By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has clarified remarks he made about Jesus Christ after facing criticism from Christians and social media users worldwide.
The controversy began after Netanyahu appeared to compare Jesus Christ with Genghis Khan during a press briefing with foreign journalists. The statement quickly triggered backlash online, with critics accusing him of insulting Christianity.
Responding to the criticism on Friday, Netanyahu said his comments were misunderstood and insisted that he did not intend to insult Jesus Christ or Christians.
“More fake news about my attitude towards Christians, who are protected and flourish in Israel. Let me be clear: I did not denigrate Jesus Christ at my news conference,” Netanyahu wrote in English on X.
The Israeli leader explained that he was quoting American historian Will Durant, who argued that morality alone cannot guarantee the survival of a civilization.
“To the contrary, I cited the great American historian Will Durant. A fervent admirer of Jesus Christ, Durant stated that morality by itself is not enough to ensure survival,” Netanyahu added.
According to him, Durant believed that even morally superior societies could fall if they lacked the power to defend themselves.
“A morally superior civilization may still fall to a ruthless enemy if it does not have the power to defend itself. No offense was meant,” Netanyahu said.
Backlash Over Jesus Christ and Genghis Khan Comparison
The controversy originated during a televised meeting with foreign journalists on Thursday when Netanyahu stated:
“History proves that, unfortunately and unhappily, Jesus Christ has no advantage over Genghis Khan because if you are strong enough, ruthless enough, powerful enough, evil will overcome good.”
He continued by saying that aggression can sometimes defeat moderation, arguing that nations must be strong enough to defend themselves.
During the same address, Netanyahu also defended the joint Israeli-US strike on Iran launched on February 28, which escalated tensions across the region. He insisted the action was necessary to protect Israel and prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
However, the comparison between Jesus Christ—revered by Christians as the “Prince of Peace”—and Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire known for violent conquests across Asia and parts of Europe, sparked strong reactions online.
Christian Leaders React
Among those who criticized the remark was Munther Isaac, a Palestinian Lutheran pastor from Bethlehem, who described the statement as offensive.
“It not only compares Jesus to Genghis Khan, but also suggests that the way of Jesus is naive, while a ruthless ‘might makes right’ approach is what ultimately allows good to overcome evil,” Isaac said.
He added that such interpretations undermine the ethical teachings associated with Jesus.
