Religious Roots of Politics

Athens for Justice in Palestine held an exhibit in Tate Plaza Wednesday, promoting the rights and exposing the issues of Palestinians unable to access their jobs and families. Some students passed without a second glance, while others stopped to read and discuss.
The conflict between Arabs and Israelis is centuries-old, rife with mutual violence and mistrust, and ostensibly unending. It seems that there can be nothing said about it that has not already been proposed, debated, and argued to death by citizens, politicians and academics. What’s left to say? As it turns out, plenty.
U.S. foreign aid overwhelmingly favors Israel, and, at less than 2%, the Jewish population alone is not significant enough to influence public policy in such magnitude. After the Jewish people themselves, evangelical Christians in the United States are the most fervent supporters of Israelites.
In short, religious support for Israel comes more from Christians than from Jews. But is U.S. government support for Israel a reflection of public opinion or a political preference?
“The U.S. favors certain countries over others for their own interests,” said junior UGA student Lauriston Nunez. “But government interest influences public opinion.”
Another UGA student was unsure, but optimistic. “I would hope it was public opinion, in that they would do […] what the majority of Americans want them to do,” said Kanika Moss, a UGA senior.
When asked if she thought that congressmen supported aid for Israel because of
religious reasons, Moss seemed surprised that this would be a consideration at all. “I wouldn’t think so, no,” she said. “[Religion] shouldn’t have anything to do with politics.”
She acknowledged the possibility of religious influence, however. “We are a Christian-based society, I guess,” she said. “I’m not very religious.”
Kristen Turner, a UGA senior, can easily see how religion might play a factor in U.S. aid to Israel. “I, in general, view people as people,” she said. “I do favor the Israelis, just because I am Christian, and I do believe because of the Bible that God has chosen the Israelites as the chosen people. And I do believe that they’re going to win out, just because of my faith.”