This is the eleventh part of a series on Christianity and the history of antisemitism. While we are often reminded to “Never forget,” many of us were never taught this history.

The Modern Impact of Left-Wing Christian Antisemitism on Politics and Interfaith Relations

While left-wing Christian antisemitism in the 20th century was often tied to socialist economic critiques, Soviet anti-Zionist propaganda, and Liberation Theology, its influence has not disappeared. In the 21st century, progressive Christian movements, leftist political organizations, and interfaith groups continue to engage in anti-Zionist rhetoric, apply double standards to Israel, and minimize contemporary antisemitism.

We will explore how leftist Christian antisemitic ideas have evolved and continue to influence modern politics and interfaith relations in four key areas:

• Theological and political opposition to Zionism in progressive Christian circles
• The influence of Liberation Theology on modern Christian antisemitism
• The role of leftist Christian organizations in global anti-Israel activism
• The impact of interfaith dialogue and selective engagement with Jewish communities

1. Theological and Political Opposition to Zionism in Progressive Christian Circles

In many progressive Christian denominations, opposition to Zionism has shifted from a political stance to a theological one, often framing Israel as a colonial power and Jews as oppressors. This rhetoric has led to accusations of applying antisemitic double standards to Israel compared to other nations.

A. Progressive Churches and Their Stance on Israel

• The World Council of Churches (WCC) frequently criticizes Israel’s treatment of Palestinians while downplaying Jewish security concerns.
• Mainline Protestant denominations (Presbyterian Church USA, United Methodist Church, United Church of Christ) have passed resolutions condemning Israel but often ignore persecution of Jews in Muslim-majority countries.
• Some progressive churches endorse the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which targets Israeli businesses and cultural institutions but not human rights abuses in other nations.

B. Christian Palestinianism and the Erasure of Jewish History

• Christian Palestinianism has become a dominant narrative in some progressive Christian circles, reframing Jesus as a Palestinian revolutionary rather than a Jew.
• Leaders such as Naim Ateek (Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center) use theological rhetoric that blames Israel for Palestinian suffering while ignoring Jewish historical persecution.
• Theological comparisons between Israeli policies and apartheid South Africa or Nazi Germany promote antisemitic tropes by implying that Jews are committing the same crimes they once suffered from.

C. The Shift from Anti-Zionism to Antisemitism

• While not all criticism of Israel is antisemitic, the delegitimization of Israel’s right to exist, denial of Jewish historical ties to the land, and holding Israel to a different moral standard than any other country crosses the line into antisemitism.
• Some progressive Christians promote “decolonization” narratives that portray Jews as foreign occupiers rather than indigenous to the region, reinforcing classic Christian supersessionist theology that denies Jewish national identity.

2. The Influence of Liberation Theology on Modern Christian Antisemitism

Liberation Theology, which emerged in Latin America in the mid-20th century, framed social justice struggles as battles between the oppressed and their oppressors. This framework was later applied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, often in ways that erase Jewish suffering and delegitimize Jewish self-determination.

A. How Liberation Theology Shapes Anti-Israel Narratives

• Many Christian theologians equate Palestinian suffering with the suffering of Christ, implying that modern Jews are playing the role of the oppressors, similar to the Romans in Jesus’ crucifixion.
• Some Catholic and Protestant leftist groups compare Israeli policies to apartheid or Nazism, reinforcing antisemitic stereotypes of Jews as aggressors and persecutors.
• Liberation Theology’s simplistic binary of “oppressed” vs. “oppressor” ignores the complexity of the conflict, including the fact that Jews have faced centuries of displacement and violence.

B. The Role of Latin American Catholic Leaders in Spreading Anti-Israel Sentiment

• Father Miguel d’Escoto, a Catholic priest and former president of the UN General Assembly, called for Israel’s expulsion from the UN and accused it of genocide.
• Some Latin American churches, heavily influenced by anti-U.S. and anti-Western sentiment, have adopted anti-Zionist positions that occasionally veer into antisemitic rhetoric.

3. The Role of Leftist Christian Organizations in Global Anti-Israel Activism

Many leftist Christian organizations have become central players in anti-Israel activism, often aligning with political movements that reject Jewish self-determination while excusing human rights abuses by other states.

A. The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement

• Several Christian groups, including the Presbyterian Church USA, United Methodist Church, and Quakers, have endorsed BDS campaigns that seek to economically and politically isolate Israel.
• While these churches claim they are only protesting Israeli policies, their singling out of Israel for divestment while ignoring other global conflicts raises questions about bias.
• Some BDS supporters promote conspiracy theories about Jewish control over Western governments, mirroring older Christian antisemitic tropes.

B. Progressive Christian NGOs and Their Role in Anti-Israel Rhetoric

• Organizations like Sabeel, Kairos Palestine, and the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) advocate for Palestinian rights but often frame Israel as inherently illegitimate.
• Some Christian NGOs partner with far-left secular organizations that openly oppose Israel’s right to exist, further mainstreaming anti-Zionist rhetoric in progressive Christian circles.

C. UN Involvement and Leftist Christian Antisemitism

• Christian leftist activists have helped push anti-Israel resolutions in the United Nations, contributing to Israel’s disproportionate condemnation compared to other nations.
• UN-sponsored Christian interfaith events have sometimes excluded Jewish Zionist voices, reinforcing a one-sided narrative about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

4. The Impact on Interfaith Relations and Jewish-Christian Dialogue

The increasing alignment of progressive Christian movements with anti-Zionist causes has strained Jewish-Christian relations in the 21st century.

A. Selective Interfaith Dialogue

• Some progressive Christian groups promote Jewish-Christian dialogue but exclude pro-Israel Jewish organizations, limiting true interfaith engagement.
• Certain Catholic and Protestant groups only engage with Jewish voices that are critical of Israel, reinforcing a narrow and biased perspective.

B. The Rise of Leftist Christian Supersessionism

• While right-wing Christian Zionists view Jews as instruments in biblical prophecy, some leftist Christians reject Jewish national identity altogether, returning to older Christian supersessionist views that Judaism has no future.
• The erasure of Jewish identity in interfaith settings—such as the reframing of Jesus as a Palestinian—mirrors historical Christian efforts to delegitimize Judaism.

C. The Long-Term Consequences for Jewish-Christian Relations

• The more progressive Christian groups embrace anti-Israel narratives, the more difficult it becomes for Jewish and Christian communities to find common ground.
• Jewish leaders increasingly see leftist Christian groups as hostile rather than allies, damaging efforts to build bridges between communities.

Conclusion: The Evolution of Left-Wing Christian Antisemitism

• Leftist Christian antisemitism has evolved from economic critiques to anti-Zionism, often blending with secular anti-Israel activism.
• Progressive Christian movements have played a major role in spreading anti-Zionist rhetoric, sometimes crossing into antisemitism by delegitimizing Jewish identity and statehood.
• Liberation Theology and Christian Palestinianism continue to shape Christian discourse on Israel, often reinforcing historical Christian antisemitic narratives.
• Interfaith dialogue is being undermined by the selective exclusion of pro-Israel Jewish voices from progressive Christian spaces.

Moving Forward

• Jewish-Christian dialogue must address left-wing antisemitism just as strongly as right-wing antisemitism.
• Christian leaders must recognize how anti-Zionism can sometimes become antisemitic.
• A balanced theological and historical approach to Jewish-Christian relations is essential for meaningful interfaith engagement.