StandWithUs Brazil Talks with Robert Stearns on Religious Freedom in Israel

In an interview with StandWithUs Brazil, Bishop Robert Stearns highlighted Israel as the only Middle Eastern nation with a growing Christian population, asserting it guarantees full religious freedom and expression for all minorities. He refuted claims of widespread hostility toward Christians, calling such narratives "industrialized emotional manipulation." Stearns, who has visited Israel over 150 times, stated he has never witnessed incidents like "spitting on Christians," attributing amplified stories to state and global actors using platforms like TikTok to distort Israel's image. André Lajst and Igor Sabino acknowledged that while Israeli soldiers sometimes violate conduct rules, the IDF has robust prosecution mechanisms, contrasting this with minimal media attention on similar or worse incidents in neighboring countries. They argued that Israel faces a double standard, being condemned for isolated incidents while systemic persecution of Christians in places like Iran and Lebanon goes largely unreported. Lajst emphasized the Judeo-Christian bond as foundational to Western civilization, and Stearns concluded that supporting Israel is a universal human duty for those who believe in human rights, peace, and tolerance.