The Tucker Carlson Show

Episode: The Shocking Reality of the Treatment of Christians in the Holy Land by the US-Funded Israeli Government
Date: February 5, 2026

Overview

In this episode, Tucker Carlson broadcasts from Jordan, near the River Jordan and just a short distance from Jerusalem. The central theme explores the declining conditions and diminishing numbers of Christians in the Holy Land—particularly in Israel and the West Bank—contrasted with the surprising stability and relative success of Christians in Muslim-majority Jordan. Carlson interrogates why American Christians and their churches, despite sending large sums to Israel, have not acted to protect or support their co-religionists in the region, and highlights US political and financial complicity in these trends. The episode features in-depth interviews with the Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem, a native of Nazareth, and a prominent Jordanian Christian banker.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Christians in the Holy Land: A Vanishing Presence

• Decline in Numbers:
  Christians in Israel and the West Bank are rapidly diminishing, both in absolute numbers and as a percentage of the population.
  • “The bottom line is there are fewer Christians now, far fewer in absolute numbers and particularly as a percentage of population than there were when the state was founded in 1948.” (A, 02:44)
• Turning Points:
  Major exoduses followed the creation of the state of Israel (1948) and the Six-Day War (1967).
  • “You can think about, you know, the Christian population, it dwindled to half in 48 because many people had to leave.” (B, 07:15)
• Refugees Not Just Muslims:
  Many Palestinian refugees expelled in 1948 and 1967 were Christian, a fact often ignored in Western and Israeli narratives.
  • “When we speak about Palestinian refugees today, they are all coming or came from what is proper Israel today... many Christians. Absolutely.” (B, 07:54)

2. Misrepresentation and Demonization

• Conflation in Western Media:
  In the US, “Palestinian” is widely equated with “Islamic terrorist”, erasing Christian Palestinians.
  • “In the United States... Palestinian is a synonym... for Islamic terrorist... but you’re saying that a lot of those Palestinians refugees were Christians, Anglicans even.”—A, 10:55
  • “For me. That’s demonizing.”—B, 11:11

3. The Role of American Christian Support

• Disproportionate Funding:
  US Christian donations overwhelmingly aid Jewish Israeli causes (including settlements), dwarfing aid to local Christians—even in places like Nazareth and Bethlehem.
  • “If you compare the amount of money that comes to the other side, we are talking about a drop in the ocean.”—B, 18:51
  • “Christian churches in the United States send more money to say, Jewish settlements in the West Bank than they do to Christians in Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth.”—A, 18:52
• Perpetuation of Dispossession:
  Some Western Christians justify displacement of local Christians as a “sacrifice for a greater good,” often fueling policies that harm their coreligionists (settlement expansion).
  • “Sometimes we need to make a sacrifice for a better good, a greater good. Can you imagine that answer?”—B, 14:40

4. Harassment and Violence Against Christians

• Hostility in Israel:
  Christian clergy in Jerusalem frequently face harassment—including spitting—primarily by Jewish extremists. This is not generally acknowledged in the West.
  • “If I’m wearing my cross and my cassock, I could be treated differently by some groups.”—B, 37:58
  • “Has someone ever spit at you? ... Yes. ... More than once. ... Yeah.” (A & B, 38:02-38:07)
• Official Indifference:
  Law enforcement and political authorities often fail to act: spitting isn’t even illegal, and perpetrators are routinely released.
  • “We were told that spitting on people is not a charge, that we need to have a law that forbids this or there will be a punishment...” (B, 40:37)
• Vandalism:
  “Nasty things” are done to church doors, and vandalism is common. It’s caught on camera but rarely prosecuted.
  • “They’re doing, like, really shameful things, you know, in front of church doors... It’s been caught on camera many times.”—B, 39:09

5. Custodianship of Holy Sites

• Jordanian Protection:
  Despite being a Muslim monarchy, Jordan’s king is still the designated custodian of Christian and Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, a remnant of the status quo arrangement that helps prevent unilateral Israeli control and preserves multi-religious access.
  • “The King of Jordan... is the custodian of holy sites of Christian and Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem.”—B, 25:16
  • “It saves the character of Jerusalem, where the three faiths... can exist side by side.”—B, 25:58
• Restrictions:
  The Israeli government heavily restricts Christian access to key holy sites during major holidays (“for safety”), a new phenomenon not previously observed.
  • “The Israeli government is preventing Christians from celebrating Easter in Jerusalem... restricting that sometimes to 1,500 [people]... instead of 10,000.”—B, 27:02

6. Indifference from US Christian Leaders

• Lack of Outreach or Help:
  High-profile American Christian political figures, such as Ambassador Mike Huckabee, have not meaningfully intervened or aided local Christians, despite being involved in Israeli affairs.
  • “But he hasn’t called you?” “He hasn’t called me personally, no.”—A & B, 30:09-30:11
• No Political Leverage:
  Attempts by Christian leaders to get US officials to help with basic rights—like access to hospitals in Gaza—often lead nowhere.
  • “I’m trying to get permission to go there [Gaza]... but I’m not allowed... I asked friends from the American Embassy... the answer is no.” (B, 30:44)

