In a recent interview conducted by former Fox News host Tucker Carlson with U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, tough questions were raised. Some were legitimate policy questions. Others, however, seemed crafted less to seek understanding and more to provoke, embarrass and undermine.
Among them, one stood out to me personally: the claim by Carlson that Christians are mistreated in Israel.
For those who know Ambassador Huckabee, this accusation carries a certain irony. He is not only a diplomat but also a pastor who openly practices his faith and even plays bass guitar in his church community while serving in Israel. The attempt to paint Israel as a hostile place for Christians ignores both lived reality and measurable facts. Year after year, Israel remains the only country in the Middle East where the Christian population is growing. In contrast, Christian communities throughout much of the region have dramatically declined. This is not merely a slogan; it is a demographic reality.
But beyond statistics lies something deeper: the human experience.
The real implication behind Carlson’s baseless claim was essentially this: “How can you, Ambassador Huckabee, call yourself a Christian Zionist if the people you support do not truly accept you?”
It is a clever framing, designed to create doubt and division. Yet it collapses under honest examination.
Yes, Jewish–Christian history is complicated. Centuries of persecution, replacement theology, and theological hostility toward Jewish continuity have left scars. Many Israelis, when they hear the word “Christian,” think not of today’s supportive and loving evangelical movement but of historical trauma, or of public figures who appear on television and claim a Christian identity while opposing Israel’s existence.
Trust, of course, takes time, and history cannot be erased in a few decades. Yet something remarkable has been happening. Over the past 30 years, especially in Judea and Samaria, a quiet but profound transformation has taken place, led by CFOIC Heartland. In communities often labeled “religious” or “extremist,” Christian visitors, volunteers, and supporters have been, and continue to be, warmly welcomed and embraced. Relationships have been built. Friendships have grown. Partnerships have flourished. There is also a most noticeable and genuine appreciation for Christians throughout the world who stand with Israel out of faith and conviction. This is not theoretical but a lived experience.
Christians visiting and learning about the community of Migdalim in Samaria
Visit communities across Judea and Samaria, and you will see Christian groups received with open arms. You will witness cooperation, shared meals, shared prayers and shared purpose. The caricature of hostility simply does not match reality.
Meanwhile, across much of the areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority, Christian populations continue to shrink. Speak privately with Christians in places like Bethlehem, and you will hear stories of pressure, discrimination, and fear. These are difficult truths, but they require honest acknowledgment.
None of this means Jewish–Christian reconciliation is complete. It is still a work in progress. Healing centuries of mistrust requires patience, humility, and courage on both sides. But let us be clear: a new chapter is being written.
You and I are living in a truly historic moment.
We are witnessing, and participating in, a transformation in Jewish–Christian relations that previous generations could have scarcely imagined. Where there was once suspicion, there is now dialogue. Where there was once distance, there is now partnership.
Do not be confused by loud and unfounded accusations. I invite all of you to come and see the Biblical Heartland for yourselves. Visit us here! Walk the land! Meet the people! Experience and enjoy the hospitality!
You will not find hostility toward anyone who comes in sincere friendship. You will find gratitude, warmth and a red-carpet welcome.
And that is not rhetoric. It is reality.
Shmuel Junger
February 24, 2026
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