Tucker Carlson’s interview with Munther Isaac, a Palestinian Lutheran pastor known for his critical stance on Israel, has garnered over 10 million views, 57,000 likes and 20,000 reposts. Despite his role as a pastor, Isaac seems more concerned with spreading his political views, notably his critique of Israeli policies, without condemning Hamas’ actions or calling for the release of hostages (that I have seen). On October 8th (the day after October 7!), he praised the “strength of the Palestinian man (meaning people) who defied his siege” and defined Hamas actions on October 7 as, “an embodiment of the injustice that has befallen us as Palestinians since the Nakba[1] until now.” In the nearly one-hour interview, there was no mention of Hamas’s attacks on Israel on October 7th or the hostages being held in Gaza or Iran, which has been sponsoring Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis in Yemen.
Carlson, fueling Antisemitism
Many are concerned that Carlson’s interview will contribute to anti-Semitic sentiments by framing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a manner that suggests a Jewish religious war supported by the United States against Christians and Ukraine’s struggle against Putin, as Jewish President Zelensky persecuting Ukrainian Christians. This absurd narrative has been refuted by figures such as former VP Mike Pence (who spoke with Christian leaders in Ukraine). The U.S.-based Orthodox Public Affairs Committee has condemned Carlson’s portrayal. Believers I talk to in Ukraine (I lived there) speak of the church as flourishing as they support their country. Tucker Carlson is either misinformed or intentionally misleading.[2]
They spoke of the decline of the Christian population in Bethlehem, blaming it on Israeli policies while ignoring the impact of the PLO. The Times of Israel reports that Bethlehem was “86% Christian in 1950. But by 2016, the Christian population dropped to just 12%.” If you want to know why Christians are fleeing, just look to Gaza. The same article states, “In 2006, a year before … Hamas seized power … there were 5,000 Christians living in the strip.” Now there are between 800-900.
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Hamas is no friend of Christians
It is unconscionable that Isaac, a Christian, will not say a word against Hamas, who has brought nothing but terror and destruction to the few Christians who live in Gaza. In 2007, Christian bookstore owner Rami Ayyad was kidnapped and killed in Gaza because of his Christian faith. It is widely believed that the perpetrators were jihadists. It was feared by Christians in Gaza that Islamic extremists would be emboldened due to the lack of effort by Hamas in apprehending Ayyad’s murderers. This doesn’t seem to be a concern to Pastor Isaac.
“Jews are killing Christians”
Carlson sums up the Israel/Hamas conflict as “[You have Christians in the US] sending money to oppress Christians.” There was no mention of Hamas’ sexual atrocities or murder. No mention of the hostages or Iran’s influence. Let’s take it a step further; what Carlson really seems to say without saying is, “Jews are killing Christians.” This is on the heels of the former Daily Wire host Candace Owens making similar accusations against Jews, even claiming without any evidence whatsoever that Christians are the most persecuted people in the world—not Jews. Sadly, Jews have been persecuted by the Catholic Church since the 2nd century. We have suffered 53 attempted genocides.[3]
In 1099, the Catholic Church dispatched Crusaders to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim control. The Jewish population in Israel, seeking compassion, took refuge in the Great Synagogue. The Christian mercenaries set the synagogue ablaze, killing everyone inside. “They burned the Jews alive in the chief synagogue [of Jerusalem], circling the screaming, flame-tortured humanity singing ‘Christ We Adore Thee!’ with their Crusader crosses held high.” (David Rausch)
In 1243, the entire Jewish community of Berlin was burned alive. What was their crime? They were accused of torturing a communion wafer after it was blessed—meaning they were able to torture Jesus because of their belief in transubstantiation. For that, genocide was committed. Three hundred years later, twenty-six Jews were burned alive and two beheaded for the same crime.
Michael Brown says hundreds of thousands of “Christians” believed the lie that Jews caused the bubonic plague by poisoning the wells of Europe. “Thousands of Jews were butchered by angry mobs.” The children of the murdered Jews were then baptized and raised as Christians. It should be noted that Jews died of the plague at the same rate as everyone else.
Just like Hitler
But Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Pastor Munther Isaac and infamous anti-Semite Nick Fuentes (whom many believe Owens was channeling in her Christ is King tweet to Jewish Ben Shapiro) believe that the 16 million Jews are the real threat to the 1.5 billion Christians. This is precisely how Hitler manipulated Germany to attack its Jews—by convincing his people that “the Jews” were a threat.
Hitler claimed, “I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator: by defending myself against the Jew, I am fighting for the work of the Lord.” And this: “The Jews have been the cause of more misery and wretchedness in the world than any other class of mankind.”
Hitler sought to dehumanize Jews, “The personification of the devil as the symbol of all evil assumes the living shape of the Jew.” But he was only repeating what the church had said. Catholic preacher Abraham a Sancta Clara claimed in the 17th century, “After Satan, Christians have no greater enemies than the Jews.” This was about 200 years after Luther gave his sevenfold solution, which included the threat of death, to the “insufferable devilish burden—the Jews.”[4]
Yet, I’m encouraged!
It does frustrate me that 10 million people watched that interview just today, and my words here might reach a few thousand. I know I’m fighting a losing battle—at least in the sense of numbers. But I am encouraged. What is happening today against Israel is precisely what the Bible prophesied: All nations lining up against Israel (Zech. 12:2-3, 14:1-2). I do believe we are getting closer to the dawn of the Messianic age. Things will get darker before they get light.
I’m reminded of the words of the great Scottish reformer, John Knox: “One man with God is always in the majority.” And I know that I’m not alone.
[1] Israel Independence is referred to by Palestinians as the Nakba, “the Catastrophe.”
[2] To be clear, Carlson, who appears to support Russia against Ukraine, is referring to Kyiv cracking down last year on the Russia-aligned wing of the Orthodox Church—something one would expect during a war. It has nothing to do with their religion but their loyalties.
[3] The Egyptian boys in Egypt, Haman getting permission to kill all the Jews in the Persian empire, Herod killing Jewish boys in Bethlehem, Khmelnytskyi in Ukraine (the 1600s), various pogroms in Eastern Europe and Russia, and of course the Holocaust, just to name a few.
[4] First, their synagogues should be set on fire. . . . Secondly, their homes should likewise be broken down and destroyed. . . . Thirdly, they should be deprived of their prayer-books and Talmuds. . . . Fourthly, their rabbis must be forbidden under threat of death to teach any more. . . . Fifthly, passport and traveling privileges should be absolutely forbidden to the Jew. . . . Sixthly, they ought to be stopped from usury [charging interest on loans]. . . . Seventhly, let the young and strong Jews and Jewesses be given the flail, the ax, the hoe, the spade, the distaff, and spindle, and let them earn their bread by the sweat of their noses. . . . We ought to drive the rascally lazy bones out of our system. . . . Therefore away with them. . . . To sum up, dear princes and nobles who have Jews in your domains, if this advice of mine does not suit you, then find a better one so that you and we may all be free of this insufferable devilish burden—the Jews.{eoa}
This article originally appeared on ALL ISRAEL NEWS, and is reposted with permission.
Ron Cantor serves as president of Shelanu TV, the only 24.7, Hebrew language TV channel sharing the message of Yeshua. He also serve as the Israel Director for God TV, where he hosts two TV shows—Out of Zion and Get Real.
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