Khalid El-Awaisi is a professor of Bayt al-Maqdis Studies and Islamic History at the Social Sciences University of Ankara in the Turkish capital.
For over a month, Muslim worshippers have been barred from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque – a closure that strikes at the heart of Jerusalem's identity and threatens one of Islam's holiest sites. At the heart of this crisis lies the convergence of Jewish and Christian Zionist ideologies, where political ambition and religious fanaticism intertwine, threatening to reshape the future of humanity.
Roots of the idea
Jewish tradition links the rebuilding of the temple and the final ingathering of Jews in Palestine to the coming of the Messiah (Mashiach), who would gather the scattered people and rebuild the "Third Temple.” Historically, many religious Jews have opposed this modern secular Zionist belief, maintaining that it must occur through divine intervention and not before the messianic era. However, the secular Zionist formation of the modern nation-state of “Israel” has led to an extremist strand of thought, insisting redemption must be actively engineered by human hands. Their agenda is no longer concealed: once dismissed as a fringe movement, these actors have penetrated the mainstream of Israeli politics, securing influence at the highest levels of power. Within this trajectory, the occupation lays the groundwork for positioning the demolition of Al-Aqsa and the construction of the "Third Temple" as a symbol central to Israel's collective identity.
Christian Zionism
Christian Zionism – particularly among evangelical fundamentalists – advances a literalist reading of the Bible, envisioning the return of Jews to Palestine, the establishment of a state with Jerusalem as its capital, and the construction of a temple on the site of Al-Aqsa Mosque as precursors to Christ's return. Originating in Protestant Europe well before Jewish Zionism, this theology centers on the prophecy of Armageddon – a cataclysmic battle between the forces of so-called good (Israel and Christian Zionists) and evil (Muslims) – resulting in the annihilation of non-believers, and according to the prophecy, two-thirds of Jews themselves. This doctrine has spread widely, particularly in the United States, where it underpins unwavering political support for Israeli-favored foreign policy and political lobbying.
Convergence and alliance
The idea of a Jewish buffer state in Palestine originated with Christian Zionists before Jewish Zionism. From 19th-century Britain to the United States today, Christian Zionism has provided ideological cover and Western backing, removing obstacles to prophecies. Recent moves – such as US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and the 2020 peace plan dubbed the "Deal of the Century" – illustrate this continued alignment.
Over the past two decades, religious Jewish Zionists have strengthened their alliance with Christian Zionism, exploiting it to accelerate the Judaization of Al-Aqsa and Jerusalem. What began as sporadic intrusions has evolved into a campaign of ritualized worship, dividing the mosque temporally and spatially. Today, Al-Aqsa is closed outright or reopened only on Israel's terms — a decisive step toward the envisioned "Third Temple.” This collaboration is epitomized by the "red heifer" project: despite rabbinical prohibitions stemming from concerns of ritual impurity, American evangelicals have funded the genetic engineering of red heifers to enable Jewish purification rites and en masse entry into Al-Aqsa, advancing preparations for the temple's construction.
It is important to note this alliance is not rooted in mutual affection. Historically, Christian Zionism emerged from frameworks that viewed Jews as instruments in a broader apocalyptic narrative rather than as partners in faith. Yet Jewish Zionism has increasingly leveraged this support as vital to its political project, while Christian Zionists see it as a means to hasten the fulfilment of end-times prophecy. The result is a convergence driven by shared political and religious aims – an attempt to hasten the fulfilment of prophecy through human action.
Fundamental differences
For Jewish Zionists, the temple embodies the fulfilment of a divine covenant with the "chosen people" – the ultimate expression of national destiny. For Christian Zionists, however, it is merely a stepping stone in an apocalyptic prophecy that culminates in the destruction of both Jews and Muslims. Thus, Jews are reduced to pawns in a larger eschatological drama and are destined for extermination in a cataclysm greater than the Holocaust. Jewish Zionists are not blind to this endgame, yet the temple remains the crowning achievement of their national and religious aspirations. Both movements manipulate scripture to justify their ambitions, but their ultimate visions diverge sharply – revealing a partnership built on expedience rather than shared destiny.
From theology to politics
What was once a distant theological aspiration has now hardened into a full-fledged political project. The doctrine of demolishing Al-Aqsa has shifted from eschatological speculation to the realm of international policy. Western powers – most prominently the US – have adopted positions that echo Christian Zionist theology, providing diplomatic cover and military backing for Israel's grip on Jerusalem and Palestine. This fusion of theology and politics carries global repercussions: Jerusalem is no longer solely a Palestinian or Muslim issue but the epicenter of a worldwide confrontation where Zionist zeal collides with colonial geopolitics. At the heart of this struggle stands Al-Aqsa Mosque – not merely as a contested sanctuary, but as a symbol of identity, sovereignty, and the future of the entire region.
Conclusion
The doctrine of demolishing Al-Aqsa reveals the most dangerous fusion of politicized religion: extremist Christian Zionist theology intertwined with settler-colonial Jewish nationalism. Highlighting what began as eschatological speculation has become a coordinated political project, backed by state power and international alliances – at the heart of this struggle stands Al-Aqsa Mosque. In this light, Palestinians using the name Operation Al-Aqsa Flood was not a mere slogan but the embodiment of an existential battle. Defending Al-Aqsa is defending the ultimate beacon of faith, dignity, and justice. Ensuring its protection is not only to safeguard the mosque and the collective identity of the Ummah (Muslim community), but is essential to preventing religious fanaticism from turning Jerusalem into the centerpiece of an apocalyptic project, thereby protecting humanity from the risks of global-scale catastrophe and chaos.
*Opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Anadolu.
