To most evangelical and fundamentalist Christians, loyalty to Israel is a second patriotism, nurtured by the conviction that Israel's restoration is a part of God's plan for history. Mainstream Protestantism, however, champions Palestinian nationalism and, drawing on the rhetoric of the Middle East Council of Churches, does not hesitate to portray Israel as an oppressor.

Paul Merkley argues that Christian attitudes towards Israel reflect fundamental theological attitudes that must be studied against the long historical background of Christian attitudes towards Judaism and Islam. He draws on a wide range of research and literature published by Christian organizations and on interviews with key figures within the government of Israel, spokespeople for the Palestine Authority, and leaders of all the major pro and anti-Zionist Christian organizations to demonstrate that Christian attitudes towards Israel remain remarkably polarized.