The Rising Tide of Antisemitism - The US-Israel War Against Iran
Pastor Leslie Chua
“Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur—that is “the lot”—to crush and destroy them; but when Esther came before the king, he gave orders in writing that the wicked plot that he had devised against the Jews should come upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. Therefore these days are called Purim, from the word Pur. Thus because of all that was written in this letter, and of what they had faced in this matter, and of what had happened to them, the Jews established and accepted as a custom for themselves and their descendants and all who joined them, that without fail they would continue to observe these two days every year, as it was written and at the time appointed.”
The Jews observed Purim from sunset on 2 March to 3 March in 2026. The story of Purim is documented in the Old Testament Book of Esther. Purim celebrates the salvation of the Jewish people in ancient Persia from a wicked plot by Haman to exterminate them.
From near obliteration, the tide turned as the Jews defeated their enemies. The instigator of the potential Holocaust was executed along with his sons. All the other villains were also put to death. This event took place in the 4th century B.C.
History appeared to repeat itself when Israeli fighter jets, alongside the Americans, began conducting extensive strikes against various targets in Iran on 28 February 2026, two days before the Purim celebration. Persia is the ancient name of Iran.
The devastating air operations are called Operation Roaring Lion by Israel and Operation Epic Fury by the United States.
Iran is Israel’s primary adversary. It has openly stated its goal to destroy Israel. Over the past twenty years, it has funded Islamist militant terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, with billions of dollars, using these groups to conduct proxy wars against Israel.
Israel in Controversy
Every war and military operation that Israel has engaged in since its rebirth in 1948 has invariably sparked controversy, despite defending itself against clear and immediate existential threats.
Sympathy and empathy for Israel, if ever present, are always short-lived. The reason, perhaps, is that it always recovers from the verge of defeat to achieve a decisive victory.
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Is the argument that Israel drags the United States into war, and that the Jews are to blame for the war and the resulting economic troubles?
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The same sentiment persists in this ongoing conflict with Iran. Nearly everyone blames Israel for dragging the United States into this war, pointing fingers at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jewish American lobby groups.
This view is gaining popularity as well-known podcasters with millions of followers echo this claim amid significant global economic challenges. Nobody wants the prices of oil and gas, and their downstream products like fertilisers, to rise sharply. The risk of high inflation returning is significant if the war persists and ships remain blocked in the Straits of Hormuz.
Is the argument that Israel drags the United States into war, and that the Jews are to blame for the war and the resulting economic troubles?
This is a complex and highly charged subject. I will share my thoughts from both a geopolitical and biblical perspective.
The United States Acts in Its Self-Interest
The United States acts in its self-interest.
There is some truth to the idea that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has persuaded US President Donald Trump to attack Iran. It benefits Israel to do so.
However, claiming that is the only reason ignores other significant political and geopolitical realities. I will cite several possible reasons.
Iran poses a threat to the United States’ interests in the Middle East. Israel is not the only friend of the US in the region. The wealthy, oil-rich Gulf states, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE, are also America’s allies. It has airbases in these countries.
Within the US, President Trump’s support base includes the oil industry, the military-industrial complex, AI, and Big Tech, all of which benefit significantly from the war with Iran and the ongoing instability in the Middle East. The pressure from these lobby groups to engage with Iran cannot be underestimated.
This US conflict with Iran is likely part of a wider war against China. America sees China as a threat to its global dominance. It has been actively trying to curb China’s rise on the world stage with limited success.
Consider the kidnapping of Venezuela’s President, Nicolás Maduro. It is not a war against drugs as the Americans have claimed, but about oil and the US dollars. Immediately after Maduro's capture, Trump directed US oil companies to begin operations in Venezuela and mandated that Venezuelan oil be traded in US dollars. It also forced the new regime to renege on its oil contracts with China, the largest buyer.
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The anti-Israel camp and antisemites will always invent stories to blame Israel and the Jews. This is the same tactic Satan has used successfully for centuries.
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In recent years, China has established a strategic foothold in Venezuela by investing and lending hundreds of billions of dollars to the country. The US disapproves of China doing this in its backyard.
China is also the largest purchaser of Iranian oil, accounting for approximately 80% to 90% of its exports. The US may have been encouraged by its success in Venezuela and is trying to replicate the same strategy in Iran.
If the US were able to dictate the terms of Iranian oil sales following a regime change, China would be placed at a strategic disadvantage. China would be compelled to purchase the oil at market prices and in US dollars. This situation might also help uphold the US dollar's status as the world’s leading trading currency, a position that is currently weakening rapidly.
Given these few reasons, it is naive to assume that Israel has dragged Donald Trump and the US into a war with Iran.
