JERUSALEM (RNS) — Leaders of the historic or apostolic churches in the Holy Land issued a blunt joint statement accusing Christian Zionists of espousing “damaging ideologies” that “mislead the public, sow confusion, and harm the unity of our flock.”  The Saturday (Jan. 17) statement from the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in the Holy Land suggests an ongoing rift between the historic Christian churches representing the small Palestinian Christian community in the region and the mostly U.S. evangelicals who have been unwavering in their support for Israel.  The church leaders said in the statement that “they alone” — not Christian Zionists — represent Christian churches and their followers in the Holy Land.  Israel’s current government is opposed to a Palestinian state and has shown ever greater repression toward Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. While the overwhelming majority of Palestinians are Muslims, many Christians living in Israel also identify as Palestinians and have claimed the land since the time of Jesus. They comprise less than 1% of the population in the West Bank and …