Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says persecution against Christians in Nigeria must stop.

Netanyahu’s stance was part of his Christmas greeting to Christians worldwide, delivered late Wednesday night.

Netanyahu praised Christians and denounced global persecution of the sister faith, highlighting Middle Eastern nations like as Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey. Outside the region, Nigeria was named.

Like US President Donald Trump, his closest ally, Netanyahu blamed Islamists for the attacks.

“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,” the Israeli PM said.

This makes Israel the only country to officially support the US in its allegation of “Christian persecution” in Nigeria.

Other foreign organisations, such as the European Union (EU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), have criticised the violence in Nigeria, framing the issue as a larger security concern rather than targeted religious persecution.

Netanyahu concluded his Christmas address by stating that Israel will always stand with Christians across the world.