Identifying Friend or Foe: Standing with Israel & the Jewish People
Dear friends in the Messiah,
Shalom in His grace! By the time you read this newsletter, I will be in Israel, touring, sharing the gospel, conducting a retreat with forty-five Israeli young adult congregational leaders, and dedicating our new facility in Tel Aviv! What a great opportunity to be part of building the body of believers in Israel. You have a major role in this ministry through your prayers and support. So, thank you.
I know that, without your partnership, these ministries among the Jewish people throughout the globe, and especially in Israel, would be impossible!
I am sorry to say that at the time of this writing, the war continues to rage between Israel and Hamas, and hostages are still imprisoned within Gaza by evil forces. Without diminishing the profound tragedy unfolding before our eyes, this conflict sometimes reminds me of the arcade game “Whac-A-Mole;” every time we think the enemy is beaten down, they resurface and attack in unexpected ways. This reality has been deeply frustrating for Israel and for those of us who love and pray for the Jewish nation.
The challenge extends far beyond Hamas alone—it includes Iran and its numerous proxies across the region. Similarly, global antisemitism is still on the increase and sometimes dressed in modern anti-Israel garb. Just when we believe this ancient hatred has been eradicated, stereotyping and antisemitic tropes that disparage the Jewish people emerge in new forms and unexpected places.
Shifting Tides of Support & Opposition
Amid these challenges, we find both encouraging and concerning developments around the world. Argentina, for example, is a nation with a harsh history of antisemitism, yet it is now experiencing a remarkable transformation. When I first visited Argentina in 1976 with my Argentine Jewish wife of one year, we saw piles of antisemitic literature being sold openly at book kiosks in broad daylight! These books included The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a nineteenth-century Russian libelous tale that falsely portrays Jewish people plotting world domination. Today, however, Argentina’s 300,000 Jewish citizens (within a population of almost 30 million) find themselves with a president who has expressed interest in converting to Judaism! What a remarkable difference—a favorable “king” with no evil Haman in sight!
Conversely, we face growing concerns in regions that were once stalwart allies. For many years, the British Isles maintained strongly pro-Jewish and pro-Israel positions. Lord Arthur Balfour, best known as the author of the 1917 Balfour Declaration, expressed support for the founding of the State of Israel in the very land God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He and other British political and religious leaders worked diligently to help the Jewish people establish Israel as a Jewish homeland. Much of this support was biblically based, and a love for Zion was a cherished value among most British Christians.
Yet, today, the tide has dramatically shifted. This change is even more evident in Ireland. Allow me to present some recent survey data that illustrates this concerning trend. But first, there is good news for American Christians!
American Christians: Standing with Israel
Earlier this year, Chosen People Ministries released brand-new survey results to American audiences. The survey revealed that American Christians are significantly more likely than their British counterparts to support Israel in the ongoing conflict between Hamas and the Jewish state.
The research, led by two respected US-based university professors, reveals stark differences in Christian attitudes toward Jewish people and Israel on opposite sides of the Atlantic: 42.3 percent of American Christians express support for Israel compared to just 23.6 percent of British Christians.
“In nearly every measure, American Christians expressed stronger pro-Israel views and lower levels of antisemitism than British Christians,” explained Motti Inbari, professor of Jewish studies at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Inbari co-authored this groundbreaking research with Kirill Bumin, associate dean of Boston University’s Metropolitan College. Bumin added, “American Christians generally have a higher opinion of Jewish people than their British counterparts. Overall, the statistical data shows that 58.5 percent of US Christians view Jewish people favorably, compared to 50.6 percent of British Christians.”
Concerning Trends in the UK and Ireland
“We are in an epidemic—even a pandemic—right now of resurging antisemitism. It is hard to imagine that the world’s oldest hatred is new again,” noted Michael Rydelnik, vice president/academic dean and professor of Jewish studies and Bible at Moody Bible Institute, when referencing these studies at a Chosen People Ministries-sponsored event at last year’s National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) convention. Many evangelical Christians in attendance at the NRB expressed surprise upon learning about this modern resurgence of antisemitism and pledged their support by affirming our Coalition against Antisemitism’s founding statement.
