A Few Reasons Why Christian Nationalists Are Concerned About Israel

When it comes to Christian nationalism in the United States, there’s a complicated and often contradictory relationship with antisemitism. On the one hand, many Christian nationalists are vocal supporters of Israel, but dig a little deeper, and you’ll find that this support is often tied up with beliefs that are, at their core, antisemitic. Frederick Clarkson, one of the leading voices on the subject, helps us understand how this works.

Let’s start with the theology. A lot of Christian nationalists adhere to something called Christian Zionism, which is tied to their interpretation of biblical prophecy. According to them, for the Second Coming of Jesus to happen, the Jews need to return to Israel and take control of all the land, especially Jerusalem. So, the expansion of Israel? That’s not just about politics for them—it’s a key part of their religious beliefs. But here’s the catch: in their view, the Jews either have to convert to Christianity or face damnation. It’s not about respecting Judaism or the Jewish people. It’s about using them to fulfill a prophecy, which strips Israeli Jews of their agency and identity. That’s what makes it antisemitic.

Then there’s the political side. Christian nationalists generally align with extreme authoritarian politics, both in the U.S. and globally, which explains why they’re often such big supporters of Israel’s right-wing government. But it’s not just about liking Israel’s policies—it’s also wrapped up in a larger, anti-Islamic sentiment. To them, Israel represents the “civilized” Judeo-Christian West, while Palestinians, who are predominantly Muslim, are cast as part of an “enemy” force. This binary view reinforces their support for Israel, but it’s also rooted in an exclusionary, us-versus-them mindset.

And don’t forget about the conspiracy theories. Christian nationalists have long invoked old antisemitic tropes about Jewish control over the media, finance, and global politics. These are the same ideas that have been used for centuries to scapegoat Jews for the world’s problems. Even if they don’t say it out loud, these conspiracy theories are just below the surface, and they feed into the broader Christian nationalist worldview.

What about the idea of a “Christian nation”? At its heart, Christian nationalism is all about Christian supremacy. They want to make the U.S. a “Christian nation,” and that doesn’t leave much room for other religious beliefs—Judaism included. Jews, along with other non-Christians, are seen as secondary or incomplete in comparison to Christianity. That’s why, despite their vocal support for Israel, Christian nationalists often hold views that are exclusionary and, ultimately, antisemitic.

What we’re seeing is a tangled web of theology, politics, and conspiracy that gives Christian nationalism its strange relationship with Jews and Israel. They may support Israel, but that support is conditional and often rests on deeply antisemitic beliefs.

So, in the end, we need to recognize that U.S. leaders who have strong support from Christian nationalists are much more likely to be more aggressive in their support for efforts to increase the territory under the control of the state of Israel, and those efforts, as we’ve seen over decades, are resulting in the systematic destruction of Palestine and Palestinian people based on deliberate targeting based on race, ethnicity, nationality, and/or religion or, in other words, genocide.