A Palestinian research group has launched a new initiative to counter pro-Zionist views among Christians, particularly in the United States. The campaign seeks to reverse positive attitudes toward Zionism and Israel by identifying the religious beliefs and organizations that foster them, then counter them with alternative teachings through churches, clergy, seminaries and youth institutions. It would also offer Holy Land pilgrimages presented through Palestinian narratives, with success measured by changes in church teachings, educational programs and positions on Israel and Palestinian rights.
The Palestine Strategy Group (PSG), working with Jordan’s Politics and Society Institute, has presented a study titled Toward a Palestinian Strategy to Confront Christian Zionism, based on two years of research. While the United States is its principal focus, the study also examines Brazil, Nigeria and South Korea, where Christian religious movements influence public attitudes and government policies toward Israel. The strategy involves tracking Christian Zionist groups, their funders, media activities and political connections. It identifies three religious foundations of Christian Zionism to confront, including biblical prophecies about the end times, beliefs associating support for Israel with divine blessings, and the continuing biblical covenant between God and the Jewish people.
The initiative builds on PSG’s previous efforts to influence American religious and political opinion. In a 2023 strategy report, Reframing Palestinian Advocacy in the US, the organization identified declining support for Israel among younger evangelicals as an opportunity for Palestinian advocacy. It also examined differences among American Jewish organizations, explicitly recommending that Palestinian advocates “exploit the growing pockets of contention” between mainstream pro-Israel groups and more liberal Jewish constituencies.
The 2023 report identifies Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs as its funder. PSG’s previous research projects have also received European Union funding. As Jewish Onliner reported in its November 11 investigation, PSG’s Jordanian partner previously benefited from USAID-backed institutional assistance. However, the funding source for the newly announced Christian Zionism study remains unidentified.
What makes this initiative particularly troubling is the extent to which it seeks to turn Christian religious institutions into instruments of an anti-Zionist political campaign. Building on earlier efforts to influence American churches, the new strategy proposes a more systematic attempt to alter Christian teachings and practices. It raises disturbing questions about the deliberate use of religious beliefs and education to undermine Christian support for Israel.
