Analysis of Protestant Evangelicals' Contributions to American-Israeli Relations from a Theological, Political, and Historical Perspective

Abstract

Fundamental and conservative worldviews of the Protestant Evangelical churches, based on the early roots of Christianity, paved the way for the emergence of the Christian Zionist understanding. Protestant Evangelical and Jewish lobbies, which played a decisive role in shaping US policies towards Israel, effectively used propaganda condemning the holocaust committed against Jews by Nazi Germany in Europe during World War II in order to break the rising tendency of antisemitism in the United States. Because of these propaganda campaigns, the State of Israel was founded in the Middle East. The term "Zionism," which has its theological foundations in the texts of the holy books, has in the process evolved into a political ideology or movement. In the Bible, the term "Zion" appears 163 times (156 times in the Old Testament and 7 times in the New Testament). Activities carried out all around the globe are included under the term "Zionism" in order to support Israel for the Jews to build a state in their homeland. The Christian perspective of Zionism is the primary factor influencing Israel and the United States' close relationship. Unconditional support was given to Israel with the thought that it is a friendly ally country in the foreign policies of the US. Another reason for this support, despite the fact that national interests are pursued geopolitically and strategically, is the devotion of American Evangelicals to religious prophesies and their belief in Premillennial Dispensational theology before Christ's return. According to this theology, which is a component of Protestant Evangelicals’ outlook, God handed the promised territory to the Jews, to His chosen people. Protestant Evangelicals, who faithfully follow this belief, occupy an active role in the political life of the USA with their lobbying activities. It is important to reveal in the study how determinative the attitudes of Protestant Evangelicals are in the international relations between Turkey and the USA and even in the relations between Turkey and Israel.

Keywords

• Zionism
• Christian Zionism
• Protestant Evangelicals
• America
• Israel

Protestan Evanjeliklerin Amerika-İsrail İlişkilerindeki Rolü Üzerine Teolojik, Politik ve Tarihsel Değerlendirme

Abstract

Hıristiyanlığın ilk dönem köklerini ve doğrudan kutsal kitap metinlerini esas alan Protestan Evanjelik kiliselerinin köktenci ve muhafazakâr dünya görüşleri, Hıristiyan Siyonizm anlayışının ortaya çıkmasına zemin hazırlamıştır. ABD’nin İsrail’e yönelik politikalarında belirleyici bir rol oynayan Hıristiyan Protestan Evanjelik lobiler ve Yahudi lobileri 19. yüzyılın sonları 20. yüzyılın başlarında ABD’de yükselişe geçen antisemitizm akımının kırılması için Nazi Almanya’sının 2. Dünya Savaşı sırasında Avrupa’da Yahudilere uyguladığı soykırımları lanetleyen propagandaları etkili bir şekilde kullanmışlardır. Yapılan bu propagandalar Ortadoğu coğrafyasında İsrail Devleti’nin kuruluşuna dayanak sağlamıştır. Teolojik kökleri kutsal kitap metinlerine dayanan “Siyonizm” ifadesi süreç içerisinde siyasi bir ideoloji/hareket haline gelmiştir. "Siyon" kelimesi, Kutsap Kitap’ta 163 kez (Eski Ahit'te 156 ve Yeni Ahit'te 7 kez) kullanılmıştır. Yahudilerin anavatanları olan İsrail topraklarında devlet kurması ve gelişip ilerlemesi amacıyla İsrail’e destek toplamak için dünya genelinde yürütülen faaliyetler “Siyonizm” şemsiyesi altında toplanmaktadır. İsrail ile ABD arasındaki güçlü bağın en önemli nedeni de “Hıristiyan Siyonizm” anlayışıdır. ABD’nin dış politikalarında dost müttefik bir ülke olduğu düşüncesiyle İsrail’e koşulsuz şekilde verilen desteklerde, her ne kadar jeopolitik ve stratejik anlamda ulusal çıkarlar gözetiliyor olsa da, Mesih’in dönüşünden önceki “binyıl öncesi gündem” (Premillenial Dispensational) teolojisine inanan Amerikan Evanjeliklerin dini kehanetlere olan bağlılıkları bu desteklerin altında yatan diğer bir etkendir. Hıristiyan Protestan Evanjelizmin gelecek görüşünün bir parçası olan “Premillenial Dispensational” teolojisinde “Tanrı'nın vaat edilen toprakları Yahudilere, O’nun seçilmiş halkına verdiği” inancı bulunmaktadır. Bu inancı sadakatle takip eden Hıristiyan Protestan Evanjelikler, gerçekleştirdikleri lobi faaliyetleriyle ABD’nin politik yaşamında aktif ve belirleyici bir konum işgal etmektedirler. Türkiye ve ABD arasındaki uluslararası ilişkilerde hatta Türkiye-İsrail ilişkilerinde Protestan Evanjeliklerin tutumlarının ne denli belirleyici olduğu hususunun çalışmada ortaya koyulmasının önem arz ettiği değerlendirilmektedir.

Keywords

• Siyonizm
• Hıristiyan Siyonizm
• Protestan Evanjelikler
• Amerika
• İsrail.

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