Biblical Interpretation and Middle East Policy: The Promised Land, America, and Israel, 1917-2002

201 Pages·2005·0.98 MB·English

by  Irvine H. Anderson

Biblical Interpretation
and Middle East Policy
The Promised Land, America, and Israel,
1917‒2002
Irvine H. Anderson
university press of florida
Biblical Interpretation and Middle East Policy
university press of florida
Florida A&M University, Tallahassee
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton
Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers
Florida International University, Miami
Florida State University, Tallahassee
New College of Florida, Sarasota
University of Central Florida, Orlando
University of Florida, Gainesville
University of North Florida, Jacksonville
University of South Florida , Tampa
University of West Florida , Pensacola

(cid:2)
iblical Interpretation
and
(cid:3)
iddle East Policy
1917‒2002
The Promised Land, America, and Israel,
Irvine H. Anderson
University Press of Florida
Gainesville Tallahassee Tampa Boca Raton
Pensacola Orlando Miami Jacksonville Ft. Myers Sarasota
Copyright 2005 by Irvine H. Anderson
Printed in the United States of America on recycled, acid-free paper
All rights reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Anderson, Irvine H., 1928–
Biblical interpretation and Middle East policy : the promised land, America,
and Israel, 1917–2002 / Irvine H. Anderson.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 978-0-8130-3596-3 (alk. paper)
1. Christianity and international affairs—History—20th century.
2. Middle East—Foreign relations—United States. 3. United States—Foreign
relations—Middle East. 4. Christian Zionism—United States—
History—20th century. I. Title.
BR115.I7A53 2005
261.8'7'0973—dc22 2004-054151
The University Press of Florida is the scholarly publishing agency for the State
University System of Florida, comprising Florida A&M University, Florida Atlantic
University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, Florida
State University, New Colleg of Florida, University of Central Florida, University
of Florida, University of North Florida, University of South Florida, and University
of West Florida.
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street
Gainesville, Fl 32611-2079
http://www.upf.com
For my father and mother,
(cid:4)
Irvine and Elizabeth nderson

Contents
List of Tables viii
Acknowledgments ix
Prologue: A Synopsis of the Study 1
Part I. The Bible in Anglo-American Culture 5
1. Biblical Criticism and the Rise of Fundamentalism 7
2. The Promised Land and Armageddon Theology 32
Part II. British and American Policy 51
3. The Balfour Declaration and the Palestine Mandate 53
4. Truman, the Bible, Israel, Oil, and the Soviet Union 75
5. Christian Influence and Congressional Support of Israel 102
Epilogue: The al-Aqsa Intifada, September 11,
and the Dynamics of Policy 130
Notes 139
Sources and Bibliography 165
Index 177
Tables
2.1. Membership in American Churches, 1998 38
5.1. Religious Affiliation of Members of the United States Congress
in 1999 111
5.2. U.S. Assistance to Israel, FYs 1949–95 (millions of dollars) 120
Acknowledgments
This is a case study of the influence of cultural tradition on international rela-
tions, specifically of the influence of the Christian Bible on British and Ameri-
can Middle Eastern policy in the twentieth century. In one sense it documents
what has been obvious to many observers for a long time, but only in selected
episodes. It draws on original research down a number of unexplored avenues
and on the research of others in specific instances. I hope that it offers a coherent
picture of how biblical influences have permeated British and American society
and how those influences have created a cultural framework within which Zi-
onist and pro-Israel lobbies could more easily function. This is an influence
sometimes referred to as “Christian Zionism.”
It is impossible to fully acknowledge the assistance of the scores of people
who have made this study possible, some in small ways and some in large, but
a few stand out. Dr. Henry R. Winkler, president emeritus of the University of
Cincinnati, first suggested that I pursue a study such as this, and I was encour-
aged to undertake it by Rev. Dr. Donald Wagner, executive director of Evan-
gelicals for Middle East Understanding; Rev. Walter Owensby, of the Wash-
ington Office of the Presbyterian Church (USA); and Professor Samuel P.
Huntington of Harvard University.
Many people provided invaluable insights and kept me from straying too far
afield. Among them were Dr. Peter Obermark, then of Hebrew Union College
in Cincinnati, who provided considerable help with recent biblical scholarship,
and Rev. Dr. Philip B. Cliff, of Birmingham, England, who greatly enhanced my
understanding of the English Sunday school movement. Rev. Dr. Stephen R.
Sizer of Surrey, England, gave me a better understanding of the phenomenon
known as Christian Zionism. Dr. Andrew Semmel, then legislative assistant to
Senator Richard Lugar, helped me to better understand the workings of Con-
gress. Professor Yaakov Ariel, of the University of North Carolina, read the