The massacre perpetrated by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, was the worst attack in Israel’s history. Over 1,200 people were murdered, thousands were injured and maimed, and 250 individuals were kidnapped and taken into Gaza. To this day, 50 of them remain in captivity, enduring unimaginable suffering. I mention this not because we need a reminder of these horrors—we are all painfully aware of them—but because this atrocity is part of a broader, ongoing religious war against Israel. The war waged by extremist Islamist forces began long before October 7, but that day serves as a grim case-in-point for those who misinterpret events in the Middle East as anything other than a religiously motivated conflict.

This is where my role—and that of my colleagues at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs—comes into play. We work to amplify the voices of good, of moderation, and of shared religious values. Our mission is to bring together faith communities—both in Israel and globally—to counter the exploitation and distortion of religion as a tool of hatred and warfare.

The Department of Religious Affairs at the Foreign Ministry engages directly with all religious communities represented in Israel. We maintain close ties with the Greek Orthodox, Latin, Armenian, Anglican, Russian, Ethiopian, Baptist, Assyrian, and other Christian churches. We also work closely with the Bahá’í faith, whose world center is situated in Israel, despite the religion having originated in Iran, where its followers face persecution. In Israel, the Bahá’í enjoy full recognition and support—from our ministry, the Ministry of Tourism, and others—helping them maintain their sites in Acre and Haifa and welcome volunteers and worshippers each year. Even during the ongoing Swords of Iron War, the Bahá’í continued to welcome international volunteers and stood by Israel in solidarity, particularly in the North.

In February, Dr. David Rutstein, secretary-general of the Bahá’í Universal House of Justice, and Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, qadi of the Druze community in Israel, represented the State of Israel at a major interfaith conference in Abu Dhabi. We also collaborate with the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, the Circassians, and various Evangelical organizations—many of whom have a long-standing presence in Israel, providing humanitarian aid to the elderly and Holocaust survivors and encouraging pilgrimage and solidarity. Despite the war, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem hosted hundreds of participants for its Feast of Tabernacles in October 2024—the largest delegation to visit Israel that year.

As part of the Israeli government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for cultivating positive relationships with countries and international organizations, ensuring Israel’s global standing, security, and prosperity. In today’s world—where religion is reemerging as a central theme in public life—we are leveraging our interfaith partnerships to strengthen diplomatic, social, and spiritual ties.

One of our guiding principles is the promotion of shared values as a bulwark against antisemitism and anti-Zionism. This can only be achieved through persistent relationship-building, mutual trust, and sincere cooperation. A striking example is the evolving partnership between Israel and India. Since the establishment of full diplomatic ties in 1992, relations have steadily deepened. During my two postings in India, I witnessed firsthand the growing emphasis placed by Prime Minister Modi on religious values rooted in Hinduism. Israel has long drawn parallels between its ancient traditions and those of India, and in recent years, this spiritual alignment has translated into real diplomatic momentum, culminating in joint agreements, investments, and even the announcement of the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) during India’s G20 presidency in 2023. I believe this vision of regional cooperation was one of the targets Hamas aimed to sabotage through its October 7 attack, under Iranian influence.

Our interreligious diplomacy extends internally as well. We maintain relationships with patriarchates and church leaders, as well as the diplomatic mission of the Holy See. Our goal is to ensure freedom of worship, minimize administrative friction, and guarantee safety for religious leaders, residents, and pilgrims alike.

Each year, we convene a Heads of Religions Conference, attended by the two chief rabbis of Israel, the qadi of the Druze, and representatives of all major churches and faiths. The most recent conference, held in December 2024, focused on interfaith solidarity during times of crisis. A recurring theme voiced by nearly all participants was the need to demonstrate unity: Rockets from Hamas, Hezbollah, or the Houthis do not distinguish between Jews, Christians, Druze, or Muslims—we are all equally at risk, and we must face these threats together.

This message of unity echoes across other events as well: the president’s annual Christmas and New Year reception for Christian leaders; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Iftar celebration—where one of the speakers this year was the father of Hisham al-Sayed, a Muslim Bedouin Israeli civilian held by Hamas for nearly a decade; and Haifa’s annual “Holiday of Holidays” festival, which celebrates religious coexistence.

Most symbolically, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre hosted the Holy Fire ceremony on April 19, with Easter Sunday for all Christian traditions the next day—coinciding with the final days of Passover. We pray together for the safe return of the remaining 59 hostages. And despite the hardship, we continue to open our doors, hearts, and holy sites to visitors, pilgrims, and those who still believe in the power of shared faith to overcome hate.