Buying Pastors & Stalking Churchgoers: Israel’s Longtime Heist on the Christian Church Exposed (Tucker Carlson Video)

Turns out the Israeli government is targeting American churches to indoctrinate unsuspecting Christians.

In this 18 June 2026 published video, host  Tucker Carlson talks with Nathan Apffel, director of “The Religion Business” explains. Apffel is an investigative documentary filmmaker best known for creating the docuseries The Religion Business, which examines financial fraud and abuse within American religious institutions while calling for the institutions to realign with the ethos of Christ.

The video focuses on foreign influence, political lobbying, and the treatment of Christian populations in the Middle East. It examines how domestic religious organizations interact with geopolitical interests. It explores how financial resources and lobbying efforts are allegedly used to influence Western Christian pastors, particularly Evangelical leaders, to secure unconditional political support for the Israeli government. The commentary highlights documented tensions in the region, including reports of harassment, verbal abuse, and spitting incidents directed at Christian clergy, pilgrims, and historic sites by ultra-Orthodox extremists in Jerusalem’s Old City. The segment addresses the challenges faced by native Palestinian Christian communities in the West Bank and Gaza, whose populations have shrunk significantly over the last several decades. 

Activists, human rights organizations, and local Christian leaders frequently express concern over the rise of religious intolerance and nationalist extremism in Israel. They argue that far-right political rhetoric and lenient law enforcement contribute to a hostile environment for religious minorities and threaten Christian property rights in the Holy Land. Top Israeli officials and prominent Chief Rabbis have formally condemned acts of hostility against Christians, stating that harassment and spitting violate Jewish law and values.

The Israeli police have formed specialized investigative units and conducted arrests to deter attacks and preserve freedom of worship in historic religious sites. Many Western pro-Israel Christian organizations and pastors maintain strong, faith-based alliances with Israel, viewing their advocacy as a fulfillment of biblical prophecy rather than the result of undue political manipulation. Organizers of pastoral delegations to Israel argue that these relationships are rooted in shared history and strategic solidarity. 

https://youtu.be/ee_oaNQlwlk

Chapters:
0:00 The Idolization of the Nation-State of Israel by Christian Leaders
5:40 Israel’s Tracking of Megachurch Attendees With Zionist Messaging
10:59 The Exploitation of the Elderly by Churches
13:43 How Many Pastors Know They’re Being Influenced by Israel?
18:19 Who Funds Trips to Israel for Pastors?
24:32 Is Christian Zionism in Retreat, or Is It Expanding?
29:09 Is Tithing Biblical? Where Do Its Origins Come From?
38:51 Politics in the Church and Where Church Funds Actually Go
47:13 The Ideal Model for American Churches
49:16 What Would Happen if a Church Declined Nonprofit Status?
54:00 How Large Is the Mormon Church’s Enterprise?
56:08 Do Pastors Actually Get Rich?
57:19 How Christianity Is Being Eaten by the American Machine
1:01:07 In the Midst of an American Christian Revival, Where Are People Going?
1:02:42 The Franchising of Church
1:07:46 Are Churches Waking up to Middle Eastern Christian Persecution?