Dear ,

I am pleased to share with you the most recent newsletter from the Institute for the Study of Christian Zionism (ISCZ). First, find below our most recent post, "Israel Ally Mike Huckabee Reveals Christian Supremacism," by Jonathan Brenneman and Drew Strait, who provide us with essential context for understanding Ambassador Huckabee's initially surprising rebuke of Israel, for its targeting of and attacks on Christians.

In addition, find again our press release detailing the joint Christian Declaration against Forced Displacement and False Doctrines, spearheaded by Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA), as well as the counter-witness at the ACLI Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC, organized by the Christians for Ceasefire and Just Peace (C4CJP) coalition. Also included is a revised statement recognizing the key role of our friends with Christians for a Free Palestine (CFP) in organizing the Interfaith Action for Palestine action at the CUFI National Summit in DC.

Also find below:

• The latest Librarian's Corner, an author spotlight and reading recommendation from ISCZ Library Manager Deanna Roberts
• In the Media, a selection of links to recent writings by or about ISCZ team members
• A series of Important Upcoming Events in which you are invited to participate or attend
• An opportunity to support the essential work of ISCZ

A final note: included in this newsletter are contributions by four different members of the Palestinian Kuttab family (brothers Jonathan, Daoud, and Samuel Kuttab and their nephew Jonathan Brenneman). This was not my initial intention so much as it was a later realization, a reflection on the family's deep and abiding faith-based commitment to justice in Palestine. 

All the best,

Jesse Steven Wheeler

Associate Executive Director, FOSNA: A Christian Voice for Palestine

Elias Michael Chacour (1939—) was born in the village of Kafr Bir'im in the Upper Galilee to a Palestinian Christian family of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic Church of the Byzantine rite. His family took refuge in the neighboring village of Jish after Bir'im was occupied by Yishuv forces. The family became (second class) Israeli citizens in 1948.

He studied theology at St. Sulpice Seminary in Paris, and returned to Israel in 1965. Serving as the Archbishop of Akko, Haifa, Nazareth and all of Galilee, Elias, seeing the lack of educational opportunities for Arab Palestinian youth beyond the 8th grade, created a school open to all local children regardless of religious affiliation. He is the author of Blood Brothers: A Palestinian’s Struggle for Reconciliation in the Middle East and earned five honorary doctorate degrees, including one from Emory University. In his 2001 commencement address at Emory University, Chacour stated, “You who live in the United States, if you are pro-Israel, on behalf of the Palestinian children I call unto you: give further friendship to Israel. They need your friendship. But stop interpreting that friendship as an automatic antipathy against me, the Palestinian who is paying the bill for what others have done against my beloved Jewish brothers and sisters in the Holocaust and Auschwitz and elsewhere.” His book, Blood Brothers, blends his life story with historical research to reveal a little-known side of the narrative surrounding Palestine and Israel, exploring whether bitter enemies can ever be reconciled. In addition, Chacour has served as vice president of the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center. His most recent book, The Sermon on the Mount: An Invitation to Receive and Advance the Reign of God—Then, Across Time, and Now, was published in February 2025 by Wipf and Stock publishers.

Please find below a selection of recent writings and interviews by or about ISCZ team members:

• Daoud  Kuttab. Years of impunity against Jewish extremist terror have created a monster. Religion News Service. July 30, 2025. 
• Atalia Omer. How a Harvard initiative studying the Israeli-Palestinian conflict collapsed. Interview and report by Yasmine Salam and Tyler Kingkade. NBC News. July, 25, 2025.
• Samuel and Jonathan Kuttab. Evangelicals and Christian Zionism. FOSNA. July 25, 2025.
• Don Wagner, Jesse Wheeler and Jonathan Kuttab. Genesis 12:3 — The Bible verse that far-right Americans misinterpret to defend Israel. Interview and report by Noureldein Ghanem. TRT Global. July 23, 2025.
• Atalia Omer. The Urgency of Idolatry Critique: A Synthetic Response to Yadgar and Cavanaugh. Contesting Modernities. July 22, 2025.
• [Video] Daniel Bannoura. What do Evangelical Zionists Want? With Nabil Habiby. Across the Divide. July 22, 2025.
• Daoud Kuttab. Europe’s moral authority in tatters after failing to sanction Israel. Arab News. July 20, 2025.