GRATUITOUS SHOT. You'd think, having just complained that The Nation and other lefty media outlets ought to be more focused on the increasing influence of rightwing Christian Zionism than on AIPAC, that I'd be delighted by this new piece by Max Blumenthal. And I am pleased to see Blumenthal's comprehensive reporting on the influential new group Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and the Armageddon-based philosophy of its founder, John Hagee. (Don't miss the extensive work done on Hagee by the Prospect's own Sarah Posner.)
But why does Blumenthal indulge in outdated Israel-baiting by saying CUFI believes "supporting Israel's expansionist policies is 'a biblical imperative'"? Expansionist policies? Didn't Israel withdraw from Gaza? Wouldn't that be precisely the opposite of expansionism? Indeed Blumenthal later mentions that when Christian Zionist Pat Robertson suggested Ariel Sharon's stroke was God's punishment for withdrawing, CUFI's spokesman defended Robertson. So wouldn't it be more apt to say that Christian Zionists encourage Israeli expansionism, even when it conflicts with Israel's policies?
--Ben Adler
