Christian Zionism is a belief by some Christians that the return of the Jews to Palestine, and the establishment of Israel, is in accordance with Biblical prophecy. This talk will explain how Christian Zionism supported the early Zionist movement in the late 19th Century leading to the Balfour Declaration of 1917 and the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. It will also consider the support the State of Israel gets today from Christian Zionist organisations, particularly in the United States.
Deborah and Patrick first visited Israel/Palestine in 1976 as students when they worked on a Kibbutz for three months. Deborah is a board member of Friends of Sabeel UK and Patrick has been a national executive member of PSC. Also involved with the Methodist church, they have been instrumental in putting forward motions to the Methodist Conference on Palestine. In 2015 they organised a road show on Israel/Palestine around Methodist Churches to raise awareness of the issues.