Mike Pompeo, who served as secretary of state during the Trump administration, has been named the top Christian ally of Israel for 2023 by the Israel Allies Foundation.
"As secretary of state, Pompeo supported Israel's right to Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, Judea, and Samaria and brokered the Abraham Accords," the IAF said on its website. "During this time, he established what became known as the 'Pompeo Doctrine,' which held that the United States no longer viewed Israeli presence in Judea and Samaria and the settlements there as 'inconsistent with international law.'
"Prior to serving as the United States top diplomat, he served as a U.S. congressman for 16 years and was a member of the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus. He is also an effective advocate and supporter of Israel and the Jewish people and will not hesitate to publicly expose antisemitism rhetoric for its untruthfulness. Pompeo's efforts earned him the Peace Through Strength Award from former American Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, at the new Friedman Center. Together with Ambassador Friedman, Pompeo recently produced and starred in 'Route 60: The Biblical Highway,' a film traversing the 150-mile road through Judea and which highlights the incredible biblical sites found along it."
The IAF list cited the top 50 Christian allies of Israel. Jair Bolsonaro, the former president of Brazil, came in at No. 2, while Pastor Larry and Tiz Huch, the founding pastors at New Beginning Church in Texas, came in third. They were followed by philanthropist Dick Saulsbury and televangelist Paul White.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee came in at No. 9, and former Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., was No. 14 on the list.
Other people on the list included Dr. James Dobson (No. 11), founder/chairman of the James Dobson Family Institute; actor Gary Sinise (No. 21); Penny Nance (No. 27), CEO and president of Concerned Women for America; and Troy A. Miller (No. 31), president & CEO of National Religious Broadcasters.
This is the fourth year the IAF has put out the list, according to The Jerusalem Post. It originated as a way to thank Christian Zionists for their work in support of Israel, the news outlet noted.