WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new international alliance—the Judeo-Christian Zionist Congress (JCZC)—has formed, uniting Christian, Israeli, and Diaspora Jewish leaders in a unified, action-oriented effort to confront what its founders warn is a rapidly escalating “civilizational war.”
The JCZC was introduced during a strategic bilateral gathering held this week in Washington, D.C. Twenty Christian leaders from the American Christian Leaders for Israel (ACLI), a project of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem USA (ICEJ USA), met with a visiting delegation of Israeli mayors and strategic thinkers from the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs The Congress is founded on the premise that only a united global front can safeguard Western civilization and Judeo-Christian values from converging threats.
The timing of this meeting could not be more critical as the U.S. and Europe continued to experience a dangerous erosion of pro-Israel sentiment and Western values. Leaders at the JCZC meeting warned that antisemitic and anti-Israel voices are rising from both political extremes, mirroring the atmosphere of the 1930s. Specific examples cited include the increasingly antisemitic voices of pundits such as Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens, and, in particular, Carlson’s recent platforming of Nick Fuentes who used to be marginalized by the mainstream right for his views, including support of Hitler and admiration of Joseph Stalin.
The Israeli delegation emphasized that the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attacks exposed the scale of the threat: a highly coordinated pro-Palestinian/pro-Islamic movement surged onto college campuses, in media, and across European cities—where over a million demonstrators participated in anti-Israel protests. This movement, they warned, is part of a broader jihadist agenda aiming at the emergence of a new global Islamic order, not merely opposition to Israel.
Dan Diker, President of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs stated, “It is time to sound the alarm on the uprooting of Judeo-Christian civilization.”
A New Movement Modeled on Herzl
The JCZC is modeled on the spirit of the First World Zionist Congress convened by Theodor Herzl in 1897. Just as the Dreyfus Affair convinced Herzl that Jewish assimilation in Europe was impossible, the founders of the JCZC believe October 7 and its aftermath have revealed the scale of today’s civilizational struggle.
Calev Myers and Sagiv Asulin, the founders of the new Congress, explained that Israel’s enemies now simultaneously target both Jews and Christians.
“We are taking the Zionist movement, what Herzl started, and opening it up further,” Asulin said. Myers added, “Without the hundreds of millions of non-Jewish friends we have around the world, Israel would be in a much more difficult place.”
Historically, Christians played only a minor role in early Zionist gatherings—10 Christian invitees compared to 208 Jewish delegates. Today, the founders note that most Zionists in the world are Christians, making a Judeo-Christian alliance not only natural but essential.
Initial Goals and Strategy
Dr. Susan Michael, President of ICEJ USA and Director of ACLI, is among several Christian leaders serving on the JCZC steering committee. The Congress’ first strategic goal is to educate Israelis about the global scale of Christian support—a message many Israelis have never heard and may not fully trust. Michael stated:
“The Judeo-Christian Zionist Congress represents the unity this moment requires. For too long, Israelis have not been fully aware of the overwhelming support they have among millions of Christians across America and around the world. This alliance brings that truth to the forefront. Our partnership is not symbolic—it is strategic, moral, and essential for safeguarding both Israel and the foundations of Western civilization. We are standing together because the threats we face are shared, and so is our future.”
To advance this effort, Haim Bibas, Mayor of Modi’in and Chairman of the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel (FLAI), was brought to the Washington meetings to guide grassroots outreach across Israeli municipalities.
Delegates stressed that the success of the Congress hinges on gaining the trust and participation of the Israeli public. Israelis understand the existential nature of the jihadist threat more acutely than many Americans; failure, they warned, would not only endanger Israel but accelerate the decline of Western civilization already visible in parts of Europe.
The JCZC launches with a clear mission: to build a unified, global alliance capable of strengthening Israel, reversing the erosion of Judeo-Christian values, and protecting the foundations of Western society.