The anti-Israel camp and antisemites will always invent stories to blame Israel and the Jews. This is the same tactic Satan has used successfully for centuries.
Israel Acts in Its Self-Interest
Like any nation with an agency, Israel acts in its own political and strategic self-interest. No one should be surprised by this statement. Israel has the right and legitimacy to defend itself against any military and terrorist threats. It has been doing that since 1948, and it will continue to do so vigorously.
Modern Israel carries a historical baggage it dares not forget. Throughout its 3,800-year history, it has faced repeated threats from enemies seeking to annihilate it.
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Like any nation with an agency, Israel acts in its own political and strategic self-interest. No one should be surprised by this statement. Israel has the right and legitimacy to defend itself against any military and terrorist threats. It has been doing that since 1948, and it will continue to do so vigorously.
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It is simply astonishing that the Jewish people are often regarded with suspicion and hated with vehemence. No ethnic group has faced as much rejection and persecution as they have.
It is a paradox, as they are God’s chosen nation. You would expect them to be treated like royalty. However, their history has been marred by persecutions, pogroms, and the Holocaust.
The worst is not over yet. In recent years, antisemitism has increased, especially after the gruesome massacre by the Hamas terrorists on 7 October 2023. We know from Zechariah’s prophecy that the worst is still to come during the Great Tribulation at the end of this present age.
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As a small nation, both in terms of population and size, it must resort to pre-emptive actions, which other countries often condemn. Otherwise, they will be doomed to destruction when facing formidable enemies like Iran.
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Given all that, the Jews are always vigilant. They do not take their safety and security for granted. They can sense a threat from afar. Their intelligence agencies are aware of threats that the news media are unaware of and the nations refuse to acknowledge.
As a small nation, both in terms of population and size, it must resort to pre-emptive actions, which other countries often condemn. Otherwise, they will be doomed to destruction when facing formidable enemies like Iran.
Iran is a vast country. It is governed by a group of fanatical Shi'ite clerics led by an Ayatollah. Its stated aim is the destruction of Israel, which is part of their eschatological ideology.
Over the past two decades, Iran has sponsored terrorist organisations such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, using them to harass Israel and surround it like a ring of fire.
Iran’s air force and air defence systems may be weak. However, it possesses a formidable arsenal of ballistic missiles with intercontinental-range capabilities, such as the Qaem, which has a range of up to 10,000 km. Israel is approximately 1,300-1,700 km from Iran. The ballistic missiles travelling at Mach 5 can reach Israel in around 12 minutes.
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I believe that every nation, facing the same history and circumstances, would behave like Israel if it had the military power and resources to do so.
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Iran was also close to producing nuclear bombs until the US and Israel jointly destroyed its nuclear facilities in June 2025. However, no one knows how much nuclear capability it still has. Once it acquires these weapons of mass destruction, Israel and the entire Middle Eastern region will be at its mercy. There will then be no way to counter the Iranian threats. No nation, regardless of its military strength and economic power, will be able to stop Iran from dominating the region and destroying the Jewish state.
Given its historical baggage, including the traumatic wars with its Arab neighbours in the decades following independence and the current Iranian threat, Israel is determined to eliminate all threats to its existence once and for all. This explains Israel’s current stance in its conflict with Iran and its proxies.
I believe that every nation, facing the same history and circumstances, would behave like Israel if it had the military power and resources to do so.
So, why blame Israel?
Motivation for the Reflection
I write this reflection due to the growing hostility towards Israel and the Jewish community across the world. I am especially concerned about the increasing number of Christians adopting anti-Israel and anti-Semitic views.
We do not have to agree with everything the Israeli government does. As I mentioned, it is acting in its own interest to safeguard its continued existence and well-being.
Bear in mind, however, that God is sovereignly leading and guiding His chosen nation, including its government, to fulfil its ordained destiny.
Antisemitism will increase. Most nations and peoples will hate Israel as the world hastens towards the end of this age. The story of Purim will be repeated.
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Let me conclude my pastoral reflection with this: concerning Israel and the Jewish people, don’t fall on the wrong side with God. Be mindful of your attitude towards the apple of His eye. God will not take kindly to those who oppose His will for Israel. So, don’t end up becoming an enemy of God.
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According to eschatological prophecies, only God will stand with Israel at the end. God alone will defend His chosen nation and save a significant remnant, one-third of the population. They will also be spiritually saved.
As God’s covenant people, the church must pray for Israel and for the salvation of the Jews. May God’s will for Israel be fulfilled!
Let me conclude my pastoral reflection with this: concerning Israel and the Jewish people, don’t fall on the wrong side with God. Be mindful of your attitude towards the apple of His eye. God will not take kindly to those who oppose His will for Israel. So, don’t end up becoming an enemy of God.