Could the Deteriorating Relationship Between 'Israel' and American Christians Get Worse?

“Israel” is facing a growing wave of criticism over its ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, amid warnings of diplomatic tensions that could affect its relations with its pro-“Israel” evangelical Christians in the U.S.

Hebrew media outlets have described these developments as a rolling disaster that threatens to create a deep rift in international support for “Israel”, with increasing reports of Israel's disastrous approach leading to famine and malnutrition in the besieged Gaza Strip.

In another development, American media outlets have raised questions about Israel's relationship with Christians, pointing to accumulating signs of deteriorating relations, including leaked letters indicating that American Christians are no longer welcome in “Israel”.

Shocking Dispute

On July 18, US Ambassador to “Israel” Mike Huckabee sent a scathing letter to Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, accusing Tel Aviv of barring Christian groups from entering “Israel”, citing its refusal to grant visas to evangelical missions.

Huckabee also threatened to take similar action against Israeli visa applicants to the U.S., while Arbel denied the allegations.

The Times of Israel described the letter from Huckabee, a prominent advocate and promoter of Christian religious tourism to “Israel”, as a sign of a rapid deterioration in relations between Tel Aviv and Washington, describing it as shocking.

It noted that the letter came two months after a meeting between the two sides on May 27 to discuss the problems faced by Christians seeking to visit “Israel”.

In early 2025, the Israeli Interior Ministry launched investigations into several evangelical Christian organizations with longstanding ties to “Israel”, including the Baptist Convention in “Israel” and the Christian Missionary Alliance.

These organizations were required to complete lengthy questionnaires, and they have yet to receive new visas for religious leaders to travel to “Israel”, despite submitting their applications since the beginning of this year.

In turn, Huckabee expressed deep disappointment in his letter, noting that the meeting he held in Arbel’s office did not result in what he hoped would be a resolution to the routine visa issue for Christian organizations.

This issue—the ability of Christian groups to visit “Israel”—is personally important to Huckabee, given that he has led countless such trips as an evangelical pastor over five decades.

“It would be deeply regrettable if our embassy were forced to announce throughout the U.S. that ‘Israel’ is harassing and negatively treating them,” the US ambassador wrote.

“We also have an obligation to warn Christians in the U.S. that their generous donations are being met with hostility, and that tourists should reconsider their travel,” he continued.

Huckabee sent copies of his letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.

“Unfortunately, if the Israeli government continues to engage in bureaucratic harassment, I will have no choice but to instruct our consular department to explore the possibility of reciprocity for Israeli citizens applying for visas to the U.S.,” he concluded.

In response, Arbel of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party responded to Huckabee's letter, saying he was particularly surprised by the way the envoy raised his concerns.

He insisted that all requests personally submitted to his office were dealt with within a very short period of time.

It is not clear why “Israel” may have sought to review some of the tourist visas. “Israel” is very sensitive to Christian missionary activity, given the history in previous centuries of Christian persecution of Jews.

This is not the first time the Israeli Interior Ministry has come under fire over its treatment of Christian visa applicants. 

In 2023, after similar complaints from evangelical groups, the ministry issued a public apology and pledged to resume processing clergy visas following a months-long freeze. 

At the time, officials attributed the delays to bureaucratic backlog and miscommunication, but many Christian leaders viewed it as part of a recurring pattern of disregard.

Israeli Violations

The visa issue was not the only point of contention between US Ambassador Mike Huckabee and the Israeli government. It came in the wake of an Israeli airstrike on Gaza's only Catholic church on July 17, which killed three Palestinians and injured nine others, including the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli.

This airstrike sparked widespread international outrage and condemnation, forcing Netanyahu to issue a rare apology after calls with both US President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV, claiming the attack was a mistake.

Despite the Israeli apology, some church figures, such as Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, expressed skepticism.

They suggested that “Israel” may be deliberately targeting all Christians in the occupied Palestinian territories, especially after Catholic leaders condemned attacks by Israeli settlers on a Christian town in the West Bank.

Recently, Israeli settlers have escalated their attacks against Christians in the occupied West Bank, assaulting them and obstructing their access to churches.

On July 19, Huckabee visited the village of Taibeh in the occupied West Bank, where settlers had set fire to a local church on July 9, describing the incident as an act of terrorism and a crime against holy sites.

Despite recent high-level visits meant to deter such violence, the only entirely Christian Palestinian village in the region was once again the target of an attack during the night of 27 July.

This was not the first time Huckabee had condemned the actions of Israeli settlers. His remarks came days after the 20-year-old Palestinian-American Saif Musalat, was beaten to death by settlers on July 11 in the village of Sinjil, north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

On July 15, Huckabee described Musalat's killing as a criminal and terrorist act, an unprecedented comment by the US Ambassador against the rampant settler violence in the occupied West Bank, though he avoided using the term or describing the killing as part of a broader phenomenon.

Huckabee, an evangelical Christian, has long expressed support for Israel's annexation of the occupied West Bank and has opposed calls to reduce Israel's presence there, making his recent public condemnations of certain Israeli policies and settler violence particularly notable.

Deep Shift

Criticism of “Israel” has increased on the American right in recent months, particularly after US intervention in Israel's war against Iran last month, which appeared to contradict Trump's campaign promise not to involve the U.S. in new foreign conflicts.

Indicating this rift, the far-right One America News network (OANN) aired an episode on July 16 criticizing Musalat's killing and Israeli settler violence in general.

Haaretz also published an article by its Washington correspondent, Ben Samuels, which identified a profound shift within the conservative evangelical movement supporting Trump.

It noted that prominent figures, such as former Trump advisor Steve Bannon, have begun to question the validity of unconditional support for “Israel”, amid accusations that Netanyahu is a warmonger who is pushing Washington into conflicts that do not serve American interests.

It quoted conservative American commentator Michael Noll as saying, “You're losing me. The Israeli government is making a mess of things. This horrific war must end completely.”

It also quoted Republican Rep. Riley Moore calling on “Israel” to ensure the protection of churches and Christian sites.

It noted that the most strident reaction came from Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who introduced an amendment to the US defense bill calling for the cancellation of an additional $500 million in military aid to “Israel”.

It also noted that “the political shift within the MAGA movement has become more evident, with some of its leaders open to more critical discourse regarding Israeli policies, as expressed by media personality Tucker Carlson when he hosted Palestinian Christian priest Munther Isaac to discuss the persecution of Christians.”

In another sign, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, known for his pro-“Israel” stance, expressed deep concern about attacks on religious property in the occupied West Bank, calling for the perpetrators to be held accountable, even if they are Israeli settlers.

In turn, Israeli military historian Danny Orbach warned on X, saying: “Pay attention to Trump's warning signal after the targeting of the Latin Monastery Church and the intense shooting over the past few days against civilians in Gaza, in addition to the persecution of Christians in the West Bank.”

“These events negatively impact the evangelical popular base, which constitutes Israel's last stronghold in America. In such circumstances, it is better to strike a partial deal and try to end the war on Gaza,” he added.

In recent decades, evangelical Christians have contributed to funding settlement projects, social services, and security initiatives.

Recent developments threaten to strain relations between two allies that have historically maintained exceptionally close ties, particularly on issues of religious freedom and access to holy sites.