Zionists!

Anybody who knows me, knows that I am not anti-Jewish or even really anti-Israel.

Well, other than having qualms about how the Israelis treat the Palestinians, but not every Israeli tolerates that either. So, as long as someone supports the right of return and full citizenship for everyone in the state of Israel, I don't have a problem.

And I'd send you to http://www.jewsnotzionists.org/ as well.

On the other hand, I have a problem with Zionists.

You might be surprised who they are. Sure, there are a few Jews in that crowd, but a whole lot of them are Christians.

Christian Zionism is a belief among some Christians that the return of the Jews to the Holy Land, and the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, is in accordance with Biblical prophecy. Christian Zionism, as a specifically theological belief, does not necessarily entail sympathy for the Jews as a nation or for Judaism as a religion. Since the biblical text is filled with references to God's chosen people, it is common for Christian Zionists to emphasize the Jewish roots of Christianity, and even to promote Jewish practices and Hebrew terminology as part of their own practice; however, Christian Zionists commonly believe that to fulfill prophecy, a significant number of Jews will accept Jesus as their Messiah, and that in the last days, such Messianic Jews will practice a thoroughly Hebraic form of Christianity.

Examples of Christian leaders combining political conservatism with Christian Zionism are Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, leading figures of the Christian Right in the 1980s and 1990s. Falwell said in 1981: "To stand against Israel is to stand against God. We believe that history and scripture prove that God deals with nations in relation to how they deal with Israel." They cite part of Genesis 27:29 Those who curse you [Israel] will be cursed, and those who bless you will be blessed.

The government of Israel has given official encouragement to Christian Zionism, allowing the establishment in 1980 of an "International Christian Embassy" in Jerusalem. The main function of the embassy is to enlist worldwide Christian support for Israel. The embassy has raised funds to help finance Jewish immigration to Israel from the former Soviet Union, and has assisted Zionist groups in establishing Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Deep down, these folks would be happy if every Jew in Israel were incinerated, especially if that brings the prophetic role of Israel in the apocalyptic End Times.

Oy gevalt!