7. Contrasts with Jordan

• Relative Success and Security:
  Christians in Jordan, though a tiny minority (~2-3%), are well represented in government, business, and society, facing no persecution and often thriving.
  • “Christians here in Jordan have always felt really one and the same with the Muslims... Islam is very much an integral part of our culture as Christians here.”—C, 54:27
• Legal & Cultural Inclusion:
  Jordan’s constitution enshrines religious equality and protects Christians’ rights, and the monarchy promotes interfaith harmony.
  • “We have constitutional rights as equal citizens... Christians and Muslims have the same rights.”—C, 61:29
• No Persecution:
  Christians are not harassed or discriminated against, and their high status has not provoked backlash.
  • “Discrimination in terms of, you know, I feel at a disadvantage to be Christian here. Absolutely not.”—C, 59:36

8. Perceptions of Christianity, Islam, and Interfaith Relations

• Islamic Respect for Jesus and Mary:
  The banker points out that Jesus and Mary are revered in the Quran—Mary is the only woman named in scripture—deepening shared traditions and respect.
  • “Jesus was mentioned 25-plus times [in the Quran]... Mary... was the only woman whose name was actually mentioned in the Quran.”—C, 57:01–58:06
• Challenge to Western Narratives:
  The episode undermines the idea that Islam is inherently hostile to Christians, suggesting that human circumstances—rather than religion alone—drive hostility.
  • “I totally disagree with that. I think hostility is... a human thing.”—C, 59:05

9. The Plight of Gaza and the West Bank

• Gaza Christian Institutions Under Fire:
  The Christian-run Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza was bombed multiple times; the archbishop cannot get straight answers or even visit.
  • “It was hit at least eight times during the war... They say when they do that, that there is suspicion of terrorist activities in the hospital.”—B, 32:09–33:58
• Settler Violence in the West Bank:
  Attacks against Christian villages—including physical violence and vandalism—by settlers are rising, often unpunished.
  • “The escalation of violence of settlers in the West Bank has risen drastically... also to Christian villages.”—B, 46:34

10. American Responsibility

• Taxpayer Complicity:
  Carlson repeatedly emphasizes the incongruity and moral scandal of American (especially Christian) tax dollars funding the oppression of Christians.
  • “America is a majority Christian country. So... I don’t think many Americans are in favor of a foreign policy that oppresses their fellow Christians.”—A, 78:14
• Call for Western Christians to Listen:
  The guests urge American Christians to seek out and support the voices of indigenous Christians, not just political or media intermediaries.
  • “Talk to us. Talk to the ancient Christians. You know, we’ve been here since Christ. We’re here. Don’t just listen to the D.C. experts.”—C, 78:35

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Western Ignorance:
  “We are custodians of the Christian faith and Jerusalem is the capital of our faith. … To see the declining numbers of Christians... is challenging.” (B, 06:17)

• On Palestinian Identity:
  “I’m Palestinian. Yeah. And I’m an archbishop. Do I look to the rest of you like [a terrorist]?... This is like kind of killing the image of the Palestinian people by claiming that they are terrorists or they are uncivilized…” (B, 11:19)

• On Western Christian Indifference:
  “How can a Christian brother or sister around the world take me as kind of means, no matter what happens to me, how can I really reconcile myself with this?” (B, 14:46)

• On Spitting Attacks:
  “Has someone ever spit at you?” “Yes. … More than once.” (A & B, 38:02–38:07)
  “There’s no law in Israel against spitting on Christians? … You can walk up and spit in someone’s face for religious reasons?” (A & B, 41:06)

• On Jordan’s Interfaith Model:
  “Christians are represented… in the Senate, in Parliament, in government, in the military, in the private sector. Even though we are a minority.” (C, 60:18)

• On Islam’s Integration of Christian Figures:
  “The faith traditions are so similar. … Jesus was mentioned 25 plus times in the Quran… the Virgin Mary… revered…” (C, 57:01–57:50)

• On Gaza Casualties:
  “I just read recently that even the government admitted that there’s 70,000 who were killed, which they didn’t before. … Many of them are children and women, not terrorists, according to Israeli categories.” (B, 35:41)

• On The Future:
  “I am scared for what’s coming. … It feels like decisions are being made in… backroom doors by who knows who.”—C, 87:09

Timestamps for Key Segments:

• [00:00–05:42]: Introduction; significance of site; setting framing questions
• [05:42–22:29]: Interview with Archbishop—history, exodus, church funding, treatment
• [24:23–32:26]: Jordan’s custodianship & holy sites; access restrictions; indifference of US politicians
• [32:26–47:43]: Gaza Christian hospital bombed; settler/IDF violence; current local threats
• [47:55–53:41]: Comparing Israel and Jordan for Christian life; identity and historical roots
• [54:07–79:10]: Interview with Jordanian Christian banker: interfaith coexistence, constitutional rights, stability, US misconceptions
• [79:10–86:11]: Regional instability, refugees, American foreign policy’s effects
• [86:11–End]: Fears for the future, personal reflections on remaining in the region

Tone and Takeaways

Tone:
The tone is investigative and urgent, blending Carlson’s signature skepticism of establishment narratives with profound moments of empathy, incredulity, and disappointment—particularly regarding the apparent betrayal of Christians by their Western co-religionists.

Closing Message:
The episode paints a stark portrait of a shrinking Christian presence under an Israeli system supported by US dollars and American Christian institutions, contrasting it with the religious tolerance and acceptance found in Muslim-majority Jordan. The voices of indigenous Christians urge Westerners, especially Americans, to listen, learn, and amend their understanding—and actions—in the region.

End of Summary