Political strategist Steve Bannon made strong statements regarding the situation of Christian holy sites in Israel, questioning the Catholic Church’s relationship with the Israeli government and the dependence of Christians on external decisions.
Bannon criticized Christian leaders and politicians who, in his view, do not actively defend control over religious sites: “We need to get out of this situation where the Catholic Church and Christians are begging the Israeli government for the most sacred places of Christendom. This is absurd. We cannot continue like this,” he said.
The strategist emphasized that Christians should have direct authority over their own places of worship, without relying on permits or decisions from Israeli leaders like Netanyahu. According to Bannon, the lack of control is a central problem that weakens the influence of faith in these historic and strategic areas.
He also stressed that those who oppose this stance—including political figures like Mike Huckabee and Ted Cruz—“show what kind of heretics they are,” reinforcing his view that Christian leadership must take direct control of the sacred sites. Bannon affirmed that, while he is a strong supporter of Israel, Christian sites should not be under the subordination of the Israeli state.
This statement brings back into focus a debate on religious sovereignty and the autonomy of Christian communities in historically significant territories, intertwining international politics, religion, and geopolitical strategy.
