Israel has appointed a new special envoy to the Christian world, the Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday, with the intention of deepening the country's ties with Christian communities worldwide.

The new appointment, George Deek, had previously been Israel's ambassador to Azerbaijan. He was also, the Foreign Ministry noted, Israel's first Christian ambassador in history.

"He is a member of the Arab-Christian community in Jaffa and has been active in this society from a young age," the Foreign Ministry stated, adding that his father, Yosef Deek, had been the chairman of the Christian-Orthodox community in Jaffa for many years.

Israel's Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa'ar, emphasized the importance Israel attaches to its relations with the Christian world. "I am confident that George, an esteemed and experienced diplomat, will contribute greatly to deepening the friendship and strengthening the ties between the State of Israel and the Christian world," he said.

Earlier this week, a photo of an IDF soldier smashing a statue of Jesus in a village in southern Lebanon spread online, inviting widespread condemnation.

The soldier's division commander removed the soldier who destroyed the Christian religious symbol and the soldier who photographed it from combat and sentenced them to 30 days in prison.

The IDF also attempted to replace the statue, but residents of the village, along with an Italian UNIFIL battalion, replaced the gifted statue with one identical to the smashed one.

Last month, the Israel Police clashed with the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa.

Pizzaballa, accompanied by the official guardian of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Father Francesco Ielpo, was going to the church to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass when police stopped them and forced them to turn back, the Latin Patriarchate said.

It was the first time in centuries that the heads of the church were prevented from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Yoav Etiel and Asher Smith contributed to this report.