You can read this wonderful statement at opposeantisemitism.com
When examining specific antisemitic attitudes, the differences in the survey between the US and the UK become even more pronounced. The “dual loyalty” trope—the notion that Jewish people are more loyal to Israel than to the country they live in—remains the most widely accepted antisemitic attitude in both nations. However, 46 percent of British respondents considered this “probably true” compared to 33.6 percent of Americans.
On other sensitive issues, the disparity continues. When asked if “Jews still talk too much about what happened in the Holocaust,” 22 percent of American Christians agreed it was “probably true,” compared to 33 percent—one-third—of British Christians. Additionally, one in ten American Christians agreed that “it’s definitely not antisemitic to say that Israel does not have the right to exist,” compared to one in six British Christians.
Regarding the conflict in Gaza, 26.5 percent of American Christians believe Israel has committed genocide there, compared to a staggering 47 percent—almost half—of British Christians.
Nearly four in ten British Christians felt it was “probably true” that Israel “deliberately targets Palestinian civilians,” compared to two in ten American Christians.
The situation in Ireland is even more concerning. According to the research, Irish Christians display antisemitic attitudes at rates three times higher than Americans.
Only 11 percent of Irish Christians support Israel in the recent conflict, compared to the 45 percent siding with Palestinians.
Two-thirds of Irish respondents believe Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.
The survey revealed that 36 percent of Irish Christians believe Jewish people have too much power in the business world, while 31 percent believe Jewish people “do not care what happens to anyone but their own kind” and are hated “because of the way they behave.”
“Anti-Israel attitudes are ‘deeply embedded’ and ‘pervasive’ in Ireland,” said Bumin, adding that this level of prejudice is disturbing to witness in a Western democracy.
Inbari remarked that it is “like we’re living in medieval times.”
Biblically-Based Support: A Key Difference
What might explain these significant differences between the US and the UK or Ireland? Our research suggests that a deeper biblical understanding of the role of Israel and the Jewish people in God’s plan plays a crucial role. More than a quarter (27.9 percent) of American Christians said their support for Israel is positively influenced by understanding that Jesus was Jewish, whereas only 16.9 percent of British Christians acknowledged this influence.
Nearly half of American Christians believe that God’s covenant with the Jewish people, as recorded in Genesis, still applies today, compared to just over a third of British Christians.
While the US study reveals a bit of good news, with ongoing support for Israel, we were concerned about those numbers decreasing among younger audiences. The UK results were not good news and serve as a cautionary tale for where the United States might be headed if American Christians do not sink our spiritual roots more deeply into Scripture and get more involved in actively standing against antisemitism in our communities.
After all, the Lord said to Abram,
“And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse” (Genesis 12:3).
These words are still true today.
A Call to Continued Prayer and Vigilance
We are so grateful for your faithful support of Israel and the Jewish people. Your biblical understanding and compassion have made a profound difference during these challenging times.
Your prayers, advocacy, and friendship matter tremendously to Jewish communities, both in Israel and around the world.
Yet, we must remain vigilant and continue to pray—as individuals and in our churches and congregations. The concerning trends on university campuses with pro-Hamas, anti-Israel, and anti-Jewish protests remind us that antisemitism can take root anywhere if left unchallenged.
We cannot assume that America’s generally positive attitudes will continue without intentional effort from believers like you and me who understand God’s heart for His chosen people.
As we witness the troubling shifts in the UK and Ireland—historically “Christian” countries—let us recommit ourselves to standing firmly against antisemitism in all its forms. We must educate younger generations about the biblical and historical connections between the Old and New Testaments!
Please, let us also remember to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, knowing our support for Israel reflects not only our biblical values but also our commitment to standing against hatred wherever it emerges.
The Jewish people have faced countless moments throughout history when antisemitism emerged and re-emerged in new and dangerous forms. But together, with God’s help and with committed Christians like you standing in solidarity, we can ensure that love, truth, and justice prevail.
We join the apostle Paul in his prayers, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation” (Romans 10:1).
Thank you for being true friends of Israel, the Jewish people, and Chosen People Ministries—Your Mission to the Jewish People—during these difficult and challenging times.
In the Messiah’s love,
Mitch