Washington — Evangelical Christian supporters of Israel are taking on the Netanyahu government’s fight to ease mounting pressure from the Obama administration on the settlement issue.
A three-day conference of Christians United For Israel (CUFI) held in Washington this week mobilized supporters, who according to organizers represent millions of followers throughout the country, to push back against what they see as unfair and uneven demands being imposed on Israel.
Christians United for Israel is treading a thin line in its advocacy work in Washington. On the one hand, the group strongly opposes the Obama administration’s all-out pressure on Israel, but on the other hand leaders of the organization are cautious as to not be viewed as taking a political standpoint on the contentious issue of settlements.
The focus, during CUFI’s three-day conference was, therefore, on the issue of pressure. The term “pressure” came up time and again in every speech and dominated the talking points provided to activists before their lobbying meetings on Capitol Hill. Echoing the message conveyed by Jewish groups to President Obama in their July 13 White House meeting, Christian activists are also focusing on the style of the administration’s approach to Israel, not on the substance of the demands.
“If Israel’s democratic elected leaders decide to be more cautious we should not pressure them,” said David Brug, CUFI’s executive director in an interview during the conference. “We should work with our ally Israel, not pressure it.”
But judging from the crowd’s reactions, it is clear that sentiments ran deeper and that many of the 4,000 activists gathered at Washington’s convention center held strong views regarding Obama’s attitude toward Israel.
“Obama goes on in a manic, obsessive way about the settlements as if the settlement [issue] is key for peace,” said Fred Barnes, executive editor of the Wekly Standard to a roaring crowd. He then added that “the whole idea of land for peace is dead.”
Democratic congresswoman Shelly Berkley of Nevada had the crowd on their feet when she called the debate over the settlements a “red herring” and said there is “no way” that Israel should be restricted from building for the purpose of natural growth. “To pin the peace process on the settlement issue is fool hearted and for the United States to publically dress down the prime minister of Israel is a huge mistake,” Berkley said.
Encouraged by the positive response of the audience and the warm welcoming of host Gary Bauer, Berkley added: “If I wasn’t so Jewish, I’d think about converting right now.”
(Berkley was not the only Jewish speaker at the event to articulate deep sympathy to the Christian crowd. Senator Joe Lieberman said to the participants: “I am your brother Joseph” and Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chair of the Conference of Presidents called Pastor John Hagee, CUFI’s founder, “my pastor.”)
In his speech and the following discussion, Hoenlein tried to avoid direct questions regarding president Obama’s treatment of Israel, saying: “I can’t judge what’s in his heart and in his head.” But he later called on the crowd to lobby against pressuring Israel, saying that “this is an administration that is very sensitive to public opinion, and this is a critical role you can play.”
Hagee, in his keynote speech during the “Night to Honor Israel” which was part of the conference, also equipped activists with a similar message as they readied their lobbying day on Capitol Hill. “Hello Congress, were putting pressure on the wrong people here,” Hagee said, adding that If America wants to get tough, it should “get tough with the enemies.”
Gary Bauer, president of American Values, a conservative organization, struck a clearer tone when speaking about Obama’s policy toward Israel. “The U.N. is not eternal, CNN is not eternal, the President of the United States is not eternal,” Bauer said, “but that covenant is eternal.”
CUFI, founded four years ago by Pastor Hagee, has been making an effort to stir away from controversy and from the hawkish, right-wing image it acquired in its early years. Hagee’s known views on settlements and his opposition to a two state solution are now put aside in favor of a more inclusive approach which is similar to that of some mainstream Jewish groups. CUFI also refrains from discussing issues relating to its leaders beliefs on domestic and family issues, in order to reduce friction with broader Jewish community that does not share Hagee’s conservative approach.
