There are few more tragic stories than the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty during the 1967 six-day war. That event scarred a close friendship between the two allies and continues to cast haunting shadows on their relationship even now.

First the undisputed facts.

All parties agree that Israel indeed did attack the American intelligence ship USS Liberty on June 8, 1967. The attack was conducted during a warm, cloudless day in what everyone agrees was perfect weather, off the coast of the Sinai Peninsula.

Official government reports from the U.S. and Israel acknowledged that Israel fired on the ship because of mistaken identity, thinking it was an Egyptian cargo vessel, the Al Kasir. Over the years, opposing pundits blame Israel for intentionally strafing and torpedoing the Liberty.

According to The Jewish Virtual Library:

“The Israeli attack on the USS Liberty was a grievous error, largely attributable to the fact that it occurred in the midst of the confusion of a full-scale war in 1967. Ten official United States investigations and three official Israeli inquiries have all conclusively established the attack was a tragic mistake.”[1]

According to Naval History and History Command:

“While operating off the north coast of the Sinai Peninsula on the afternoon of 8 June, in the midst of the Arab-Israeli “Six-Day War” (5–10 June 1967), Liberty was attacked with multiple strafing runs by two unidentified jet fighters—presumed to be Israeli. Twenty minutes later, after first circling Liberty, three motor torpedo boats from Israeli MTB Division 914 closed in at high speeds and launched five torpedoes, of which one, fired from T-203, hit the ship and exploded between frames 53 to 66, tearing a tear-drop shaped hole in the starboard side, 39 feet across at its widest point. Twenty members of Liberty’s crew were killed instantly. Of the 293 U.S. personnel on board the ship, 34 (31 Sailors, two Marines, and one National Security Agency civilian) were killed and another 170 wounded.”[2]

Israel could have easily sunk the ship, potentially killing all on board. They had plenty of fire power to do it. But instead, several jet fighters strafed the deck, dropped napalm, killing 34 Americans and wounding 170. The reasons are explained in Secret War Against the Jews.

John Loftus and Mark Aarons published that bookin 1994. It contains a chapter plus supporting documentation telling a very different story than either the American or the Israeli accounts. According to the authors, the National Security Agency (NSA) was put in command of the ship and during a stop in Spain, took on three non-Jewish Hebrew speakers. The U.S. Navy was not in command of the ship at that point.[3]

In short, the writers contend the ship’s mission was already established; it was not placed off the coast just to watch and report the war’s news but rather to intercept Israeli battlefield communications and transmit the raw data capture directly to British intelligence in Cypress, who then passed it on to Arab intelligence. This is an explosive allegation to say the least.[4]

Instead, Israel only wanted to disable the communications gear on the ship and prevent the transmission of all its battlefield secrets to its enemies. According to the authors, America essentially betrayed its only ally in the Middle East. Israel had to make a very difficult decision to sink the ship or disable it, but in any event American lives would be lost.[5]

This flies in the face of either official account. Then, in 2025, Phil Tourney, one of Liberty’s survivors appeared on Candace Owens’ show (Episode 118) telling virtually the same story as Loftus and Aarons, down to the NSA details. While we do not support Ms. Owens current irrational Judeophobia, that compelling episode garnered more than six million views, her highest viewership.[6]

Tourney tells of a terrifying tale of complete surprise; those onboard couldn’t believe a friendly nation would fire on the ship. The Liberty survivors and their families still harbor deep resentment for Israel because of the attack. In short, the Liberty crew knew WHAT happened, but not WHY. That might be the real crux of the story.[7]

If the accounts put forth by Loftus and Aarons are true, what role did the U.S. play in this war? Did the Americans get caught with their hands in the cookie jar, actually providing Israeli battlefield intelligence to the Arabs and against Israel, as the authors imply?

What the Liberty incident means today in light of rampaging antisemitism cannot be underestimated. How should Christians react and what should they do?

This puts the honest, biblically focused Christian in a difficult position. More recently, outgoing conservative House member Thomas Massie put forth a request to the House of Representatives to launch an investigation of the Liberty incident.[8] He has been a vocal opponent of Israel’s actions for some time.

How are American Christians (or Christian Zionists) who most often express loyalty to their own flag, expected to react to Liberty’s story? On the one hand, a friendly foreign government’s planes struck an American ship and killed 34 Americans, wounded 170 others. That part is undisputed. On the other hand, how do we defend God’s chosen in difficult circumstances?

Should believers give Israel a pass, knowing the Biblical focus on the Abrahamic Covenant which promises blessings and curses depending on how one treats God’s people?

This is a most uncomfortable dilemma, especially now as this alliance runs into the possibility of split loyalties. This is where a political viewpoint may conflict with a faith-based viewpoint. Faith can be challenged in this sphere.

So, what happens when Israeli and American interests diverge? We can see that very thing with the peace deal between Iran and the United States. America cut the deal without Israeli concurrence (not that it needed it) but fractures appear to be forming in the close friendship between President Trump and Prime Minister. Are we at a point where American and Israeli interests diverge?

The worst-case scenario is coming. Zechariah 12:3 speaks of a time where every nation will gather against Israel with the intent of destroying Jerusalem.

On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it.

How do we, as believers in Messiah and lovers of Israel manage the approaching conflict?

Peter, in his first letter (1^st Peter 3:15) says this about the believer’s role.

But sanctify Messiah as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect…

In short, we must be prepared to defend our Biblical position, no matter the cost. With misinformation and conflicting geo-political positions swirling all around, it demands we be prepared to discuss everyday events, history, and any political in any context that we encounter.

[1] https://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/history-and-overview-of-the-uss-liberty-incident

[2] https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/middle-east/six-day-war-liberty.html

[3] Secret War Against the Jews, pages 280-281 (with supporting notes on page 571)

[4] Secret War Against the Jews, pages 270-274

[5] Secret War Against the Jews, pages 275-276

[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD5gtM1A990

[7] Secret War Against the Jews, Loftus and Aarons, page 267

[8] https://www.jta.org/2026/06/08/united-states/thomas-massie-calls-for-uss-liberty-probe-elevating-anti-israel-conspiracy-theory-to-house floor?utm_source=JTA_Iterable&utm_campaign=JTA_DB&utm_medium=email

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