Benjamin Netanyahu stirred a controversy with a line he attributed to the historian Will Durant. Speaking at a press briefing about the war in Iran, the Israeli prime minister said a historic comparison suggesting that Jesus Christ has no advantage over Gengis Khan. The comment spread quickly online and prompted criticism from Christian groups and many users on social media.
What he said and where it came from
At the briefing, Netanyahu cited Durant to make a point about power and survival. He said, in essence:
"Unfortunately, Jesus Christ has no advantage over Gengis Khan. Because if you are strong enough, ruthless enough, powerful enough, evil can triumph over good."
The remark was used to argue that moral rightness alone is not enough in international conflicts and to justify a firm defensive stance by democracies led by the United States.
Immediate reaction online
- The clip from the briefing went viral on the platform X, surpassing 20 million views.
- Videos with the comparison also accumulated thousands of views on other video platforms.
- Many commentators and members of the Christian community found the comparison offensive and criticized the prime minister.
Netanyahu's clarification
After the backlash, Netanyahu posted on X to clarify his intent. He said he did not mean to denigrate Jesus Christ and that he did not want to offend anyone. He reiterated that he was paraphrasing Durant's historical observation, and that his main point was about the need for democracies to defend themselves against aggressive actors.
The episode highlights how a historical quote, used in a live briefing about a tense foreign policy issue, can quickly become a cultural flashpoint when it touches on religious sensitivities.
