| THE LIE Christians flourish in Russia while facing persecution in Israel. |
| THE TRUTH Christians enjoy far greater religious freedom in Israel than in Russia. |
| BACKGROUND On June 1, 2026, Buckley Carlson — who, like his brother Tucker, is strongly anti-Israel — posted a poll asking which country shares more cultural, religious, and moral common ground with Americans: Israel or Russia. (Buckley Carlson) The implication was that Russia is more closely aligned with the United States than Israel, including on matters of religion. The post sparked a heated debate over Christian religious freedom in both countries, with some claiming that Israel persecutes Christians while Russia is more welcoming to Christian practice. |
| TRUTH EXPLAINED Israel allows Christians to build churches, hold public services, preach, proselytize, operate schools and churches, and celebrate their faith freely, while Russia imposes significant restrictions on evangelicals, Protestants, Catholics, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and other non-Orthodox Christians. (Honest Reporting), (USCIRF) Israel legally protects Christian holy sites, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and guarantees unrestricted access to some of Christianity’s holiest places. Russia, meanwhile, restricts religious activity through the 2016 Yarovaya “anti-missionary law,” along with anti-extremism statutes, fines, raids, and bureaucratic barriers that limit evangelism and religious expression. (OHCHR), (State Department), (USCIRF) Israel’s Christian population has grown roughly 400% since 1948 to approximately 180,000–185,000 people today, making it the only country in the Middle East where the Christian population is growing. (CBS) In a 2024 survey, 84% of Israeli Christians reported satisfaction with life in Israel. (CBS) Israel’s commitment to religious liberty is embedded in its founding principles: the Declaration of Independence enshrines freedom of religion, the 1967 Protection of Holy Sites Law safeguards Christian holy sites, and the government publicly condemns attacks on Christians. (Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs), (Knesset) Russia’s religious freedom record is so poor that the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) consistently designates it a Country of Particular Concern. (USCIRF) In Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory, authorities have banned religious groups, criminalized religious materials, raided houses of worship, imprisoned clergy, damaged hundreds of religious sites, allegedly abducted and tortured to death Orthodox priest Stepan Podolchak, and sentenced priest Kostiantyn Maksimov to 14 years in prison after he refused to transfer his parish to the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. (USCIRF) Religious practice reflects the difference in climate: 55% of Russians do not attend religious services at all, while 34% of Israeli Christians pray daily and 38% attend church at least once a week. (Evangelical Focus), (Wikipedia) |
| QUOTES “Religious freedom conditions in Russia are particularly severe as the government criminalizes the activities of multiple peaceful religious groups, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, often labeling such organizations as ‘terrorist,’ ‘extremist,’ or ‘undesirable.’ Russia frequently persecutes religious leaders for expressing religiously-based opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and enforces its legal framework on the religious activity on the Ukrainian territory it illegally occupies.” – USCIRF |
| TAKEAWAY When it comes to genuine tolerance and freedom for Christians, Israel is clearly superior to Russia. Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Christians are free to worship openly, build churches, run schools, and grow in number — protected by law and treated as full citizens. Israeli authorities condemn and police anti-Christian hate crimes, and Christianity thrives there with full access to its holiest biblical sites.Russia, on the other hand, heavily favors the Russian Orthodox Church while using harsh laws to restrict, fine, raid, and suppress other Christian denominations. For Protestants, evangelicals, Catholics, and independent believers who want real religious liberty, Israel offers far greater freedom and security. Israel doesn’t just allow Christianity — it preserves the Christian faith’s sacred heartland. |
