They argued that it would be the right thing to do not merely for geopolitical reasons, but because it was prophesied in the Bible.
• Christian Fundamentalism
Evangelical Christians believe in biblical prophecies of the second coming of Christ followed by the deaths of most Jews on the battleground of Armageddon and conversion of the survivors to Christianity. But first they want to preserve undisputed Jewish control of Jerusalem because that is what is described in Scripture, they say.
Israeli officials who spoke at the rally voiced no misgivings about coalition support. Benyamin Elon, a fundamentalist member of Israel's Knesset, dismissed concerns about such matters as the rhetoric of discredited liberals. He said he was amused by the sudden concern about the issue after decades of strong support from Christian conservatives in the United States.