The Great Undoing – The Reversal of the American-Israeli Relationship

The American-Israeli relationship has been touted as one of the greatest alliances in history, and in many ways this is true. America was integral in the rebirth of the Jewish state, and it can rightly be said that were it not for the efforts of US President Harry S. Truman and the influence of American Jews, Israel would not have become a nation. No other nation enjoys American benefits like Israel does. America supplies Israel with unmatched defense funds and weapons, and more than any other nation, America has used their enormous sway to influence international policies in Israel’s favor.

This relationship dates back to the years surroundings Israel’s rebirth and continues in many ways to this day. But today, we are seeing many Americans turning on Israel, some even viewing Israel as the new “Nazis”. How is this possible, and why is this happening?

Israel at the Return of Jesus

Despite the close-knit relationship which has existed since Israel’s rebirth, Bible students have been expecting Israel to stand alone against her enemies because of what God has revealed through His prophets. The Scriptures show that Israel’s isolation amongst the nations is intimately tied with their redemption. It is only when Israel stands alone against her enemies and faces an hour of desperation that they cry out for their Messiah. At present, Israel is a proud, confident nation, but as Christ himself told the nation, “Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Luke 13:35).

These words are a callback to what the Jews said when they welcomed Jesus as their king in Matthew 21:9-11 – And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.  (10)  And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?  (11)  And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

“Hosanna!” means literally, “O save!” At that time, the Jews recognized Christ as the Son of David and their Messiah, and they were calling for him to save them. But it was not time, and Jesus ascended to his Father’s right hand and has been there ever since. Jews today deny Jesus, believing that their Messiah’s identity is still unknown, and Christ’s message to the nation in Luke 13 was that they would not see him again until they assumed that same disposition as before. Given that the current state of Israel is a prideful nation, we find that they will only cry out for their Messiah in their hour of desperation (see Zechariah 12:2-5, Psalm 83 for example). The picture we’re given in prophecy is therefore of a nation which is pitted against a hoard of enemies all on their own, and seeing that they will not likely win this conflict, they cry out to their Messiah, “Hosanna!”, or “O save!”

If Israel is to face her enemies on her own, this necessitates that there must be a change in the American-Israeli relationship. Prophecy does not tell us how Israel comes to stand alone, but merely that they will. We therefore confess that we can’t definitively say how that will happen, but looking at the political climate of our day, I believe we are witnessing those very developments which will fulfill this portion of prophecy.

America’s historic support for Israel since its rebirth has been built upon certain pillars, and over the last few decades, those pillars which formed the strong American support for Israel are all have been cracking. A book called We Are Not One by Eric Alterman explains the history of this relationship, why it existed in the first place, and why it is changing today. Time and space only permit for us to mention a few of the factors.

From Liberal Underdog to Conservative Champion

The story of America itself is that of a freedom-fighting underdog against the giant oppressor Britian, so American sympathies naturally lie with others who face similar circumstances. In light of the Holocaust, this is how the Jews were viewed by Americans in the mid-20^th century. This view was bolstered by the fact that once Israel became a state, it was small little and surrounded by larger, more numerous Arab nations which sought its destruction.

Eric Alterman explains that “Prior to 1967, Israel enjoyed broad support in the United States, especially among liberals and leftists. It was perceived to be a Spartan, socialist, anti-imperialist nation and very much an underdog in its constant battle with the surrounding Arab nations that sought its destruction. The image of an Israeli David fighting off the Arab Goliath… lived on as a tool for Israel’s supporters in the debates they faced” (We Are Not One, pg. 9).

It was the fact that Israel stood against the odds and was so terribly persecuted by Nazi Germany that Americans were enamored. Adding to this was the fact that the Jews, particularly the new Jewish state, were more secular than religious and held liberal political views. This was the perfect recipe for American support.

But in the 1980s, these pillars began to starting cracking when Israel turned more conservative, religious, and more capable of defending themselves – something which ironically was the result of American support! Through numerous Arab conflicts in which Israel came out on top, Israel showed that they were not a helpless band of freedom fighters. Around the same time, the Israeli government became more dominated by conservative and religious leaders, and so the liberal, secular element started to fade. It was also during this time that the so called “Palestinians” began to cry out that Israel was oppressing them. These things reversed Israel’s role in the eyes of many Americans.

Alterman notes that “as Israel came to be perceived as more and more a conservative cause, liberals and leftists evinced growing sympathy for the plight of the displaced Palestinians, who, now stateless and oppressed, had come to occupy the underdog role that history had previously assigned to the Jews” (pg. 10). Note this well. The situation of the Jews which gave them world support was now occupied – at least in the perception of Americans – by the “Palestinians”. It’s with this subject that we must acknowledge the impact of

A New Generation & A New Perspective

Perception is shaped by the things we hear and witness, and Americans who lived through the 1940s-1970s saw the horrors of WWII and the great odds that Israel and the Jews were up against, so they could clearly see that Israel was the oppressed, not the oppressor. But for Americans who grew up from the 1980s to the present, they have a different view of the matter because they did not witness what their fathers witnessed. When they came of age and started paying attention to what was going on in the Middle East, they did not see an Israel which was fighting against the odds against persecutors and oppressors, but rather an Israel that was pre-emptively striking her Islamic enemies and these “Palestinians” crying out against them. To the uninformed, Israel looked to be “the bad guy”.

