Özet:

Fundamental and conservative worldviews of the Protestant Evangelical churches, based on the early roots of Christianity, paved the way for the emergence of the Christian Zionist understanding. Protestant Evangelical and Jewish lobbies, which played a decisive role in shaping US policies towards Israel, effectively used propaganda condemning the holocaust committed against Jews by Nazi Germany in Europe during World War II in order to break the rising tendency of antisemitism in the United States. Because of these propaganda campaigns, the State of Israel was founded in the Middle East. The term "Zionism," which has its theological foundations in the texts of the holy books, has in the process evolved into a political ideology or movement. In the Bible, the term "Zion" appears 163 times (156 times in the Old Testament and 7 times in the New Testament). Activities carried out all around the globe are included under the term "Zionism" in order to support Israel for the Jews to build a state in their homeland. The Christian perspective of Zionism is the primary factor influencing Israel and the United States' close relationship. Unconditional support was given to Israel with the thought that it is a friendly ally country in the foreign policies of the US. Another reason for this support, despite the fact that national interests are pursued geopolitically and strategically, is the devotion of American Evangelicals to religious prophesies and their belief in Premillennial Dispensational theology before Christ's return. According to this theology, which is a component of Protestant Evangelicals’ outlook, God handed the promised territory to the Jews, to His chosen people. Protestant Evangelicals, who faithfully follow this belief, occupy an active role in the political life of the USA with their lobbying activities. It is important to reveal in the study how determinative the attitudes of Protestant Evangelicals are in the international relations between Turkey and the USA and even in the relations between Turkey and Israel.

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