Israel Appoints George Deek Special Envoy After Israeli Soldier Destroys Jesus Statue in Deir Mimas

Israel appointed its first-ever special envoy for the Christian world, a move announced on Thursday, April 23, by Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.

“Israel announced the appointment of its first special envoy to the Christian world on Thursday, after ties with Christian churches around the world had been strained by a series of incidents and scandals in recent months”

Christian Post

Saar said, “The State of Israel attaches great importance to its relations with the Christian world and with its Christian friends,” and added that the new envoy, George Deek, would help to “deepen friendship and strengthen ties.”

Christian Post

The appointment was presented as a diplomatic effort to consolidate relations with Christian communities around the world, but it followed controversies involving Christian sites, figures and symbols that drew heightened international attention.

Multiple outlets tied the decision to an incident in southern Lebanon in which an Israeli soldier destroyed a statue of Jesus Christ in the town of Deir Mimas.

Middle East Monitor described the appointment as coming “after soldier destroy Jesus status in southern Lebanon,” while Middle East Online said the move followed “a widely circulated incident in which an Israeli soldier smashed a statue of Jesus in a southern Lebanese village.”

L’Orient Today framed the envoy as part of Israel’s attempt to restore its image among Western Christians, noting that the creation of the post followed “several incidents targeting religious sites and figures.”

In parallel, Middle East Online said the appointment was meant to strengthen Israel’s relations with Christian communities globally, and Christian Post reported that the Foreign Ministry described Deek as “a veteran diplomat with 18 years of experience.”

The Lebanon incident that outlets linked to the envoy appointment involved a statue of Jesus Christ in Deir Mimas, in southern Lebanon, and it triggered anger and condemnation, according to Misbar.

Misbar said “A soldier from the Israeli occupation army vandalized and destroyed a statue of Jesus Christ in the town of Deir Mimas in southern Lebanon,” and described how the incident’s spread coincided with engagement from Israeli or pro-Israeli accounts across social media platforms.

Middle East Monitor

Misbar reported that social media circulated “two images showing a soldier beside a sculpture representing Jesus Christ,” with claims that the Israeli occupation army returned the statue after it was destroyed.

Misbar said it found “no evidence in official or credible sources supporting claims that the statue had been restored or that the soldier who destroyed it was compelled to return it.”

The fact-checking outlet traced one of the circulated images to a “Breaking News 24/24” logo belonging to a Lebanese WhatsApp channel that published one of the images on April 20.

It also said a reverse image search showed the manipulated images were based on an original photograph published after reports of the statue’s destruction began circulating, and it pointed to “clear signs of digital manipulation.”

Misbar described how engagement peaked on April 21 after the Israeli occupation army installed another statue.

Several outlets described George Deek’s background in detail as Israel prepared the new envoy role.

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Middle East Online

Middle East Monitor said the Israeli Foreign Ministry appointed George Deek as special envoy to the Christian world, and it described Deek as “a career diplomat with 18 years of experience,” most recently serving as Israel’s ambassador to Azerbaijan.

It also said Deek is described as “the first Christian ambassador in Israel’s history,” and that he is a member of the Arab Christian community in Jaffa.

Middle East Monitor added that Deek’s father, Youssef Deek, previously served as head of the Orthodox Christian community in Jaffa and Israel.

Christian Post similarly reported that Deek grew up as an Israeli Arab Christian in Jaffa and that his father, Youssef Deek, served for many years as Chairman of the Orthodox Christian community in Jaffa and in Israel.

Christian Post also said Deek is Eastern Orthodox but has Armenian heritage through his father’s side, “embodying two of the largest Christian Arab denominations in the state of Israel.”

L’Orient Today said the appointment was announced by Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and that the envoy would help “deepen friendship and strengthen ties.”

Reactions to the envoy appointment ranged from praise to skepticism about whether the role could address broader controversies.

Christian Post said the appointment was greeted by “broad praise for the move as well as for Deek himself,” and it quoted Deek’s own statement on X where he wrote, “I accept this responsibility with gratitude, humility, and a deep sense of duty.”

Christian Post

It also quoted Deek saying, “Today, I feel I am closing a circle,” and described his account of “From the Sundays of my childhood sitting beside my father in church to this new diplomatic role.”

Christian Post included a congratulatory note from the Italian embassy in Israel, describing Deek as “a friend of Italy and has always worked with absolute dedication to advance bilateral relations.”

It also quoted Reverend Johnnie Moore on X, saying, “I want to thank Israel for appointing Ambassador George Deek as its Special Envoy to the Christian World.”

At the same time, Christian Post reported that Mariam Wahba said Deek is “the man for the job and has his work cut out for him,” and she added that “what is more important to Israel's relationship with the Christian world (whatever that means) is making sure someone is thinking about Christians at every level of government.”

L’Orient Today described the appointment as following “increasing pressure and negative diplomatic reactions,” and it said the envoy creation “falls more in line with crisis management.”

The envoy appointment was placed by outlets within a wider wartime and church-relations context that included Israel’s military operations in Lebanon and Gaza Strip and disputes involving Christian worship access.

“FOCUS Israel attempts to restore its image among Western Christians The appointment of a special envoy responsible for relations with Christian communities comes after several incidents targeting religious sites and figures”

Today

Middle East Online said the controversy unfolded alongside “Israel’s ongoing military operations in Lebanon and Gaza Strip,” and it described scrutiny from religious institutions concerned about historic Christian communities and sites.

Middle East Monitor

It also said churches and affiliated institutions in Gaza “have also not been spared damage,” further complicating Israel’s outreach to Christian audiences, particularly in the West.

Middle East Online further described tensions in Jerusalem, where it said Israeli police previously barred Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa from attending Palm Sunday ceremonies at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre before reversing course following international pressure.

It added that “Reports of assaults and harassment against clergy in the Old City, including spitting incidents by extremists,” deepened concern, and it said attacks ranged from “verbal abuse to physical assaults and damage to church property.”

L’Orient Today linked the envoy to “several incidents targeting religious sites and figures and symbols,” and it said the appointment was announced as Israel faced “increasing pressure and negative diplomatic reactions.”

Misbar reported that engagement around the Deir Mimas statue incident included “around 24,000 posts over two days,” shared by “more than 15,000 accounts,” reflecting how quickly narratives can spread during the broader conflict.