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"International Consultation on Understanding Christian Zionism and its Effects on Christians in the Middle East"

Press Release

25 January 2025

 Under the Patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, Chief Advisor to His Majesty for Religious and Cultural Affairs and the Personal Envoy, the University of Dar Al-Kalima in Bethlehem, and the Royal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in Amman are organizing "The International Consultation on Understanding Christian Zionism and Its Effects on Christians in the Middle East." The conference is being held at the Baptism Site from the 23rd to 26th January 2025.

A group of academic experts and global religious leaders from 17 countries who are specialized in theology, history, archaeology and anthropology related to Christian Zionism are participating in the conference. Additionally,

the heads of the churches from Jerusalem and Jordan are participating in this conference.

HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammed launched the conference by hosting the participants in a tour in the Baptism Pilgrimage Trail. The tour highlighted the importance of the site to Christianity and the role of His Majesty King

Abdullah II in safeguarding Christian sites and society in the Holy Land.

In the opening session, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos made it very clear that Christian Zionism’s legitimization of genocide and its endorsement of occupation and violence is not part of the true Christianity: Jesus never calls for violence.

The four days discussions of the conference focused on the following subjects:

1. Historically Comprehending Christian Zionism

2. Christian Zionism, Colonialism, and Genocide

3. Christian Zionism, Settler Archaeology, and the Threat to Jerusalem

4. Global Christian Zionism in the US, Nordic Region and Europe

5. Global Christian Zionism in Canada, India, and Japan

6. Emerging Scholarship on Christian Zionism

7. Strategies and Tactics for Confronting Christian Zionism

This consultation is distinct for several reasons:

First, it brings together for the first time most of the prominent scholars who have significantly contributed to this topic in a comprehensive international setting.

Second: It centers on an under-researched theme: the impacts of Christian Zionism on Middle Eastern Christians.

Third, this gathering is organized under the auspices of local churches, emphasizing the importance of listening to Middle Eastern Christians rather than merely discussing them.

Fourth, in addition to scholars and church leaders, social media and journalism influencers in the field of religion are joining the conference to broaden awareness of this vital issue.

Fifth, this consultation adopts a decolonial approach. It highlights how Christian Zionism provides the ideological framework, that is the software, facilitating the settler colonization of Palestinian land, while Western military support provide the hardware, enabling ethnic cleansing and genocide.

Islamophobia and racism against Arabs are integral to Christian Zionism, often treating the plight of Middle Eastern Christians as collateral damage.

Sixth, the conference aims to compile and publish an unprecedented global anthology on Christian Zionism.

Seventh, this consultation holds significance as it takes place in Jordan, at the site of Jesus baptism, where John the Baptist preached marking the beginning of Christ's public ministry.

Finally, this consultation's timing is particularly poignant. When the conference was planned two years ago, no one anticipated that President

Trump would assemble the most Christian Zionist cabinet in American history or that the political right with its Orientalist & Christian national views would gain momentum in Europe.

The conference concluded by outlining concrete recommendation of future strategies and actions.

Steering Committee of the Consultation:

Dr. Mitri Raheb, President of Dar Al-Kalima University in Bethlehem

Dr. Tarek Elgawhary, Director General of Aal Al-Bayyet Institute for Islamic Thought

Dr. Wasfi Kailani, Director of the Hashemite Fund for the Restoration of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock

Bishop Dr. Munib Yunan, Former Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Jerusalem and Jordan

Dr. Robert Smith, Professor of History and Ordained Minister in the US Evangelical Church