A message to our Israeli friends

Today many Israelis are asking: What is happening in America? From the rise of antisemitism to the erosion of support for Israel — even in circles once considered reliable allies — the confusion is understandable. I write to you not only as the USA President of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ USA) but as an evangelical Christian leader whose movement remains firmly committed to the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

Let me begin with clarity: Evangelical support for Israel has not wavered. But we are confronting a perfect storm — a spiritual battle. And this spiritual battle manifests itself through political antisemitism, theological distortions, biblical illiteracy, radical ideologies, and the media propaganda war.

A Dangerous Shift on the American Left Impacting Gen Z

The ideological left in the United States has become the epicenter of anti-Israel activism. Since the October 7 attacks, a tidal wave of antisemitism has swept across college campuses and youth culture. Many young Americans have been discipled not in history or the Bible, but in radicalized online ecosystems funded and influenced by radical leftist philanthropists, ideologues, and professors, as well as foreign interests, including Qatar, the primary governmental patron of the Muslim Brotherhood.

This is why students chant slogans they do not understand, defend terror groups they cannot define, and repeat classic antisemitic tropes with total confidence. These aren’t fringe phenomena — they are mainstream sentiments among younger progressives, many of whom have never learned the biblical story of Israel or even basic facts about Jewish history.

In this vacuum, falsehood thrives.

A Troubling Surge on the American Right

For years, American Christians assumed that antisemitism was a problem mostly linked to the far left. But the conservative movement is now facing its own fracture. Popular right-wing personalities such as Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens, among others, none of whom represent evangelical Christianity, have nevertheless become influential voices within conservative media. Along with a new wave of self-described “America First” influencers, they have begun promoting narratives that diminish Israel, cast suspicion on Jewish influence, or advocate for an isolationist “America Only” policies in the face of global evil.

This distortion of “America First” into “America Only” is extremely dangerous. Abandoning Israel does not strengthen America — it weakens the moral, spiritual, and geopolitical foundations of Western civilization itself.

In a recent ACLI meeting, Christian leaders expressed grave concern about this shift, particularly as younger conservatives increasingly consume content from voices openly platforming antisemites like Nick Fuentes. Many of these influencers now use explicitly antisemitic language, recycle classic antisemitic tropes, or question Israel’s very legitimacy.

The Crisis Within Parts of the Church

Evangelicals differ from Catholics and mainline Protestant denominations in one crucial regard: our foundational belief in the authority of Scripture. This is why evangelicals, more than any other Christian group, have stood with Israel for decades. Other Christian traditions often view Scripture more allegorically or hold to interpretations informed by Replacement Theology, the false belief that the church has replaced Israel.  Replacement Theology has always been fertile soil for antisemitism. 

However, the evangelical movement has seen a steep decline in biblical literacy in recent years, especially among our young people. When biblical literacy collapses, so does the theological foundation for Israel’s legitimacy. In many mainline denominations, this erosion happened decades ago; today, we see signs of it emerging among biblically illiterate evangelicals as well. This decline has opened the door to a troubling increase in the spread of Replacement Theology within the Evangelical community. As fewer Christians understand the biblical promises made to the Jewish people, they become increasingly susceptible to these teachings that negate Israel’s biblical role and undermine their commitment to stand with the Jewish people.

Yet Amid Crisis, Hope

Despite the turbulence, I want Israelis to hear something important: you are not alone. Evangelical Christians — hundreds of millions of us — are not moving away from Israel. We are doubling down. We are working to find ways to counteract the destructive trends we see and welcome partnerships with Jewish and Israeli organizations.  We are stronger together.

Just two weeks ago, the Christian Embassy partnered with the Combat Antisemitism Movement to host a summit that welcomed nearly 300 emerging Christian leaders. For two days these young leaders came together to learn how to recognize antisemitism and to strategize how to fight it.

Earlier this year, we co-hosted a gathering of 300 pastors and rabbis in Washington, D.C. and reminded our government that support for Israel is not just a Jewish issue — it is an American imperative. 

A Final Word 

In the face of these challenges, we take courage from the biblical stories that continue to guide us:

Esther, who fasted, prayed and spoke up for her people despite the risk; and Ruth, who pledged to Naomi, “Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” This is our commitment to the people of Israel. It’s not transactional — it’s covenantal.

We are also inspired by the story of Gideon, whose army was reduced to a faithful remnant. God does not need a majority to change history. He works through a remnant — those who remain steadfast when others fall away.

Do not mistake the loudest American voices for the truest ones.

Evangelical Christians remain where we have always been: shoulder to shoulder with the Jewish people, committed to the peace and security of the State of Israel, and anchored in the unbreakable promises of God.