; Christians are protecting us! All together," he declared, emphasizing the shared defense and mutual support.

The Prime Minister expressed concern that the international community is being misled by a "great lie" that, if repeated often enough, could be perceived as truth. He stated that the ceremony itself was an act to shatter this falsehood and affirm the reality of Israel's inclusive society.