Three influential evangelical Christian leaders have reconfirmed the strategic and spiritual significance of the U.S.-Israel alliance, calling for unwavering support for Israel amid its ongoing conflict with Iran. The leaders, including Dr. Mike Evans and Pastor John Hagee, highlighted the deep historical and biblical connection between the Jewish people and their homeland, while condemning any efforts to undermine Israel’s sovereignty or appease Iran’s aggression. They also reiterated the importance of U.S. backing for Israel, framing the alliance as both a democratic and religious imperative.
Dr. Mike Evans, founder of Friends of Zion, emphasized that the evangelical community’s vote was pivotal in delivering the White House to President Donald Trump. He argued that the U.S. must support Israel’s biblical rights to its historical heartland, citing the Bible’s teachings as a foundation for this stance. Evans, who represents an organization claiming nearly 30 million members, stressed that the Trump administration’s strategy on Iran is both strategically sound and morally justifiable, as it offers Iran a way out but also threatens severe consequences should Iran attack U.S. interests in the Middle East.
Pastor John Hagee, founder of Christians United for Israel, noted that support for Israel has become a top priority for American evangelicals since the 9/11 attacks and in the wake of the Hamas attack on October 7. He dismissed any efforts to appease Iran or engage with terrorist groups as both politically and morally flawed. Hagee expressed confidence that President Trump would not be swayed by Iranian negotiators or American isolationists, and he called on the public to support Trump’s efforts to ensure Iran’s ‘defanging.’
Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, echoed these sentiments, stressing both the religious and strategic importance of backing Israel. He described Iran’s threats to Israel and the U.S. as clear indicators of a broader global conflict, and he called on Christians to pray for Jerusalem’s peace. Graham also emphasized that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East and that its survival is critical to maintaining freedom in the region.
The leaders also expressed concern over recent antisemitic attacks in the U.S., including the firebombing incident in Boulder, Colorado, and the shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. They criticized political delays in passing legislation to combat antisemitism, such as the Antisemitism Awareness Act and the Countering Hate Against Israel by Federal Contractors Act. They called for immediate legislative action to address the growing menace of antisemitism.
Additionally, the evangelical leaders warned against efforts to push for a Palestinian state, such as the French-Saudi-sponsored conference, arguing that the U.S. should not support such a move at the United Nations. They contended that the land-for-peace concept has failed, and that Israel’s survival requires a stance of moral clarity rather than territorial concessions.