Something that is not well known outside the US is that many if not most hard-line zionists in the US are actually fundamentalist christians. And there are a LOT more than a million of them. These folks tend to be obsessed with the apocalypse and the "end time" and see the creation of Israel in 1948 as the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. They accordingly see the defense of Isreal as a religious duty (until the end-times, when it is finally done in by biblical forces).
The Left Behind Series series of end-time novels has appeared at the top of the NYT bestseller list on and off for years.
Fortunately, the end-timers obsession with Israel is occasionally amusing. For example, the end-timers believe in a prophecy stating that a red heifer will be born in Jerusalem before the Second Coming of Christ. Ultraorthodox Jews also believe in a similar prophecy regarding the coming of the Messiah. In a bizarre display of religious cooperation, a Texas fundamentalist christian cattle rancher is collaborating on a red heifer breeding program with a group of ultraorthodox jewish farmers in Isreal with the goal of birthing a red heifer in Jerusalem as soon as possible. The catch is they're not sure what precise shade of red the cow is supposed to be, so they're breeding them in all different colors to make sure they get the right one: Forcing the end.
These end-timers are extremely dedicated and well organized as well as backed by billionaire businessmen. They have had a profound impact on the pro-Israel lobby in the US.
[This message has been edited by George Bush (edited 13-05-2004).]
