Son of late US evangelist Billy Graham tops list of Israel's Christian allies

(JNS) — The son of the late American evangelist, Billy Graham, heads a list of Israel’s top Christian Allies around the world, recognized for their unwavering faith-based support for the Jewish state.

The fifth annual list released Wednesday by the Washington, D.C.-based Israel Allies Foundation comes at a time when evangelical Christian support for Israel has served as a bulwark and counterweight against international criticism of Israel for the yearlong war against Hamas in Gaza.

The American evangelist and missionary Franklin Graham, 72, of Asheville, North Carolina — who serves as president of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, named after his father — topped the 2024 list of Christian allies for his advocacy for the Jewish state and humanitarian assistance for Israeli families displaced by the war triggered by the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas massacre.

“It is a great honor to stand with Israel. This nation was brutally attacked and has every right to defend itself from those who want to wipe it off the face of the earth,” Graham said in a written statement. “As a Christian, I believe the Jews are God’s chosen people, and so we want to do all that we can to stand with Israel in this hour of great need and provide for those who are constantly at risk. I continue to encourage everyone to ‘pray for the peace of Jerusalem’ as the Bible teaches.”

The coveted listing—which includes many who were honored in years past, such as former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who topped it last year and came in second this year; Pastor John Hagee, founder and chairman of Christians United for Israel; and Daystar TV co-founder Joni Lamb, who was recently feted for her Israel support — highlights the depth of the faith-based connection that tens of millions of evangelical Christians in the United States alone have for Israel.

This year’s list includes American actress Patricia Heaton (number 9 on the list), who has been a vocal advocate for Israel at a time when many Jews in Hollywood have remained on the sidelines; Filipino boxing champion and politician Manny Pacquiao (11 on the list); and British-Polish social-media commentator Stefan Thompson, who co-founded “Visegrad 24” in 2020 (who comes in at number 17.) The prominent British author and political commentator, Douglas Murray — who has been a leading voice for Israel on the international scene over the last year and has been recognized by the State of Israel—is not listed, since he defines himself as an atheist.

Faith-based timing

The coinciding of the release of the list with the start of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, known as the Feast of Tabernacles, is symbolic to Bible-believing Christians who are inspired by Zechariah 14:16, which envisions a time when people from all nations will gather in Jerusalem to celebrate the holiday.

Founded a decade and a half ago, the Israel Allies Foundation, which puts out the listing, has emerged as a powerhouse in mobilizing support for Israel worldwide through faith-based diplomacy. Its ever-growing network includes more than 50 pro-Israel parliamentary caucuses around the globe, based on shared Judeo-Christian values.