---
title: "More white evangelicals than American Jews say God gave Israel to the Jewish people"
description: "A majority of white evangelicals believe God gave the land of Israel to the Jewish people, compared with 40% of American Jews who believe the same."
date: "2013-10-03"
authors:
  - name: "Michael Lipka"
    job_title: "Associate Director, Research"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/michael-lipka/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/10/03/more-white-evangelicals-than-american-jews-say-god-gave-israel-to-the-jewish-people/"
categories:
  - "Beliefs & Practices"
  - "Judaism"
---

# More white evangelicals than American Jews say God gave Israel to the Jewish people

Israel defines itself as a Jewish state, and most [Jews in the United States](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2013/10/01/chapter-5-connection-with-and-attitudes-towards-israel/) say that emotionally they are either very attached (30%) or somewhat attached (39%) to Israel. But on some measures, Jews’ feelings for Israel are equaled or even exceeded by those of white evangelical Protestants.

[![FT_13.10.02_IsraelGivenbyGod_1](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2013/10/FT_13.10.02_IsraelGivenbyGod_1.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2013/10/01/chapter-5-connection-with-and-attitudes-towards-israel/)

For example, twice as many white evangelical Protestants as Jews say that Israel was given to the Jewish people by God (82% vs. 40%). Some of the discrepancy is attributable to Jews’ lower levels of belief in God overall; virtually all evangelicals say they believe in God, compared with 72% of Jews (23% say they do not believe in God and 5% say they don’t know or decline to answer the question). But even Jews who *do* believe in God are less likely than evangelicals to believe that God gave the land that is now Israel to the Jewish people (55% vs. 82%).

White evangelical Protestants also are more likely than Jews to favor stronger U.S. support of Israel. Among Jews, 54% say American support of the Jewish state is “about right,” while 31% say the U.S. is not supportive enough. By contrast, more white evangelical Protestants say the U.S. is not supportive enough of Israel (46%) than say support is about right (31%).

White evangelical Protestants are less optimistic than Jews about the prospects for a peaceful two-state solution to conflict in the region. When asked if there is a way for Israel and an independent Palestinian state to coexist peacefully, six-in-ten American Jews (61%) say yes, while one-third say no. Among white evangelical Protestants, 42% say Israel and an independent Palestinian state can coexist peacefully, while 50% say this is not possible.