Netanyahu Draws Criticism After Contrasting Jesus Christ With Genghis Khan

Benjamin Netanyahu. Credit: U.S Department of State / Public Domain

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu drew crisp disapproval Thursday aft contrasting Jesus Christ with Genghis Khan, the 13th-century Mongol conqueror, during an English-language property league successful Jerusalem. Netanyahu made the remarks portion citing American historiographer Will Durant, arguing that motivation values unsocial are not capable for a civilization to survive.

He said Durant’s penning shows that Jesus Christ holds nary vantage implicit Genghis Khan erstwhile a nine faces ruthless aggression without the means to support itself. He added that goodness and moderation tin beryllium overwhelmed by force, making spot a necessity alternatively than an option.

Netanyahu’s Jesus Christ and Genghis Khan remark draws planetary backlash

The comments drew contiguous backlash connected societal media, with galore users calling the connection blasphemous and violative to Christians. Several blimpish commentators said the remark was disrespectful and severely timed, fixed the ongoing struggle with Iran.

Mario Nawfal, an entrepreneur based successful Dubai who commands a important assemblage connected X, said the remark was a damaging governmental misstep astatine a clip erstwhile Israel was already facing dense planetary scrutiny.

🇮🇱 Netanyahu went afloat edgelord: "Jesus Christ has nary vantage implicit Genghis Khan.

Because if you are beardown enough, ruthless enough, almighty enough, evil volition flooded good."

Bro… that’s not a flex, that’s a facepalm connected steroids.

Israel’s already warring the global… https://t.co/dRPB075uqZ pic.twitter.com/v1f22wbDIh

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 19, 2026

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi besides responded, saying Netanyahu’s words reflected wide disrespect toward Jesus Christ and were successful enactment with Israel’s broader subject behaviour successful the region.

Σάλος για το «ο Ιησούς δεν έχει πλεονέκτημα απέναντι στον Τζένγκις Χαν» του Νετανιάχου – Διευκρίνισε ότι «δεν ήθελα να προσβάλω τον Χριστό» ingr quality fyp fy

♬ πρωτότυπος ήχος – in.gr – in.gr

The property league was Netanyahu’s archetypal successful English since the warfare with Iran began. He defended Israel’s subject campaign, saying the cognition was aimed astatine eliminating what helium described arsenic a nonstop menace to Israel’s existence.

He besides claimed that Israeli strikes had taken a superior toll connected Iran’s atomic and rocket programs, but stopped abbreviated of reiterating erstwhile statements that Tehran could nary longer enrich uranium.

Netanyahu besides spoke successful enactment of coordinated enactment with the United States nether President Donald Trump, saying some nations shared a extremity of keeping Iran from processing atomic weapons and destabilizing the broader region.

Netanyahu insists nary disrespect intended, cites Durant’s argument

After disapproval grew, Netanyahu posted a effect connected X saying helium had not insulted Jesus Christ.

He explained that helium was drafting connected Durant’s statement that motivation superiority unsocial cannot shield a civilization from a ruthless enemy, and that the connection was astir the request for spot alongside bully values. He said nary discourtesy was intended.

Netanyahu besides rejected the thought that his remarks showed hostility toward Christians, saying they are protected and proceed to thrive successful Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

More fake quality astir my cognition towards Christians, who are protected and flourish successful Israel.

Let maine beryllium clear: I did not denigrate Jesus Christ astatine my quality league this evening.

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) March 20, 2026