Shadi Khalloul of the Israeli Christian Aramaic Association warned Tommy Robinson that Islam colonized the Middle East, using Lebanon as an example to argue that the religion could eventually dominate European countries.
Khalloul, a leader of the Indigenous Christian community in Israel, described his group as one of the oldest continuously existing Christian populations, tracing their roots to the time of Jesus Christ. He emphasized that his community speaks Aramaic, the language of biblical times, and highlighted their historical connection to early Christianity.
The religious figure cited the 7th-century expansion of Islam as a “colonization” of the region, referring to it as an “invasion” and “occupation.” He contrasted this with the current situation in Israel, where he claimed Christians enjoy equal rights alongside Jews, Muslims, and other groups. Khalloul argued that Israel’s democratic system has preserved the Christian community in the Middle East, unlike neighboring countries such as Egypt and Syria, where Christians face oppression.
He also pointed to Israeli military actions in Lebanon, asserting they prevented the eradication of Christians there. Khalloul warned that without such interventions, Christians could be “wiped out” in regions like Lebanon, which he noted was once predominantly Christian. He cautioned Europe, stating that Islamic influence could grow until it “controls your country,” leaving people to “beg them to survive in the U.K.”