Organizers of the CUFI conference requested participants not to speak with the press and restricted the movement of reporters in the convention center. Interviews were permitted only with activists previously chosen by organizers. One of them was Scott Thomas, senior pastor of Without Walls Central church in Lakeland, Florida. Thomas, the groups Florida state director, said he and many others have concerns about Obama’s policy toward Israel and that they’d like “to see Israel being able to operate.” Thomas added that as is the case with any new administration, “we want to see things firm up.”
At all Night to Honor Israel events, held across the country, CUFI seeks donations for Israel and according to officials with the organization, it has raised $12 million last year. This is a relatively small sum compared to the major pro-Israel fundraising campaigns organized by Jewish groups. CUFI officials said that only a small fraction of the money given to Israel is directed to projects in West Bank Jewish settlements.
For the 4,000 activists attending this year’s conference, a main rallying point was the issue of Jerusalem. The gathering took place only days after the administration asked Israel to halt construction in the East Jerusalem compound known as the Mufti’s House. Israel rejected the demand arguing it has the right to build in any place in Jerusalem. The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations issued a statement expressing dismay over the objections raised by the administration on this issue. To the Christian supporters of Israel Hoenlein said the demand for a united Jerusalem has shaped the Jewish people for centuries. “Jews went to their death saying next year in Jerusalem.”
Contact Nathan Guttman at guttman@forward.com.
The Forward welcomes reader comments in order to promote thoughtful discussion on issues of importance to the Jewish community. In the interest of maintaining a civil forum, the Forward requires that all commenters be appropriately respectful toward our writers, other commenters and the subjects of the articles. Vigorous debate and reasoned critique are welcome; name-calling and personal invective are not. While we generally do not seek to edit or actively moderate comments, the Forward reserves the right to remove comments for any reason.
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Max Blumenthal's video from the 2007 Christians United for Israel Conference "takes us on a shocking and at times bizarre tour of right-wing Pastor John Hagee's annual Washington-Israel Summit, blowing the cover off the Christian Zionist movement in the process. Starring Joe Lieberman, Tom DeLay, Pastor John Hagee, Ambassador Dore Gold and a host of rapture-ready evangelicals praying for Armaggedon."
9:57
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjMRgT5o-Ig
Michael and friends: if you don't like Christians like Hagee, your business, your politics. But the cowering stance assumed by too many liberal, progressive Jews or the assumption of hubris by other groups like J Street that they and Obama are on the same wavelength will only weaken Israel and lead to Jewish deaths. It really is that simple.
To our Jewish brothers, we Christians understand that we are not perfect. And in the past, we have not raised our voice when necessary in support of the Jewish people and nation. We profoundly regret this. We are trying to change that by speaking up and educating Christians and non-Christians that the Jewish people ties to the land are not just political ties 61 years old but 3,000 years old. We are also try to remind folks that regardless of political party, Israel has been the closest friend of the U.S. and taken risks for peace only to be rebuffed with suicide bombings or rockets. While we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we think the pressure needs to be applied to the aggressors, not Israel.
I encourage Jewish Americans to support the Obama Administration policy of calling on Israel to stop all settlement activity, while simultaneously pressuring the P.A. on matters of incitement and security for Israelis. Obama's policy is good for Israel, good for the Palestinians, and presents a chance at a real future for the peoples of the region. J Street is such a blessing, and it reflects a real shift in thinking among American lovers of Israel. Rev. Hagee's wish for a Greater Israel is an agenda that the right wing of the Jewish community may like, but it's not where most American Jews, or Israeli Jews, are at, and it's a death sentence for Israel's long-term viability as a Jewish, democratic state. I and my co-rabbi recently declined an invitation to give a blessing at one of CUFI's local events precisely because of CUFI's de-facto support for the settlement agenda, despite their official attempts to deny that they have a clear position. (And notably, Hagee just encouraged Netanyahu to keep expanding and building settlements at this CUFI conference - JTA has the actual quote in its story.) If you want to read an op-ed about why we declined to participate in the local CUFI event, you can find it at: http://jstreet.org/page/who-pastor-john-hagee. Just scroll down to the entry titled: "Rabbi Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin and Rabbi Maurice Harris on Progressive Zionism and CUFI."
