Support for Israel becomes a top issue for Iowa evangelicals key to the first Republican caucuses

By THOMAS BEAUMONT
Associated Press

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — Supporting Israel has leapt to a top priority for evangelicals in the leadoff Republican presidential caucuses in Iowa, now less than three months away. That’s according to interviews with more than a dozen Iowa conservative activists. Curbing abortion has for decades energized Christian conservatives like no other issue. But the attack by Hamas and Israel’s response have put new pressure on Republican candidates to hew not just to traditional Republican support for Israel but to beliefs rooted in the Bible. Since the Oct. 7 attack, Iowa’s evangelical pastors, faith leaders and rank-and-file caucus participants have been looking more closely at candidates’ statements.