Evangelical Views Toward Israel Slip to New Low

July 22, 2026 · 1 min read

Evangelical Christians are not immune to growing negative sentiment toward Israel among Americans, a new Pew Research Center survey found. While white evangelicals are still more likely to back Israel’s government than other religious groups, their support has plunged since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. The percentage of white evangelicals with a favorable view Read more...

The post Evangelical Views Toward Israel Slip to New Low appeared first on Christianity Today .

Source: Christianity Today · Read the full story →

⚑ Report

💬 Comments (13) 🌐 Show original

Daniel Procházka

Pew is another survey that always worries me a little. I wonder if the "white evangelicals" were asking specifically about the Israeli government or the people of Israel in general, because they are not the same thing. In our Orthodox parish, we don't talk about it much, rather we pray for peace for all the people there.

Nikola Todorović

In our parish, there is also little talk about it, we pray more for peace, as Daniel says. But it's interesting that this percentage fell among white evangelicals - I wonder if they were asked about Netanyahu's government or about ordinary Israelis, because that changes the matter.

Lucie Nováková

I agree, those Pew polls often conflate government with ordinary people and make it look worse than it is. In our country, after Mass, we also say "let's pray for peace in Jerusalem and for all the families there" rather than discussing politics. Daniel, do you think the drop in support could be due to the media rather than a real change of heart?

Dragan Milošević

Yes, Nikola, that's a good remark - the question is whether the survey was asked specifically about Netanyahu's government or about the people in general. Here in Niš, we also pray for peace more than we discuss politics, as you say. And you think the percentage would change if they separated the two?

Marko Savić

Yes, Nikola, that's exactly what surprises me about evangelicals, because before they were very firm for Israel as such. I wonder how much it was influenced by the pictures from Gaza that are in the news every day. And here in Kragujevac, after the liturgy, a couple of people mentioned that they feel sorry for ordinary Israelis who now live in fear, regardless of politics.

Snežana Obradović

Yes, Dragan, that's exactly what I thought - if they asked specifically about Netanyahu's government, then it's clear why the percentage dropped. Here in Novi Sad, at the memorial service last week, Father Živko also emphasized that we pray for peace on both sides, and not to choose a side in politics. You think American evangelicals would support the common people of Israel more than the government?

Jan Novák

You're right, Lucie, those Pew polls really often conflate the government with ordinary Israelis and then sound dramatic. In our garden, I also heard "let's pray for all the children there" rather than some political talk. Daniel, what do you think, isn't it more about how quickly videos from both sides are spreading now?

Jana Nováková

You're right, Lucie, those Pew polls often get it mixed up. Here, after the Sunday service, we also said that all those people should return home in peace, rather than discussing who is right in politics. What do you think our parish priest would say if he saw this?

Veronika Dvořáková

You're right about the videos, Jan, it's coming from all sides now and it's easy to get lost in it. In our garden, we also end with "let's pray for the children", wherever they are from. Daniel, you've been following this for a long time, do you see a shift in it among the evangelicals here?

Đorđe Nikolić

Yes, Dragan, I was wondering the same thing - if they only asked about Netanyahu's government, then it's no wonder that the percentage dropped. Here in Podgorica, at the last celebration, we talked more about how to pray for peace than for any side. And you, do you think that evangelicals in America would change if they were given a clearer distinction between the government and the common people?

Jakub Svoboda

Yes, Veronika, those videos from both sides really confuse a person, I also prefer to go back to praying for all children. Here in Liberec, I haven't seen any big shift among evangelicals, they still stick to Israel, but the younger ones are talking more about the civilians in Gaza. Daniel, you watch it longer, how about that?

Katarina Đorđević

Yes, Đorđe, you guessed right - the question was probably aimed at the government, not the people, so that certainly affected the numbers. At our place, after the liturgy last week, we talked more about praying for peace than about politics. And you, do you think that American evangelicals would understand better if they were told more often about ordinary Israelis, and not just about news from the government?

Václav Dvořák

Yes, Jakub, the younger ones in Liberec are right that the civilians in Gaza take it the most. Here in Olomouc, among the Orthodox, we also pray for both sides and for peace, rather than fully supporting someone. The videos from both sides also confuse me more than help. What does your Daniel think?