Israeli Prime Minister has issued a warning about a coordinated push, both within the United States and internationally, aimed at weakening the connection between Christians and Jews.
During an event held last month in Jerusalem, which included the presence of , spiritual advisor to President Donald Trump and leader of the White House Office of Faith and Anti-Semitism, Netanyahu remarked that the “partnership that champions Judeo-Christian values, which safeguards Israel’s Christians uniquely in the Middle East, is seeing that truth undermined.”
He further elaborated, stating, “As part of this ongoing effort, Israel is currently being depicted as a menace to Christians.”
Netanyahu highlighted that Israel provides a sanctuary for Christians — an exceptional situation in a region where Christians frequently endure persecution. He cited Nazareth as an example where Christian life flourishes openly, drawing a contrast with Bethlehem, where the Christian demographic significantly decreased—from 80% to below 20%—following Israel’s withdrawal and the Palestinian Authority’s assumption of control, which resulted in diminished safeguards for the community.
Pastor John Hagee, the influential Founder and Chairman of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), observed that marginal online provocateurs and political figures are driven by two separate motivations in their criticisms of Israel.
“Genuine narcissists, irrespective of their political stance, will seek notoriety through antisemitic opposition if they feel their prominence is waning. Regrettably, promoting antisemitism offers one of the quickest routes to infamy,” he shared with Digital.
“For those who genuinely harbor animosity towards Jews, Christian Zionism is rightly seen as the primary defense against increasing antisemitism in America. As Israel’s Minister for Strategic Affairs [] has noted, Christian Zionism forms the foundation of American backing for Israel.
“Individuals who despise Israel and wish for its destruction comprehend that the Jewish-Christian partnership obstructs their nefarious objectives; it logically follows that they would try to create a rift between Jews and Christians. Our bond directly and unequivocally disproves their malicious ideology and goals,” he explained.
Hagee also cautioned that anti-Israel narratives are gaining increased visibility online and in mainstream media “solely for the advantage of Palestinian terrorists.”
In his address, Netanyahu specifically addressed certain media voices. “Therefore, Israel, which acts as the protector of Christianity in the Middle East, is depicted on American television by paid influencers as the adversary of Christianity. What absurdity, what falsehoods. What a distortion of reality,” he asserted.
“We must contend for our shared values, we must uphold the truth. And by upholding the truth, you align with Israel, and you stand alongside the Jewish people against this egregious collection of untruths,” he concluded.
Netanyahu’s remarks were made amidst recent accusations alleging that extremist settlers had attacked a historical church in the West Bank, and that the IDF had intentionally struck a church in Gaza.
In mid-July, the Council of Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem asserted that “radical Israelis” had deliberately ignited a fire close to the Church of Saint George in Taybeh. Nevertheless, the Israel Police subsequently verified that the ancient church structures remained unharmed and that the blaze, whose origin was unknown, was limited to an adjacent open space.
Separately, the IDF acknowledged that a mortar strike on July 17 on the was due to an “unintended deviation of munitions.” An inquiry determined that the church was inadvertently struck during military operations in Gaza City. The military stated it arranged humanitarian assistance to the church and coordinated a visit by clergy from both the Greek and Latin Patriarchates.
Dr. Mike Evans, who founded the Friends of Zion Heritage Center in Jerusalem and previously served as an evangelical advisor to President , highlighted the substantial financial investment—billions of dollars—made by entities hostile to Israel to sway the opinions of young individuals on American university campuses.
“The fundamental aspect of this viewpoint is a conviction that Israel’s very existence is unlawful. This is a claim they do not make about any other nation globally, regardless of its tumultuous beginnings. This conviction leads to the killing of Jews. Anti-Zionism constitutes antisemitism,” he stated.
“My advice to Christians who adhere to the Bible is to disseminate a biblical perspective asserting that Israel is the land of the Bible. The Protestant evangelical church in Germany, for example, aligned itself with the Nazi party, displayed swastikas on its altars, and held the belief that God had appointed the chancellor.
“This occurred because they dismissed a biblical understanding and adopted what is known as ‘replacement theology.’ This is precisely why I have created a comprehensive curriculum designed to educate the church and its leadership,” Evans explained.
David Parsons, Senior Vice President and Spokesman for the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ), informed Digital that — having roots spanning decades, if not centuries—has expanded to unparalleled heights, although it is facing significant challenges during the conflict against Hamas in Gaza.
“Its origins precede Trump and Netanyahu, and it will endure long after these leaders have departed,” he commented.
“It is imperative that we hand over this responsibility to a new generation, and this is where the difficulty arises, as many young Christians do not subscribe to the same reasoning for supporting Israel as their elders, much of which was founded on specific prophetic interpretations and charts regarding Israel’s significance,” he added.
“We view it as God honoring his covenant pledges to the patriarch Abraham four millennia ago. If God remains true to what he pledged to the Jewish people thousands of years past, then he will also remain true to what he has pledged to us under the new covenant,” he stated.
Parsons pointed out that providing young Christians with direct, firsthand experiences in Israel assists in fostering this connection.
“Many young evangelical supporters of Israel are not exposed to environments where they are being prejudiced against Israel, which gives us optimism,” he remarked.
“Witnessing Israel’s remarkable achievements—such as the pager operation [against Hezbollah] and their swift victory over Iran in 12 days—is bound to impress a young individual with Israel’s innovative spirit and resourcefulness,” he continued. “Eventually, after the Gaza situation is resolved, an entirely new generation of Christians will be sufficiently intrigued to visit and explore.”