Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with evangelical leaders in the United States ahead of his meeting with President Donald Trump. The gathering highlighted the strong historic friendship between Israel and American Christians, particularly Christian Zionists who interpret the Bible as promising the land of Israel to the Jews. The meeting emphasized the influential support that evangelical Christian Zionists provide to Israel, especially during Trump's second term.
During a joint news conference with Netanyahu, Trump proposed the idea of relocating Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and having the U.S. take over the region, envisioning a prosperous future for Gaza. This proposal was met with criticism from Muslim and Jewish leaders who emphasized the need for a negotiated agreement between Israel and the Palestinians for lasting peace.
Trump's proposal to refer to the West Bank as Judea and Samaria aligns with the views of Christian Zionists who support Israel's claim to the territory based on historical and biblical rights. The legislation introduced by Sen. Tom Cotton and Rep. Claudia Tenney aims to recognize the biblical significance of Judea and Samaria.
Overall, Trump's proposals have sparked mixed reactions among different religious and political groups, with some viewing them as a potential path to peace and others expressing concerns about the implications of such drastic measures.
