search

Deri, Herzog promise religious freedom won’t be cramped by new government

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

Appearing at an annual Christmas/New Years reception for Church leaders in Israel straight from the swearing-in of Israel’s 37th government, new Interior Minister Aryeh Deri promises that the government will protect religious freedom, and “will work for all citizens, regardless of religion, race, and sex.”

“As interior minister, I promise to continue helping the Arab community in Israel as I’ve done for decades,” he says at the President’s Residence event.

President Isaac Herzog says freedom of religion and the rights of minorities will always be protected in Israel. “This commitment goes beyond politics,” he says. “It goes to the very heart of who we are as a Jewish and democratic state.”

Herzog singles out Christian communities in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, saying, “All of these communities deserve to prosper and flourish, and to practice their faith fully and freely.”

Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.