Israel Seeks to Strengthen Ties With U.S. Evangelicals

Solidifying its relationship with American evangelicals, the government of Israel has launched initiatives that include expenses-paid trips to the Holy Land and strategy sessions with the Christian Coalition and other conservative groups. The objectives: to revive Israel's sagging tourism industry and strengthen grass-roots political and other support in the United States.

The target audience is America's estimated 98 million evangelicals, but especially a subset of that group, Christian Zionists. These Christians believe that Jews are God's chosen people, with a divine deed to their contested land, in accordance with a covenant described in the first book of the Bible.

But Christian Zionism is about more than private belief. Its "anything for Israel" theology has the potential to affect American foreign policy in the same way that the Christian right has influenced domestic issues through political pressure. "If I felt the administration or anyone in Congress was moving away from support of Israel, believe me, I'd encourage people to pick up the phone and tell their legislators, `Don't you dare!'" said Janet Parshall, who hosts a weekday show syndicated on evangelical radio stations across the country.

One intriguing question, posed frequently in Israeli government and American evangelical circles, is whether President Bush, who has been outspoken in his evangelical beliefs, privately holds Christian Zionist views. "It's one of the common explanations (of) ... why and how Bush is sympathetic to Israel and its cause," said Moshe Fox, Israel's Washington-based minister of public affairs. "I haven't had a chance to talk to the president about this, but that view is out there and it is quite common."

White House spokesman Ken Lisaius would not comment on whether Bush's religious beliefs might affect his actions toward Israel. "The president makes policy decisions based on policy factors," Lisaius said.

It is clear, however, that Israel considers American evangelicals a vital constituency. "Are we increasing our efforts this year? Yes," said Rami Levi, Israel's New York City-based tourism commissioner for North America. "But we've been increasing our efforts for many years. What we know is evangelicals are very supportive of Israel. They see all of Israel -- not just our tourism, but our economy, our national interest -- as a love. It's their spiritual belief that that is the way it has to be. We can always rely on them."

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