By Doron Keidar, January 23, 2026
On January 9, 2026, I joined a delegation—including Ihab Shlayan (Chairman of The Israeli Christian Voice), Bishop Ephram Samman (Syrian Catholic Patriarchate), Father Yaqubos Abu Akel (Kfar Yasif), Father Antonius Ajini (Jdaieh El-Makir), Shana Meyerson, and representatives from the Jerusalem Institute for Justice—for a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. Our goal was clear: to advance the rights, status, and public standing of Israel’s Christian community while strengthening strategic, cultural, and diplomatic ties with the Western and Christian world.
Just days later, on January 17, 2026, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem issued a statement criticizing “Christian Zionism” as a “damaging ideology” that misleads the public, sows confusion, and harms the unity of their flock.[1] They asserted exclusive representation of the Christian life in the Holy Land, expressing concern about outside influences and official welcomes.
The statement sent shockwaves through global Christianity. Major organizations—including the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ), which rebutted it biblically[2]—and voices like Ambassador Huckabee responded firmly.[3] Huckabee emphasized that no single tradition speaks for all Christians, defending evangelical support for Israel as rooted in Scripture.[4] Media outlets such as Religion News Service highlighted the divide: historic Arab-led churches, facing demographic decline and regional pressures, versus Western evangelicals who view backing Israel as a faith imperative.[5]
As a Jew committed to advocating for my Christian brothers and sisters in the Holy Land, I found the letter disheartening—an obstacle to the progress we’ve fought for. Israel, as the sovereign authority, provides unprecedented freedom of worship and security for Christians, in stark contrast to the persecution and dhimmi-like status many faced historically under Islamic rule or currently in parts of the Palestinian territories.[6]
You cannot bite the hand that protects you. If the Christian community wishes to thrive as equal participants in Israeli society, it must break free from fear and external pressures. Israel offers democratic safeguards, recognition, and genuine hope—promises the Palestinian Authority has not fully delivered.
The timing, during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18–25, 2026), underscores a profound test: Will Christians unite around biblical support for Israel’s restoration, or allow division over it?
As John Enarson powerfully argues in his January 22, 2026, Israel365 article “Why We Are Protestant Zionists,” true Christian Zionism protests replacement theology and affirms God’s enduring covenants.[7] It is time for the Christian community in the Holy Land to rise, align with the democratic State of Israel, and embrace the freedom it uniquely provides. The alternative—remaining under jihadist threats or outdated controls—serves no one.
This is not division; it is a path to true unity, grounded in Scripture and reality.
Doron Keidar is an international speaker known for sharing powerful, firsthand insights drawn from decades of defending the State of Israel. Fluent in both English and Hebrew, he connects with audiences of all ages through a bold, direct, and engaging style. Since 2003, Doron has served in a combat unit of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and has remained active in the reserves since 2006. He currently serves in one of the IDF’s elite special mobility units within the special forces reserves, with over 20 years of operational experience across Gaza, Lebanon, and Judea & Samaria.Beyond his military service, Doron has nearly two decades of experience in executive protection, working alongside top Israeli and American security professionals. He has provided security for high-net-worth individuals, leading Fortune 500 companies, and government security details.In the aftermath of the October 7th, 2023 attacks, Doron began working with U.S. Special Forces, GWOT veterans—including members of “Task Force Pineapple”—to help prepare American law enforcement and local communities for emerging threats.He is the host of The Doron Keidar Podcast and serves as Executive Producer and Leading Man in the film I AM ISRAEL – The Mountain of the King.Doron is also active with Cry For Zion, a movement advocating for Jewish rights on the Temple Mount. Through historical, archaeological, and biblical evidence, he offers audiences a compelling vision of Jerusalem’s past, present, and prophetic future.
Footnotes
[1] “A Statement from the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem on Unity and Representation of the Christian Communities in the Holy Land,” Jerusalem Patriarchate, January 17, 2026. Available at: https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/announcements/a-statement-from-the-patriarchs-and-heads-of-the-churches-in-jerusalem-on-unity-and-representation-of-the-christian-communities-in-the-holy-land
[2] “ICEJ Response to Patriarchs’ Statement denouncing Christian Zionism,” International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, January 20, 2026. Available at: https://www.icej.org/blog/icej-response-to-patriarchs-statement-denouncing-christian-zionism
[3] Various reports, including coverage in The Jerusalem Post and Crux, January 20–22, 2026.
[4] Mike Huckabee’s statement on X (formerly Twitter), January 20, 2026: “I love my brothers and sisters in Christ from traditional, liturgical churches and respect their views, but I do not feel any sect of the Christian faith should claim exclusivity in speaking for Christians worldwide…”
[5] “Jerusalem historic churches call Christian Zionism a ‘damaging’ ideology,” Religion News Service, January 20, 2026. Available at: https://religionnews.com/2026/01/20/jerusalem-historic-churches-call-christian-zionism-a-damaging-ideology
[6] Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics (2025 data): Christian population in Israel grew to approximately 184,200 (1.9% of population), a 0.7% increase. In contrast, Palestinian territories show steady decline (e.g., ~45,000–50,000 Christians in West Bank; under 1,100 in Gaza). Sources: Zenit.org (December 29, 2025) and Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics historical data.
[7] John Enarson, “Why We Are Protestant Zionists,” Israel365 News, January 22, 2026. Available at: https://israel365news.com/415527/why-we-are-protestant-zionists/. Enarson argues that Protestant Zionism rejects supersessionism (replacement theology) and upholds biblical promises of Jewish restoration.
