The Alliance for the Peace of Jerusalem and Chosen People Ministries helped sponsor a comprehensive survey earlier this year examining the impact of the Israel-Hamas war on Christian opinions of Israel, Jewish people, and Palestinians.[1]
The survey, carried out March 8–14, 2024, involved 2,033 self-identified Christian adults from evangelical, mainline Protestant, and Roman Catholic backgrounds. With a margin of error of ±2.2 percent, the study offers a statistically significant snapshot of Christian views in the United States. The survey was conducted by Motti Inbari, a professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and Kirill Bumin, the associate dean of Metropolitan College and director of Boston University summer term programs.
Key Findings
- Evangelical Support for Israel
One of the most striking findings of the survey was the strong correlation between evangelicals and support for Israel. This support was particularly pronounced among older demographics and those with higher levels of biblical knowledge. The researchers found respondents’ agreement with the statement, “God’s covenant with the Jewish people remains intact today,” as the strongest predictor of pro-Israel sentiment, revealing the importance of sound theology regarding Israel. Forty-eight percent of all respondents affirmed this belief.
- Age and Support for Israel
The survey revealed a generational divide in attitudes toward Israel. Respondents ages 50 to 64 showed the highest levels of support for Israel, while those under 30 were 47 percent less likely to support Israel compared to those over age 65. This generational gap raises questions about the future of Christian support for Israel and suggests a potential shift in attitudes among younger Christians. This is why we at Alliance for the Peace of Jerusalem are actively seeking to reach the younger generations of believers in Jesus with biblical truth about Israel and hope to counter the rising tide of replacement theology (the belief that the church has replaced Israel) among younger generations in the church.
- Concerns about Antisemitism
An overwhelming 87 percent of survey participants expressed concern about antisemitism in America today. Only 12 percent reported not being particularly worried about current levels of antisemitism in the United States. This widespread concern crosses denominational lines and suggests a heightened awareness of the unprecedent rise in antisemitism since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
- Perceptions of the War
When asked about responsibility for the current Israel-Hamas war, 49 percent of respondents primarily blamed Hamas, while only 8 percent attributed blame to “mostly Israel.” A significant 39 percent viewed both sides as equally responsible.
The survey also explored views on the justification of actions taken by both Israel and Hamas. Forty-five percent of Christians saw Israel’s response to Hamas’ attack as “mostly justified,” with an additional 36 percent viewing it as “partially justified.” In contrast, only 11 percent viewed Hamas’ attacks on Israel and subsequent actions as “mostly justified.” These figures indicate many American Christians view Israel’s actions more favorably than those of Hamas, but also show a significant portion of respondents have reservations about Israel’s response.
- Church Involvement
The study also shed light on how churches are engaging with the conflict. Twenty-nine percent of respondents reported their church prays for Israel, while 17 percent said their church prays for the Palestinians—though these two are not mutually exclusive. Financial support was less common, with 5 percent reporting their church sends money to Israel and 3 percent to the Palestinians.
Additional Findings
Denominational Differences. The researchers uncovered some trends among different Christian denominations. While evangelical Christians showed the strongest support for Israel, attitudes among Roman Catholic Christians were more varied. The study also found mainline Protestant clergy are increasingly adopting pro-Palestinian stances, although their congregants may not always hold these views.
Unawareness of BDS. The survey revealed a lack of awareness about the Boycott, Divest, and Sanction (BDS) movement, a movement that aims to delegitimize and dismantle the state of Israel by isolating the nation diplomatically, economically, academically, and culturally. In the survey, 80 percent of Protestant respondents had never heard of the BDS movement, while 9 percent said they support it, and 13 percent said they oppose it.
Opinions Unchanged by Current Events. Kirill Bumin observed the scale of violence in the war “does not seem to impact how most respondents perceive the conflict and which party to the conflict they support.” This finding suggests, for many Christians, support for Israel or the Palestinians is based on deeper convictions not easily swayed by current events or media coverage of the war.
Declining Church Attendance and Bible Reading. The study also found a decrease in core evangelical behaviors, including regular church attendance and Bible reading—behaviors historically associated with strong support for Israel. Fifty-six percent of respondents said they never or seldom attend church, while only 28 percent attend weekly.
Conclusion
This comprehensive survey reveals many American Christians support Israel’s right to exist and defend herself, especially among those who believe God made an eternal covenant with Jewish people. While this strong support for Israel and Jewish people is encouraging, the lack of support for Israel among the younger generations—along with the decline in church attendance and Bible reading—should motivate us to continue proclaiming biblical truth about God’s eternal covenant with Israel and Jewish people, while also affirming God’s love for Palestinians and all people. Let us also continue to stand against the rising tide of antisemitism and anti-Zionism and pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6).
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[1] Motti Inbari and Kirill Bumin, “Christian Attitudes Toward the War in Gaza 2024: Evangelical/Catholic/Mainline Survey,” survey conducted by Chosen People Ministries, March 27, 2024. https://alarryross.squarespace.com/s/A-report-of-survey-2024.pptx.
