Turin, 25 December (LaPresse) – Israel is ‘the only country in the Middle East where the Christian community thrives,’ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a Christmas video message. ‘Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Christians can practise their faith with full rights and in total freedom, where Christian pilgrims are welcomed with open arms and deeply appreciated,’ he said, according to the Times of Israel. Netanyahu added that the municipality of Jerusalem distributes Christian Christmas trees, while ‘in the Palestinian city of Jenin, Palestinians burned a Christmas tree in the Church of the Holy Redeemer.’ ‘Israel defends Christians throughout the region, wherever they face widespread intimidation and persecution,’ Netanyahu continued, pointing out that the Christian population in Israel is growing, while that in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey and the Palestinian National Authority is declining. The prime minister also condemned the attacks against Christians in Nigeria. ‘Know that Israel will always be at your side,’ Netanyahu concluded.