Strategic Issues
The Republican Party's Strong Support for Israel
Have you noticed how Republican presidential candidates have been talking a lot about supporting Israel? Well, there's a reason for that. They want to show Republican voters that they are the biggest supporters of Israel among their rivals. Former Vice President Mike Pence recently said that when leaders like Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Ron DeSantis suggest that the U.S. should step back from its role as the leader of the free world, it leads to situations like the Hamas attack on Israel.
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott also criticized Ramaswamy for suggesting that the U.S. could reduce aid to Israel.
Former President Trump, on the other hand, connected protecting Israel, being an evangelical Christian, and voting Republican at a recent campaign rally.
The Republican Party's Stance on the Israel-Hamas War
It's important to note that both Republicans and Democrats expressed horror at the Hamas attack on Israel. However, there is a difference in public opinion regarding the ongoing conflict and its history, with Republicans being particularly pro-Israel.
In the late 1990s, about half of Republicans sympathized more with Israel than the Palestinians. But by 2018, 8 out of 10 Republicans said they support Israel. Recent polls also show a clear partisan gap in attitudes towards Israel.
Evangelicals play a significant role in this shift.
The Biblical Connection to Israel
Conservative news sources often highlight the biblical link between Israel and evangelical Christians. Many evangelicals believe in the Abrahamic Covenant, which states that God promised the land of Israel and the Palestinian territories to Abraham and his descendants.
A survey conducted by Southern Baptist publisher LifeWay in 2017 found that 8 out of 10 evangelicals believe God's promise to Abraham and his descendants is everlasting. Additionally, 7 out of 10 agreed that Jewish people have a historic right to the land of Israel.
Christian leaders like Billy Graham emphasized this connection starting in the 1960s. Graham visited Israel and met with then-Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, promoting the idea that Israel is a fulfilment of God's plans for the Jewish people.
Politics Beyond Religion
Support for Israel among Republicans goes beyond religious beliefs. Conservative elites in the U.S. may feel a connection with conservative Israeli leadership. Israel has mostly had right-of-centre governments since former Prime Minister Menachem Begin's victory in 1977.
Neoconservatives, who gained prominence in the Republican Party in the 1970s, also see a strategic alignment between the U.S. and Israel. They value Israel's strong democracy in the Middle East and its alignment with U.S. interests.
So, the Republican Party's support for Israel is influenced by religious beliefs, strategic interests, and political alignments.
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Source: NBR