Thank you Christians United for Israel.
Z street is the newest group to join the debate. Check out their pro-Israel website here: http://ziostreet.wordpress.com/ .
how to get muslims to gladhand an israel or a state for 'jews' only, that's the question! when/how to obtain a larger israel, is another question? To expel or not to expel all palestinians from an israel and all syrians from golan, that is the question! where to expel pal'ns, is another question! can israel expel unwanted people? The answer is, Yes. the question arises who/what is stopping christo-judaic cult from doing it? the question also arises, How large shld be Israel? Shld it extend from nile to euphrates or from negev to deep in leb/syr/jordan?
it seems to me that, when one takes into account what i said above, the 'jewish' fight for any israel or any 'jewish' state is a fight with or against US and muslim world.
only these factions appear to be deterring 'Jews'. tnx
It's nice to have the support of people who believe that when Armageddon comes we Jews are all going to embrace their lord and saviour Jesus Christ. That is the ONLY reason the evangelicals support Israel - because they think we will all embrace Jesus. Friends like that we really don't need.
Better an Evangelical Christian like John Hagee than a bogus "Rabbi" who defends the forced removal of fellow Jews like Eric Yoffie.
I'll take my chances that Hagee wants to eventually convert me, so far no sign of it, over a fraud who puts Gay Rights, Abortion and sucking up to those who hate Jews above Israel and Jewish Communities, which is what Yoffie is.
As for the last comment - from the obnoxious Markie Koch, no comment. He would have sat right alongside Obama in THAT pew applauding Obama's fellow anti-Semite and erstwhile "daddy" Wright.
Mr. Harris,
Where's Obama's "pressure" on the Palestinians?
Hmmm, does that "pressure" include the 900 mil of our taxpayer dollars going to Hamas, courtesy of Israel-"friend" (read: fiend) Obama which is using it to buy weapons?
(yesterday's www.jpost.com)
Some "pressure". It would have been better off kept in America for GM and for our people, not to reward Obama's fundraisers.
Rabbi Harris,
Thanks for showing us to stand up for what is right, despite the abuse. Here's another good page from J Street:
http://jstreet.org/page/settlements
settlement construction and productive Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations are irreconcilable. Settlement construction must be frozen.
A majority of Israelis recognize this reality and oppose settlement expansion, yet their views have been outweighed by a small, vocal pro-settlement minority. American leaders can make a positive difference by adopting a consistent and forceful opposition to new construction in the settlements, bringing stronger diplomatic tools to bear in support of the Israeli majority opposing settlement growth.
Wir schweigen nicht.
Norman - Why did you think that the German language is the suitable means for expressing your point of view in the Jewish press? A nice Yiddish expression or perhaps a Hebrew quote from the Jewish sources would have would have been very impressive and quite fitting - but German was really very strange. By arousing antagonism, you just might convince me to support the very opposite of what you are arguing, otherwise known in Yiddish (from the Talmudic Aramaic) as "dafke"!
Yehuda,
Because I wanted to educate people like you.
Search Google for "Wir schweigen nicht" (with the quotes).
Norman - Thanks for wanting to educate me. I do speak German rather well (and I also know the source of the quote "Wir schweigen nicht"). Quite often in your comments, you try to raise the memory of the Nazi era. Well, perhaps you also could use a little education. Repeating your comparisons with the Nazi era is simply lowly propaganda. Are you able to make a point in a debate by quoting the Jewish cultural world?
The language of Heinrich Heine and Albert Einstein (to say nothing of Theodore Herzl) is quite suitable for the Jewish press.
I met Jews who fought in the Warsaw Ghetto, and they told me, "Nicht Vergessen." I didn't forget.
I think there are horrible parallels between what the Nazis did to the Jews, and what the Jews are doing to the Palestinians.
When the Nazis killed the Jews, the world was silent. Never again.
