Israel's Foreign Ministry Defends Christian Community After WSJ Report

Israel’s Foreign Ministry rejected a Wall Street Journal article that portrayed Christians in the country as increasingly harassed, calling the piece “disingenuous, misleading and shameful.” The ministry said the report focused on isolated incidents, such as spitting by some Orthodox Jews in Jerusalem’s Old City, and ignored the fact that Israel’s Christian population is growing and holds representation in the Supreme Court and other institutions.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, a Christian pastor, also criticized the article. In response, the ministry highlighted its recent outreach, including the appointment of George Deek as Israel’s first Special Envoy to the Christian World. Deek told Filipino journalists that truth and firsthand experience are Israel’s strongest tools against misinformation, urging visitors to see the country for themselves.

The ministry’s actions aim to counter what it describes as an organized campaign to distort Israel’s image and to reassure Christians worldwide of the country’s commitment to religious freedom and the protection of holy sites.