01/20/2026
This week, senior church leaders in the Holy Land issued a public declaration condemning Christian Zionism as a “damaging ideology.”
The statement was signed by Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, alongside the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem, including leaders from Roman Catholic, Eastern Catholic, Orthodox, and other Christian denominations represented in the Holy Land. In their remarks, the church leaders claimed that Christian Zionism “misleads the public, sows confusion, and harms the unity of the Christian flock,” while asserting that they alone represent Christian religious and communal life in the region.
They further expressed concern that Christian Zionists have received recognition and access at official levels, both locally and internationally, framing this engagement as politically motivated and potentially harmful to the Christian presence in the Middle East.
According to the declaration, Christian Zionism has been embraced by certain political actors locally and internationally, and the church leaders asserted that they alone represent Christian religious and communal life in the region.
At ARISE, we believe this statement is deeply misguided and harmful.
Christian Zionism is not an ideology rooted in political manipulation or division. For millions of Christians worldwide, it is an expression of sincere faith, biblical conviction, moral clarity, and love for the Jewish people and the State of Israel. It is built on shared Judeo-Christian values: the sanctity of life, the pursuit of justice, the belief in human dignity, and the conviction that truth matters.
To portray Christian Zionists as a threat to unity misrepresents both their intent and their impact. Christian Zionists have stood consistently for peace, coexistence, humanitarian support, and religious freedom for all communities in the Holy Land. They have defended Israel not out of political convenience, but out of moral responsibility and spiritual conviction.
At a moment when truth is under attack, and Israel is increasingly isolated on the world stage, efforts to delegitimize Christian support for Israel undermine the very foundations of moral advocacy and shared values. As we also mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it is worth recalling that this clarity is not new: Dr. King spoke unapologetically as a Zionist, recognizing that anti-Zionism is antisemitism and that Israel’s right to exist is inseparable from the fight for justice and human dignity. For him, standing with Israel was not a political stance but a moral one, rooted in the same principles that fueled the civil rights movement: truth over falsehood, justice over hatred, and solidarity over silence.
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Christian Zionists around the world must not retreat or be discouraged. Instead, this is a time to reaffirm what Christian Zionism truly represents: standing with Israel, standing against hatred, and standing for the values that bind Jews and Christians together.
We encourage our community to speak with confidence and integrity. Share the truth. Engage respectfully. Stand publicly for Judeo-Christian values and for the enduring bond between Christians and the Jewish people.
Unity is not built by silencing conviction. It is built by standing firmly, honestly, and courageously for what is right.
Together, let us continue to advocate for truth, defend shared values, and strengthen the moral partnership that has shaped history and must continue to shape the future.
With resolve and faith,
Calev Myers
Founder, ARISE for Israel
We continue to pray and hope for the return of the last remaining hostag still held by Hamas.
