Christian Zionism is reshaping US policy in the Middle East by transforming theological prophecy into territorial goals.
This movement, which interprets biblical scripture as a mandate for modern Israeli borders, now influences significant political, financial, and military support for Israel, according to an Al Jazeera documentary titled ‘Greater Israel’: How Christian Zionism Became Policy.
The movement centers on the belief that the modern state of Israel is a literal fulfillment of biblical covenant, a view held by many white evangelical Protestants. A 2018 LifeWay Research survey found that 80 percent of evangelicals believed Israel’s 1948 creation signaled the return of Christ. This conviction drives a potent voting bloc; Pew Research Center analysis of the 2024 election indicated that 82 percent of white evangelical voters supported Donald Trump.
"The bedrock of support for the State of Israel is there because American evangelicals think it will bring Jesus back quicker," said Frank Schaeffer, a former evangelical insider, in the documentary Praying for Armageddon. "And without the Republican bedrock evangelical voter, no Republican anywhere in America, for any office, gets elected. We don’t want peace, we being evangelicals. We want Armageddon."
The influence of this theology extends into the machinery of Washington, DC, through lobbying and direct advocacy. Christians United for Israel (CUFI), founded by Pastor John Hagee, claims more than 10 million members and serves as a major pro-Israel organization. OpenSecrets records show the CUFI Action Fund spent $679,410 on federal lobbying in 2025.
Translating Scripture into Geography
For many Christian Zionists, the biblical promise of land "from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates" is not metaphorical. In February 2026, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee discussed this passage with broadcaster Tucker Carlson. When asked if Israel had the right to all that land, Huckabee replied, "It would be fine if they took it all."
This vision aligns with the strategic goals of some Israeli political figures. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has publicly prayed for the expansion of Israel’s borders to facilitate "complete redemption." In 2017, Smotrich published his "Decisive Plan," which rejected Palestinian statehood in favor of permanent Israeli sovereignty or the defeat of those who resist.
Military Expansion and Buffer Zones
The application of this ideology has manifested in recent military actions across the region. Following the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad government in Syria, Al Jazeera reported that Israeli forces seized approximately 400 square kilometres of territory beyond the Golan Heights. While characterized by Israel as a temporary security measure, the expansion mirrors the long-term occupation of the Golan Heights, which was annexed after the 1967 war.
In southern Lebanon, the landscape is also being reorganized. Al Jazeera reports that Israeli forces have destroyed dozens of villages and established control that prevents thousands of residents from returning. By closing roads and damaging water infrastructure, the military presence creates conditions that make return impossible, effectively turning what is described as a security zone into a persistent political reality.
Christian Zionist networks channel money into Israeli causes
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews reports raising more than $3.6 billion since 1983, with 92 percent of donors identifying as Christian. The American outlet Mother Jones has documented the flow of funds from Christian Zionist groups toward Israeli initiatives, such as projects associated with the growth of settlements throughout the occupied West Bank.
While 80 percent of evangelicals surveyed by LifeWay Research linked Israel’s creation to biblical prophecy, political support remains concentrated within the Republican Party.
Data from the Pew Research Center indicate that 82 percent of white evangelicals cast ballots for Donald Trump in 2024, and a 2024 survey from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs revealed that 64 percent of white evangelicals viewed Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as justified—roughly twice the national average—with 60 percent opposing any reduction in US military aid to Israel.
What is the current status of the border zones in Syria and Lebanon?
According to Al Jazeera, Israeli forces continue to occupy territory in southern Syria.
Furthermore, Al Jazeera reported that Israeli military forces are currently holding dozens of southern Lebanese villages, an action that bars thousands of local residents from going back to their homes. Separate reporting indicated that war-related forced displacement directives were issued for over 100 Lebanese towns and villages, with the impact reaching well past the immediate border region.
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