Most US Christians back Israel out of 'biblical obligation'

Most American Christians - regardless of their denomination and background - say they feel a "moral and biblical obligation" to support the State of Israel, according to a new survey conducted by a Washington DC-based evangelical organisation.

Though figures released this week by the Joshua Fund differed among Catholics, Protestants, evangelicals and non-evangelicals, the new figures confirmed that American Christians as a whole believed that a "biblical obligation" exists behind their support for the State of Israel.

According to the survey, evangelical Christians were the most supportive of Israeli causes; nearly 90 per cent said they felt a "moral and biblical obligation" to back Israel, and 62 per cent said that Israel alone should posses control of Jerusalem.

Evangelical Christians also had the largest number of respondents who said they opposed a Palestinian state, believing it would give rise to terrorism.

Non-evangelical Protestants and Catholics were also revealed to be very pro-Israel, though their support was slightly lower.

Eighty-four per cent of Protestants and 76 per cent of Catholics said they felt a "biblical obligation" to support Israel, the survey results revealed.

A majority of Protestants also said they agreed that Jerusalem should remain Israel's undisputed capitol, while a lower but still high number of Catholics agreed.

Compared to Evangelicals, a plurality of non-Evangelical Protestants said they were not opposed to an independent Palestine, believing that it would be a moderate state, with half of Catholics agreeing.

Among all American Christians, however, support for Israel was high across the board, and a full two-thirds said they believed that a nuclear armed Iran would be a threat to the security of the State of Israel.

The Joshua Fund released the new results to coincide with the "Epicenter 08" conference in Jerusalem, a major gathering between Christian and Jewish leaders that was held on Thursday.