U.S. pastor giving blessing at U.S. Embassy opening in Jerusalem gets in fight with Mitt Romney over whether Jews are bound for Hell


The U.S. is ceremonially moving its embassy to Jerusalem on Monday. Palestinians are protesting, Israel is celebrating and boosting security along its borders with the Gaza Strip and West Bank, and U.S. Senate candidate and former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney is criticizing President Trump's choice to lead the embassy christening's opening prayer.
There are few Mormons in Israel, but about 20 percent of Israeli citizens are Muslim, including 40 percent of Jerusalem's residents, Haaretz notes. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, did say all those things on TV in 2011, and he didn't back down Sunday on Jews and damnation. "Historic Christianity has taught for 2,000 years that salvation is through faith in Christ alone," he tweeted. "The fact that I ... espouse that belief, is neither bigoted nor newsworthy."
On Monday's Fox & Friends, Jeffress brushed off Romney's criticism as based on comments "ripped out of context from years ago," and he glossed over some dark periods in Israeli history, like the nearly 1,900 years between Rome's destruction of Jerusalem and the founding of modern Israel 70 years ago Monday. "I'm going to take some time to thank God for His faithfulness to Israel for 4,000 years," Jeffress said. "God has supernaturally protected Israel from all of her enemies." He said he will also thank God for Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are leading the U.S. delegation.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
New tariffs set on 14 trading partners
Speed Read A new slate of tariffs will begin August 1 on imports from Japan, South Korea, Thailand and more
-
New tariffs set on 14 trading partners
Speed Read A new slate of tariffs will begin on August 1, with rates ranging from 25% to 40% on imports from Japan, South Korea, Thailand and more
-
Elon Musk launching 'America Party'
Speed Read The tech mogul promised to form a new political party if Trump's megabill passed Congress
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities
-
Obama, Bush and Bono eulogize USAID on final day
Speed Read The US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian organization, has been gutted by the Trump administration