Ex-Muslim Gives 10 Reasons To Support Israel

TL;DR: A man raised in a deeply religious Muslim home explains, in his own words, why he has supported Israel for years and "probably always will."

Few voices on Israel carry the weight of someone who grew up on the other side of the argument.

Ridvan Aydemir, known to many as Apostate Prophet, was raised in Germany in a very religious Muslim family. Over time he began to question the faith he was born into, and those questions led him away from Islam and into atheism. His search didn't end there. Today he is an Orthodox Christian.

What hasn't changed through that whole journey is his stand for Israel. He defended the Jewish state as an ex-Muslim, and he defends it now as a follower of Christ. In a recent post on X, he laid out why. Here are his ten reasons, in his own words:

"I have supported Israel for a long time. After thinking about my position for a while, I have come to a clear conclusion: I still support Israel and probably always will."

1. He has met the people.
"I have been to Israel twice and have met numerous Israelis. The people of Israel are the most wonderful, kindest, most joyful people I have encountered."

2. He has listened to both sides.
"I have extensively talked to both Israelis and Palestinians. Israelis want nothing more than peace. The other side not so much."

3. Israel is where Christians in the Middle East are safe.
"Israel is the safest and best place for Christians in the Middle East. Christians are thriving and the majority of them are happy with life. Being against the one nation where Christians are safe would be very stupid. Israel treats minorities exceptionally well."

4. October 7 crossed every line.
"Israel was brutally attacked by terrorists many times, despite their repeated (and in my opinion excessive) attempts to make peace by giving hostile countries and populations land to live on and many more compromises. The final attack on October 7 crossed all lines and taught Israel the lesson that you can never placate Islamic terrorists. I have seen more footage from October 7 than most Israelis have and I will never forget the gruesome acts of vile barbarism inflicted on innocent people, with the approval and celebration of most of the Palestinian population. I would support any nation fighting back until the end after such atrocities that are incomprehensible to sensible human beings."

5. Israel's enemy is our enemy.
"Israel is fighting my enemy and your enemy if you are not an Islamist. Israel is fighting Islamists whose goal it is to dominate the Middle East and restart the caliphate. Islamists want to subjugate most of us and outright kill many of us including me. Israel is therefore a natural ally and I am happy to support them against the great evil in this world."

6. History tells a consistent story.
"I have actually deeply studied the history of Israel, especially the 19th and 20th centuries. Only one side has consistently tried to build a peaceful future for all and that is Israel … Had the Palestinian Arabs agreed to peace in the 1920s, 1940s, 1960s, 1980s, 1990s, or even possibly in the 2000s, we wouldn't be in this situation."

7. God has not revoked His calling.
"While I strongly disagree with Judaism and Jews may strongly disagree with my beliefs, I also value Judaism and Jewish beliefs and values which are mostly in line with Christian beliefs and values. The Apostle Paul had a very special love for his fellow Jewish people, even if they rejected his belief in Christ. He also told us that God loves them for their patriarchs and never revokes his gifts and calling." (Romans 11:28–32)

8. Israel built something beautiful.
"Israel built a beautiful nation that is unlike any other in the region."

9. The regathering is unlike anything in history.
"The struggle and resilience of the Jewish people and their regathering and revival of their culture is unlike anything seen in human history, and I appreciate and love it."

10. He simply wants to.
"I just want to. I don't care how many people jumped on the anti-Israel trend."

Why this matters for the Church

Reason seven is the heart of it for Christians. Paul writes that, concerning the gospel, Israel's people are enemies for our sake, "but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance" (Romans 11:28–29). Standing with Israel doesn't mean agreeing with every policy or erasing real theological differences. It means refusing to hate whom God still calls beloved.

When a man who was raised inside Islam, and who has looked at the footage of October 7 more closely than most, says he will keep standing with Israel no matter the trend, the Church in the West should pay attention. The popular tide has turned against Israel. Our convictions shouldn't turn with it.