They Will Persecute

antimsemite: adj. someone Isreal doesn’t like, regardless of the reason

By this definition I am an antisemite. This is part of the definition used by the US State Department. In particular, it aims to criminalize the mere suggestion that Israel should give equal rights to Jews, Muslims, Christians and even atheists within their borders, rather like it is supposed to be here in the US. Such an idea serves to “delegitimize Israel” because Israel’s government insists is is purely a Jewish state, and no other residents are genuine citizens.

It’s not that I engage any such questions here. Rather, I offer biblical reasons why Christians should not support Israel, why Zionism doesn’t answer biblical prophecy. To be honest, the bulk of evangelical eschatology is really antisemitic, because it uses Israel as a tool to bring in their imaginary End Times predictions. Thus, Jews must all return to Israel, and either become Christians or die. Yet no one is accusing American evangelicals of antisemitism, despite how Jews are used as a mere instrument of their fantasies.

You should know this blog is on a low level watchlist, if the videos are believable. I’m referring to the documentary series by al-Jazeera called The Lobby — USA. You can find the four of them (parts one, two, three, and four) on YouTube and perhaps other online services. I’ve watched the first two so far. Al-Jazeera declined to release the series, but they were leaked and posted widely. There’s a similar series for the UK, but they are a little harder to find.

In the first video of the US series, various figures describe an automated network in Israel that tracks all social media regarding things people say about Israel. So this blog post will be picked up within minutes of being posted and be marked for evaluation. Right now, the big issue is BDS and similar anti-Zionist activism. We are most emphatically not activists and I specifically discourage BDS. I believe there’s nothing to gain from participating in boycotts and such. Further, I teach that there’s no point in lobbying Congress about Israel either way. So for now, this blog rates no action because they don’t find me much of a threat. That’s what the video seems to indicate, anyway.

If you take the time to watch the series, you’ll get an image of Israel’s lobbying that indicates their efforts will escalate as time goes on. It’s not just about the money, you see. Israel is becoming increasingly sensitive to any criticism. Further, you can see the same thing in various Christian Zionist groups here in the US. I don’t know of any video documentaries that explore American Christian Zionist groups on this level, but I know from other sources that their attitude is hardening. It’s getting to the point where insufficient enthusiasm for Israel warrants persecution.

I’m not likely to see any threats from Israel itself. The people who will try to censor me will be Christian Zionists. They are feverishly working in every state to make it illegal to suggest things such as Israel should offer equal rights to all residents. They will make it illegal to use the Bible to criticize Zionism, if possible. They plan to enforce their own brand of pro-Israel orthodoxy. It is American evangelical Christians who will come after me.