The Arab and Muslim Enemy

Abstract

This chapter explores many evangelicals’ hostility toward Arabs and other Muslims. It notes the Christian Zionist core belief that conceding territory will not bring Israel peace. The Palestinians, they say, seek only the phased destruction of the Jewish state. Hal Lindsey argues that the Oslo framework and all other political agreements with Israel are only temporary steps toward the Palestinians’ ultimate goal—taking all of historic Palestine from the Jews. Several leading Christian Zionists have argued that the Islamist group Hamas’ upset victory in the Palestinian elections in 2006 revealed the Arabs’ true murderous intentions. Many evangelicals say that all Islamic terrorists, and many or all Muslims, are part of a murderous organic whole intent on world conquest. If Israel falls to the terrorists, they say, the United States will too. World War III has already begun, they argue. A number of experts on terrorism and religion disagree with these propositions. John Hagee notes, however, that Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has stated his intention to wipe Israel off the map and has promised that Islam will strike down the United States as well. A number of evangelicals identify with Winston Churchill as they warn of an approaching Islamofascist threat.