Do young evangelicals care about Israel? Not so much

Support for Israel is waning among younger evangelicals in the US, according to a new study from LifeWay Research.

LifeWay found 77 per cent of evangelicals aged 65 and older support the existence, security and prosperity of Israel. However, only 58 per cent of evangelicals aged between 18 and 34 do so, with four out of 10 in this age group saying they have 'no strong views' about Israel.

Furthermore, only 58 per cent say their view of Israel is positive, as opposed to 76 per cent of older evangelicals.

Among other questions, respondents were asked whether Israel had been unfair in its treatment of Palestinians. Around a quarter (22 per cent) says it has, while 41 per cent say it has not and 37 per cent are unsure.

Younger evangelicals are more likely to see the foundation of the modern State of Israel as involving injustice to Palestinians, while 34 per cent disagree and 47 per cent are unsure.

Overall, the respondents also strongly affirmed the 'historic right' of Jews to the land of Israel, with 69 per cent agreeing and and only six per cent disagreeing; 25 per cent are not sure.

Evangelicals are divided on the future of Israelis and Palestinians, with a quarter saying they want a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, 31 per cent disagreeing and 46 per cent unsure.

Mitch Glaser, president of Chosen People Ministries, which helped underwrite the survey, told LifeWay he was glad to see that most evangelicals support Israel.

However, he said: 'I am concerned for the obvious decline in support for Israel among millennial followers of Jesus, who either do not know what they believe or do not seem to care.'