Senior Christian leaders in Jerusalem have singled out “Christian Zionism” and political actors linked to Israel as a serious threat to Christianity, warning against outside interference damaging the unity and future of Christianity in the Holy Land.
The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in the Holy Land affirmed in a statement released on Saturday that recent activities by local individuals advancing “damaging ideologies, such as Christian Zionism”, which mislead the public, sow confusion, and harm the unity of our flock.
“Recent activities undertaken by local individuals who advance damaging ideologies, such as Christian Zionism, mislead the public, sow confusion, and harm the unity of our flock. These undertakings have found favour among certain political actors in Israel and beyond who seek to push a political agenda which may harm the Christian presence in the Holy Land and the wider Middle East.
“Holy Scripture teaches us that “we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:5). To claim authority outside the communion of the Church is to wound the unity of the faithful and burden the pastoral mission entrusted to the historic churches in the very land where our Lord lived, taught, suffered, and rose from the dead.
“The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches further note with concern that these individuals have been welcomed at official levels both locally and internationally. Such actions constitute interference in the internal life of the churches and disregard the pastoral responsibility vested in the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem.
“The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem reiterate that they alone represent the Churches and their flock in matters pertaining to Christian religious, communal, and pastoral life in the Holy Land.
“May the Lord, who is the Shepherd and Guardian of souls, grant wisdom for the protection of His people and the safeguarding of His witness in this sacred land.”
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The intervention comes amid growing concern among Palestinian Christians that Israel’s policies – including land confiscation, illegal settlement expansion, and pressure on church property – are accelerating the erosion of one of the world’s oldest Christian communities.
A powerful strand of evangelical Christianity in the United States continues to shape political and financial support for Israel, drawing growing concern from church leaders in Jerusalem.
Zionism pushing Christian nationalism
In the West, a new phenomena has emerged where pro-Israel far-right activists have begun embracing or pushing a Christian nationalist political ideology which preaches a bitter hatred of Muslims, Arabs and Palestinians while coincidentally also passionately defends Israel and Zionism.
In the US, the movement has generically become known as the “Israel First movement” in contrast to the “America First” or MAGA movement.
Both are political movements backed by right-wing forces but the split has surfaced over a debate regarding the relationship between Washington and Tel Aviv and the influence of Israeli lobbyists in right-wing nationalist circles.
Senior Christian figures in America such as Tucker Carlson have spoken out and warned Christian Americans against the influence of pro-Israel conservatives within the MAGA movement for pushing an Israeli agenda on to Americans.
In August 2025, Carlson interviewed an Orthodox Nun, Mother Agapia Stephanopoulos, who explained in detail the hardships Christians face in Gaza and occupied Palestine amid oppressive rule by Israel. She also spoke out passionately against Christian Zionism in the West and how it has undermined Christianity in Israel’s favour.
Editorial credit: Lois GoBe / Shutterstock.com
The UK has its own version of the Israel First Christian nationalist movement, headed by notorious Islamophobe Tommy Robinson.
Robinson heads an aggressive and anti-social street movement which targets Muslims, the pro-Palestine movement and other immigrant communities but also praises Israel and defends the genocidal war on Gaza.
Robinson has been condemned by religious leaders of the Church of England for pushing intolerant and hateful messages under a Christian banner.
Another prominent Christian activist, Dr Reverend Stephen Sizer, told 5Pillars in December that he believed Robinson had hijacked Christianity in order to push a pro-Israel message onto the wider public.
“Behaviour is evidence of belief. My assessment is that Tommy Robinson is not following Jesus. Clearly not following Jesus. I don’t see any evidence that he is a Christ follower. I don’t see a love for the stranger and love of the foreigner He is exploiting Christianity as a way to push his own ideology.”
It appears that Israel may be allying and educating far-right activists to adopt and push an Israeli-backed interpretation of Christianity, the same Christian Zionism which has now been condemned by highly revered Christians in Jerusalem.
