Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has appointed George Deek as the country’s first Special Envoy to the Christian World. 

The move is aimed at boosting Christians' perception of Israel. It follows several incidents of anti-Christian violence perpetrated by the IDF.

In April, an IDF soldier was filmed smashing a statue of Christ in Lebanon, which he received a 30-day stint in military prison for. The following month, an Israeli settler was caught pushing an elderly French nun to the ground in Jerusalem. 

In May, there was an incident in which two Israeli soldiers were been jailed for putting a cigarette into the mouth of a Virgin Mary statue in Debel, a Christian village in southern Lebanon. 

An IDF spokesperson said it viewed "the incident with great severity and respects freedom of religion and worship, as well as holy sites and religious symbols of all religions and communities”.

Deek is a member of the Arab Christian community in Jaffa, and a veteran diplomat with 18 years’ experience. He most recently served as Israel’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan. 

His father, Youssef Deek, served for many years as Chairman of the Orthodox Christian community in Jaffa and Israel.

In announcing the appointment, Minister Sa’ar said: “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, a respected and experienced diplomat, will greatly contribute to the friendship and strengthening of the ties between the State of Israel and the Christian world.”