The words of the few who resisted the Nazis are perfectly appropriate in a Jewish newspaper.
Norman - It's more than strange to look at the world through your eyes. The world was silent when the Jews were murdered, quite true. But, then, you make an incredible jump to the conflict between Jews and Palestinians. One could almost think that you mean that there is an uncanny silence about this conflict. Yet, I couldn't imagine another topic in the world that is discussed, debated, scrutinized, analyzed and photographed than the conflict here in the Land of Israel. International personalities, including heads of states, visit here and in the PA to observe and to express an opinion. The United Nations is busier with the Palestinian issue than any other issue - with conferences, investigative teams, resolutions, supervisors, etc. etc. Yet for Norman, violence is raging in the Middle East, and the "world is silent". Come on. You are focused on a type of hate propaganda, and as is customary in such an endeavor, facts are not important - just repitition which is meant to make any absurdity into a matter of fact.
There's an armed conflict here, obviously. For one-hundred years already, disagreement and misunderstanding are expressed by the use of force, as in hundreds of other conflicts past and present. And, yet, one could only wish that the violence of every other conflict in the world would be at the level of the conflict here. Moreover, any people in conflict with its neighbor could only dream and wish to have a reasonable and moderate enemy such as the Arabs have. I wish we had such a reasonable and moderate enemy.
Yes, German was the language of Jews, among them Einstein, Heine and Herzl. The issue that I raised was why would a German quote be relevant for you, presumedly an American Jew. The answer is now clear: propaganda - you wish to remove the debate about Israel from the realm of normal criticism to the realm of illegitimacy.
If it's wrong for Germans to kill innocent Jews, it's wrong for Jews to kill innocent Palestinians.
You think that's an incredible jump?
Yes, Norman, it's an incredible jump. What is more - you know that it's an incredible jump. Do you compare the Americans to Nazi Germany because innocent people were killed in the wars that the Americans are conducting? You might criticize the Americans, and you might protest the decision to go to war - but that's all. The USA remains a normal and legitimate entity in your eyes. Do you compare the Arab countries to Nazi Germany because innocent Israelis were killed in their wars against us? How many innocent Germans were killed in the Allied bombings? Were the British also Nazis in your political dictionary? No, obviously not. You save such "comparisons" only for our war.
The Holocaust was not an event of the Second World War, even though it happened during that war. It's not that battles were being waged, and innocent civilians were caught in a crossfire or in a bombing. The Jews were not victims of the World War. They were the victims of a racial policy. Without any connection with any military crisis, the Germans had a state policy of enslaving and eliminating the Jewish population of Europe. AND the Jewish population indeed disappeared.
It's obvious to me, Norman, that an adult Jew who has read a book or two in his lifetime (and has spoken with Holocaust survivors) doesn't need my help in understanding the very unique story of the Holocaust. Your NOT understanding the difference between the Holocaust and the conduct of a very normal and low-keyed armed conflict is deliberate - it's ideological. It's meant to define Israel, and only Israel, as an illegitimate state. There isn't any military action that Israel could do in her waging of war that you would comment: "Okay, that makes sense to me. Anyone would have done such an action in similar circumstances". She has no right in your eyes to wage war.
There are those who wish to deny Israel's legitimacy by denying the Holocaust, and there are others who wish to deny Israel's legitimacy in the method that you have chosen. Both ways are evil.
To all those on this site who slander fellow Jews as being "self haters and anti Israel" who support a two State solution please be careful who you throw your poison at. Your former Prime Minister Olmert supports a two State solution as does former foreign minister Livni, as does current President Peres and current Defense Minister Barak, as does a former head of the Mossad. And, oh, by the way, as do almost 50% of Israeli's. There are soliders in the IDF who support a two State solution, members of Israeli intelligence and hundreds of thousands of every day Israelis as well. Hurling insults at fellow Jews who want to see two peoples living in two States side by side in peace with no more terror and war is insane and when you resort to name calling and insults at people who want peace you show the world that is not only one side that is preventing peace from happening.
