Religion as a political instrument: the influence of Christian Zionism in the US

• Date: 06 October
• Time: 17:00 - 18:15
• Location: Amare, Tribunetrap / tribune stairs

During this current affairs lecture in The Hague, researcher Manon Portos Minetti (Leiden University) will discuss how religious beliefs are used as a political tool, with a particular focus on the United States. The question of the extent to which Christian Zionism influences Dutch politics and Christian communities will also be addressed. Do we also see support for Israel here for religious reasons?

The Trump administration's stance on pro-Palestinian expressions and broader Israel-Palestine policy did not come out of nowhere. An important source of influence is Christian Zionism, a religious-nationalist movement with roots in white supremacy, evangelical Christianity, and conservative ideology. Christian Zionists believe that Israel is important to their faith. This influences their political views. That is why Trump fully supported Israel and suppressed pro-Palestinian voices. This was “Project Esther”, part of the conservative policy plan “Project 2025”.

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