The debate has affected relations between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the predominantly non-Orthodox Jewish community in the U.S., a relationship already strained by the differences over the peace process. Paul Miller reports Netanyahu is looking elsewhere for support.
PAUL MILLER: By the time President Clinton met Prime Minister Netanyahu to urge him to give the Palestinians more land, Netanyahu had found some surprising allies to help him resist. They were not Israel's traditional friends in the American-Jewish community, they were evangelical Christians, and the president's strongest critics. The Reverend Jerry Falwell promised Netanyahu he would mobilize evangelical churches to tell Congress to fight the handover of more of the West Bank. A crowd of conservative Christians and Jews chanted "Not one inch."
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU (Footage From THE 700 CLUB): Many of the evangelical denominations in the United States pray together. I understand that I was able to unite them. And I think it wasn't me, it was their love of Israel, and their support for Israel.MILLER: Traditional support of Israel by many conservative American Christians is based on the belief that Israel's existence fulfills biblical prophecy. Some make a distinction between the state of Israel and its government. The prime minister may not have as much support among Evangelicals as he would like. Some evangelical leaders say it's only the vocal extreme right that backs the Netanyahu government. Many of the rest have concerns about turning their backs on Palestinians. Some of them are fellow Christians.
MILLER: Evangelicals are also divided by theological questions such as whether God's promise to Israel extends to the modern secular state. The divide between evangelicals and American Jews comes over other issues -- such as abortion, school prayer, and separation of church and state. That's one reason some Jewish leaders are nervous about Netanyahu's courting of the evangelicals. Another is their disagreement with Netanyahu about the peace process. They call his meeting with Falwell insensitive and ill timed.
PHIL BAUM (American Jewish Congress): This time, to me, with enemies of the president, immediately before going into a very delicate and complicated interview with the president, seemed most unfortunate and imprudent.
