Mel Gibson's "The Passion," the graphic film about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, won't be released until next spring, but the controversy surrounding the film is already testing the resolve of one of the most unorthodox political and interfaith alliances in play today: the bond between conservative Christians and Jewish groups, who have come together in recent years over their strong support for the state of Israel.
Suddenly, "The Passion" has pitted the partners in this fledgling alliance against one another, on opposite ends of an emotional debate. Jewish groups, including the Anti-Defamation League, have called the film anti-Semitic because it portrays Jews as responsible for the killing of Jesus Christ. But many Christian evangelicals are applauding the conservative Gibson's film.
"I think there's going to be a big backlash" because of the Passion controversy, says Dave Blewett, president of the National Christian Leadership Conference for Israel. "The film could create a divide between Christians and Jews and solidify stereotypes we have of each other."