Christian Zionists ignore reality of West Bank living, Palestinian Christian leaders say

Palestinian Christian leaders have criticized American Christian Zionists for ignoring the realities faced by Palestinian Christians in the West Bank, stating that their interpretation of "biblical prophecy" does not align with their experiences. They urged evangelicals to visit the West Bank to witness the impact of walls and settlements firsthand. Father Munther Isaac, director of the Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice, stated, "Theology has been weaponized," and that Christian Zionists are "funding and supporting the major threat on our existence in the land today." Father Bashar Fawadleh of Taybeh reported that his congregants fear harvesting olives due to Israeli settler violence. Christian leaders are also concerned about Christian Zionist funding for Israeli settlement growth, with groups like Christians United for Israel (CUFI) and Christian Friends of Israeli Communities (CFOIC) encouraging donations based on biblical interpretations. However, Isaac emphasized the need for a pragmatic interpretation of scripture that considers on-the-ground experiences, noting that younger generations and some evangelicals are becoming more open to their perspective. Mike Huckabee, former US ambassador to Israel, countered that evangelicals believe "the Bible - ALL of it" and that there is nothing racist about believing God's promises to Jews.