Israel announced on Thursday the appointment of its first “special envoy to the Christian world” following some recent embarrassing incidents directed at the faith’s adherents.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar appointed veteran diplomat George Deek to the newly created role, saying the move is “intended to deepen Israel’s ties with Christian communities around the world.”

“He is a member of the Arab-Christian community in Jaffa and has been active in this society since a young age. His father, Yosef Deek, was the chairman of the Christian-Orthodox community in Jaffa and Israel for many years,” theForeign Ministrysaid of George Deek.

“The State of Israel attaches great importance to its relations with the Christian world and with its Christian friends around the world. I am confident that George, an esteemed and experienced diplomat, will contribute greatly to deepening the friendship and strengthening the ties between the State of Israel and the Christian world,” Sa’ar said, according to a translation.

שר החוץ גדעון סער מינה את ג׳ורג׳ דיק לשליח מיוחד לעולם הנוצרי. המינוי נועד להעמיק את קשרי ישראל עם קהילות נוצריות בעולם.

דיק, דיפלומט ותיק בעל 18 שנות ניסיון, שימש עד לאחרונה כשגריר ישראל באזרבייג׳ן והיה השגריר הנוצרי הראשון בתולדות ישראל. הוא זכה באות המנהל המצטיין של משרד…pic.twitter.com/ScMFBnRC6K

— משרד החוץ (@IsraelHebrew)April 23, 2026

Earlier this week, the Israeli Defense Forces stated that one of its soldiers who took a sledgehammer to a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon, and another who photographed him doing it, would be removed from combat operations andimprisoned for 30 days.

In addition to that incident earlier this week, Israeli police initially blocked Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the top Roman Catholic official in the Holy Land, and other senior clergy from conducting a Palm Sunday service at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre due to wartime restrictions,The Times of Israelreported.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intervened, granting the clergy “full and immediate access” to the site.

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