This is why many today are calling Israel the “new Nazis” and are likening Netanyahu to Hitler. Instead of the Nazis oppressing the Jews, people today think that the Jews are oppressing the “Palestinians”. It doesn’t matter whether or not the “Palestinians” have a just claim – what matters is whether people believe their claim is just. As terrible and ironic this is, it is working to isolate Israel amongst the nations and further prophecy.

A recent and on-going example of this relates to the Gaza War. Recall that the present Gaza conflict resulted from Hamas’s invasion of Israel on October 7^th, 2023. Israel’s response was to try and extinguish the terrorist organization once and for all, but Hamas has taken scrupulous actions to create negative publicity for Israel. False narratives and misleading information formed public opinion and made the Palestinians look like the victim, not Israel. As a result, many conservative, pro-Israel American figures have turned antisemitic. Influential people like Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, and others went from being pro-Israel to vehemently decrying Israel and calling for America to abandon them.

If Americans who grew up since the 1980s have a more negative view of Israel, how will Americans who are growing up today view them given the publicity they receive? What we are seeing now is hatred for Israel being instilled in the younger generation, and we can therefore expect that once these younger generations begin to represent the majority of the vote, their views will hold more sway in elections. As time goes on, a pro-Israel candidate is likely to become less and less desirable. Last year’s mayoral election in New York City is evidence that this is already in swing. Zohran Mamdani – a Muslim who has stated that the Palestinian cause is “central to my identity” (The Times of Israel) – was elected as the new mayor of New York, and New York Jews have therefore began leaving the state. What would happen if such a man won the US Presidency?

The De-Christianization of America

Of the Americans which have supported Israel, the vast majority are Christian. Their belief in the Bible means that they know that Israel is God’s chosen nation, and they therefore feel a religious responsibility to support them.

This pillar of American support has eroded quickly. Even just 20 years ago, American was far more religious than it is today. The Pew Research Center has tracked the prevalence of Christianity in America since the early 1970s, and from the 1970s up to about 1990, roughly 90% of Americans were Christian (Pew Research Center). After that, it began to decline sharply. The Barna Group reported that around 2000, that number had dropped to 46%. Today, those considering themselves practicing Christians is down to 24% (New Barna Findings). Since Christian values are largely what created support for Israel, the de-Christianization of America explains why many no longer view Israel favorably. Again, this works right along with what we find in prophecy.

There are countless other factors which are turning American views against Israel, but these are some of the prominent ones.

The Importance of the Believer’s Perspective

Perspective and grounding are essential with this subject is essential for believers. We who have been persuaded of God’s promises and embraced them are to be “strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13). “Pilgrim” means “an alien alongside, a resident foreigner” (Strong’s G3927). They live amongst a nation, but they are not true citizens of it. As Paul explains, “here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come” (Hebrews 13:14). 

We highlight this because we’re seeing worldly views becoming prevalent amongst Christadelphians. Like first century believers, Christadelphians have historically been conscientious objectors. We do not take part in military service, we do note vote, etc., but this has been degrading over time. It’s natural for us to become attached to the nations we inhabit and see them as “our countries”, and some become so involved as to take to the polls to allow their opinion to have a say in elections. Others feel inclined to attach themselves to movements to “get involved” and “make a difference”, particularly to help strengthen the American-Israeli bond.

Brothers and sisters, this is God’s plan that He is furthering. From a natural plane, it can be difficult to see some of these changes occurring, but we must remember Who is in control and why these events are taking place. It is the furtherance and fulfillment of God’s plan that we are witnessing. God has shown that Israel must first be humbled before calling for their redeemer, and it is for this purpose that Israel must therefore stand alone against her enemies. That means that not even the US can aid them. What we are witnessing is perfectly in line with this result. We do not have to like it. We do not need to work to change it. God does not need us to further His plan for Him. The role of the servant of the Lord is to be a content bystander and observer of world affairs and see God working in the kingdoms of men.

Israel has been ignorant of their redeemer since they crucified him 2,000 years ago, but when they call for their Messiah in their hour of need, Israel will see the unique marks upon his hands and finally realize his identity. Zechariah 13:6 foretells that they will say, “What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.” It is then that they will once again say, “This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee” (Matthew 21:11). They will realize their sin, mourn for him, and “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness” (Zechariah 13:1). Never again will Israel be a backsliding nation! The signs we’re witnessing in the America-Israeli relationship show that the time of Israel’s redemption is near – and we therefore rejoice in them!