Tens of thousands of American Jews gathered in Washington on Tuesday for the March for Israel rally. Its stated aims were to support Israel; to call for the release of the over 200 hostages captured and held by Hamas since Oct. 7; and to stand against antisemitism.
There were many speakers throughout the day, including relatives of hostages and members of Congress from both parties. Also on the stage, apparently unbeknownst to the liberal Zionist groups in attendance until the day of rally, was John Hagee, pastor, televangelist and chair of Christians United for Israel.
One could reasonably object to this person being on a stage at a rally against antisemitism.
It is unsurprising that more progressive groups in attendance objected to Hagee’s presence. After all, he has a history of deeply offensive comments: that God sent Hitler to carry out the Holocaust “to help Jews reach the promised land,” that Hitler was a “half-breed Jew,” and that Israel is the only home God ever intended the Jewish people to have. One could reasonably object to this person being on a stage at a rally against antisemitism.
While Tuesday’s rally was held to both support Israel and fight antisemitism, the organizers’ invitation to Hagee illustrates that these two things are not necessarily the same. One can support Israel and also spread antisemitism.
Whatever else one can say about Hagee, one must admit he supports Israel. True, in the long term, many Christian Zionists believe that Israel is necessary to bring about the end of the world, at which point Jews will be eternally damned and Christ will return. But in the short term, he has been an active partner and vocally supportive of the state just as it is.
One could argue that Hagee’s support goes against the actual interests of peace and security for Israelis and Jews, or that it is not up to him to proclaim, as he did at Tuesday’s march, that “you’re either for the Jewish people or you’re not” and that there is…
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