Six Reasons Why Everyone Should Support Israel

Israel represents an ongoing topic of conversation among different governments around the world. Even current presidential campaigning in the United States faces the option to support Israel or oppose it. The Middle East has been in a state of chaos for much of the last century. Right in the middle of the conflict sits Israel, often defending itself against one attack after another. With countries such as Iran, Iraq and other neighbors calling for “the death of Israel,” the topic of support is certainly an important one. Recent deals such as the Iran nuclear deal have again thrust this issue into the limelight.

All politics aside, there are also religious undertones suggesting that Americans should support Israel. Christians all around the world have often supported Israel due to the biblical history that is attached with the Jewish people. On occasion, this support has been linked to Zionism, a nationalist and political movement of Jewish people to support a re-establishment of homeland and territory as described in biblical times.

Many who read this do not have any religious sympathies for the country of Israel, while others only see relations with the country in terms of a biblical viewpoint. With that being said, here are three political and three religious reasons why countries such as the United States should support Israel.

Three Political Reasons to Support Israel
Israel is a Model of Stability

With the rise and fall of governments in the Middle East, the nation of Israel stands alone as a stable force in the region. This is not just regarding their battle against Islamic terrorism, but additionally recognizing that Israel demonstrates a force of stability in their economy and in their humanitarian efforts. With other regimes, it is often difficult to build lasting relationships due to the ever-changing tensions in the region. The nation of Israel has been a stable force for good in the region. Obviously the country isn’t perfect, but Israel has been a bright spot in a dark and war-torn portion of the world.

Israel is an Ally

Most of the world superpowers have enjoyed a cordial relationship with Israel. The United States has been one of the more vocal supporters and has a long-standing alliance with the country. In response, Israel has maintained position as a strong U.S. ally in the region. Whether it is an economic or military initiative, Israel has been a useful ally in that portion of the world. The United States and other countries can benefit from Israel by improving relations with the Middle East.

Israel Wants Peace

Most countries in history who have had any success in terms of stability and economic growth have often sought conquest on neighboring countries. This is not what Israel has done. Despite gaining independence in 1948, the country has engaged in military conflict only in response to war and not in a conquest for needless gain. Further, Israel has been very open in establishing peace with neighboring countries. This is evidenced in the number of trade and peace deals signed with Egypt and other surrounding neighbors.

Three Religious Reasons to Support Israel
For Christians, the support of Israel has a biblical undertone. The history and development of the Jewish people is recorded throughout the pages of the Bible. Times of rebellion and captivity are chronicled as well as the times of prosperity and blessing. Still, some Christians today question whether or not to support Israel. With that in mind, here are three reasons to consider supporting Israel:

The Jews Are Still Covenanted with God

In Genesis, God made covenants with Abraham, Moses, Jacob and David. Each of those promises assured the Israelites that they were the chosen people of God and would be protected and guarded as such. That promise still remains today. Even with the coming of Jesus and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, the covenant between God and the Jewish people is still ongoing.

Israel’s Importance in Biblical Prophecy

The Israelite people were established as written in Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament. In the gospel accounts, we see that a Jew named Jesus was the Savior of the world. In the book of Revelation, the Bible spells out the importance that Israel will be in the end times. All along the way, Israel plays an important role in God’s sovereign plan. Revelation prophecy is a cornerstone to the conclusion of the Scriptures. As Christians, supporting Israel is supporting God’s ultimate plan for mankind.

Christianity’s Origin in Jewish History

Jesus is the central figure of the Bible. From the opening pages of the Bible, throughout its conclusion, the nation of Israel is an instrument used to bring the Messiah to mankind. As believers read the pages of Scripture, they see that they owe much of their faith to the Jewish people. As the apostle Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). The message of hope and the Gospel came through the Jewish line. As a result, all people have the opportunity to become followers of Christ.

Conclusion
While supporting Israel doesn’t require an endorsement of everything the country does, it is important to understand the economic, political and biblical benefits for supporting the country as a whole. Israel is a nation that offers hope both in the pursuit of peace and in the eternal kingdom of Christ. As such, it is important for governments and individuals to support Israeli efforts in the region. In the end, their centrality in history will affect all people.

This article originally appeared on Philos Project, June 22, 2016, and reposted with permission.