US: Hundreds demonstrate against Christian Zionism

A group of over 800 activists and faith leaders from multiple institutions gathered in Washington DC, protesting against the yearly conference of Christians United for Israel, according to The New Arab on July 3rd.

Christians United for Israel (CUFI) is a Christian Zionist group– lobbying for Israeli interests, such as advising politicians and paying towards officials’ visits to Israel.

The organisation, founded by televangelist John Hagee, has over 11 million members, making it the biggest Zionist organisation in the world. In comparison, the more prominent American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has five million members.

Hagee has drawn criticism for antisemitic and Islamophobic remarks, including a controversial statement suggesting that Adolf Hitler was sent by God. Christian Zionism, which CUFI promotes, is widely regarded as antisemitic by critics, due to its belief that Jews must return to Israel and displace Palestinians to bring about the end times.

The aim of these conferences, held in Washington DC, is to garner support for Israel, such as supporting Israel’s presence in the West Bank and US arms sales. 

The interfaith assembly held joint prayers to resist the CUFI, prompting more than 50 individuals to get arrested on July 1st. At the same time, hundreds more protesters coordinated online and gathered in groups near the conference, which took place between June 29th to July 1st.

Assata Dela Cruz, executive director of Tending Futures, stated publicly that for Black and Indigenous People of Faith, CUFI’s political agenda goes beyond foreign policy—it’s a “theological and colonial” attack on the very essence of life.

“CUFI’s belief that Palestinians must be removed from their ancestral lands to fulfil a prophecy mirrors the genocidal narratives used to dispossess Black and Indigenous people in the Americas.  It is a theology of conquest, not communion,” she continued.

Rabbi Abby Stein said: “Christian Nationalism and Christian Zionism is currently the greatest threat to safety, liberty, and justice for all Palestinians and Israelis wherever they live. Christian Zionism is part of one of the oldest, deadliest, historical antisemitic tropes: that Jews don’t belong or aren’t ‘loyal’ or “rooted” in the countries they live in, but rather belong in ‘the Holy Land’.” 

The New Arab