Israel has established a new diplomatic role, appointing Ambassador George Deek as its first-ever envoy to the Christian world. The initiative, announced by the Prime Ministry, seeks to enhance relations and create a more direct channel of communication with Christian communities and leaders globally.
Ambassador Deek emphasized the significance of this new position, stating that it stems from three key factors: the historical connection between Christians and the land of Israel, the shared biblical values that form the basis for societal principles such as democracy and freedom of thought, and Israel's commitment to fostering positive relationships with people of all faiths.
"My hope is to also be able to build strong bridges between the State of Israel and Christian leaders… by telling a fuller story of the State of Israel, which I think is missed in most of the narratives we hear today in the world," Deek told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview.
Deek highlighted the demographic trends of the Christian population within Israel. Since 1948, the country's Christian population has grown from approximately 34,000 to over 180,000. As of December 2025, this community numbered around 184,200, representing 1.9% of Israel's total population and showing a 0.7% growth in the preceding year. This contrasts with the broader trend in the Middle East, where Deek noted a significant decline in Christian populations, from 20% to less than 2% of the region's inhabitants.
"We see the ethnic cleansing of the region from its Christians, who have been diminished from 20% of the population of the Middle East to less than 2% of the population today," Deek said. "All those places that used to have thriving Christian communities today have been reduced to nothing."
While Israel celebrates the growth and thriving of its Christian community, Deek acknowledged recent isolated incidents, including attacks on Christian symbols and an assault on a nun. He stressed that such acts are unacceptable and unequivocally condemned by the Israeli leadership. The individuals involved in these incidents have been detained and are facing legal proceedings, demonstrating the state's commitment to upholding tolerance and the rule of law.
Deek also addressed what he described as a campaign by certain groups to misrepresent the situation of Christians in Israel. He pointed to extremist Islamist groups, as well as elements on the political left and right, as manipulating Christian faith to promote claims of mistreatment. He noted the disappearance of the Christian population from Gaza as an example of the region's broader challenges for minority communities.
"Amid a surge in antisemitic incidents in Europe and elsewhere following the Hamas-led Oct. 7 massacre, Deek said hate that begins with Jews never ends with Jews, and that the same hate that drove out Jews from Arab countries in the 20th century has over the past two decades been directed against other minorities in the region," the report states.
Ambassador Deek envisions his role as a personal mission to encourage Christians worldwide to visit Israel, not for political reasons, but to connect with their religious heritage and biblical roots. He believes that Israel, as a guardian of Christian holy sites, can help foster a deeper understanding of shared biblical values among Jews, Christians, and other people of the book.
Israel's appointment of a special envoy to the Christian world has been met with praise from Christian leaders. The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) noted that by creating this role, Israel demonstrates its appreciation for Christian support and its long-term interest in nurturing Christian-Jewish relations, which is particularly crucial during a period of rising antisemitism.
Deek, who previously served as Israel's ambassador to Azerbaijan for six years, aims to present a more comprehensive narrative of Israeli society, which he believes is often overlooked, emphasizing its diversity beyond its Jewish identity.