The "purity police" who believe that any Jew who does not agree with them are self haters and anti-semites are the problem and if they take their heads out of the sand they will learn that the majority of Jews here in America and in Israel want an end to the conflict, the terror, and war. By slandering those who want peace what you are doing to slandering the majority of Jews around the world, and by doing so you show the world, thru your vitriol and poisonous remarks, that the psychiatric hospital you live at must have computers for their patients to use in their recreation area.
Mark-If the Temple is rebuilt it will be because of the wonderful mitzvot of people like yourself. Keep up the good work. All the best!
To Don:
Thank you.
There is no false narrative Frank. Not only do the majority of American Jews support a two State solution but so do the majority of Israeli's. If pointing this out leads you to accuse other Jews of anti-semtism you are not a well person. The current President of Israel, Defense Minister, former Prime Minister and former Foreign Minister support a two State solution, and thousands of Israeli soldiers who have fought in wars do as well, as do people who serve in the Shin Bet and Mossad.
There comes a time when you need to look at the numbers of Jews who care deeply about Israel and want two States living side by side in peace and an end to war and terror and stop accusing people who do not share your opinion of being left wing Jewish anti-semitic extremists. Do you see how wide you are casting your accusations? AIPAC supports a two State solution. Are you now going to call AIPAC left wing self hating left wing Jews?
I read posts to this site and others slandering lifetime pro-Israel supporters like Alan Dershowitz and the head of the ADL, Abe Foxman because they either support Obama or a two State solution. That is utter maddness questioning their committment to the State of Israel. This insanity of tarring and feathering other Jews because you do not agree with their opinion is sickening. Israel's supporters also like to say that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. Well, guess what? In a democracy people have a right to have an opinion without having their character assassinated and their Jewish questioned.
Keep it up Mark. You are amazing!
Thanks Mark, not for your defense of me personally but for your defense of the Jewish tradition that we are free to express our ideas.
Was it Maimonides who said that committing slander is like committing murder?
No, Norman, the quote you're looking for appears in the Babylonian Talmud, Bava Metzi'a 98b: "Ha-malbin pnei havero be-rabbim ke-illu shofekh damim". I assume that you have studied a bit of the Hebrew sources, in addition to German. Maimonides, like all the Jewish thinkers of the Middle Ages, lived in a world in which the Talmud was the point of reference.
Mark didn't defend the Jewish tradition. He simply stated that the left-wing position (two-state solution) is mainstream in the Jewish world. He also came out against hurling insults and slandering although he had his own little slip (the "psychiatric hospital" comment). It would seem that your presentation of Israel's very normative behavior in an ongoing armed conflict fits exactly into the category of "hurling insults and slandering".
Frank,
They probably deleted it because you violated the comments rules below:
In the interest of maintaining a civil forum, the Forward requires that all commenters be appropriately respectful toward our writers, other commenters and the subjects of the articles. Vigorous debate and reasoned critique are welcome; name-calling and personal invective are not. While we generally do not seek to edit or actively moderate comments, the Forward reserves the right to remove comments for any reason.
An article worth reading concerning the need for American Jewish leaders to find their footing to confront the danger posed by Obama's attacks on Israel:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?apage=2&cid=1248277904833&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Some "green shoots" of American Jewish "push-back" to Obama's attacks on Israel (according to Ha'aretz, no less):
....
Alan Solow, the chairman of American Jewry's powerful umbrella group, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, raised eyebrows among political observers after his organization issued a statement criticizing President Barack Obama over his stance on Israeli construction in East Jerusalem.
Solow, who is known to have a longstanding relationship with Obama from their earlier days in Chicago, admonished the administration over its recent diplomatic row with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revolving the planned building of new apartment units in the hotly contested eastern part of Jerusalem.
Are there any non-Jew-hating Jews who agree that the following comments (my original comment) should be DELETED by a "Jewish" publication"? Do any of you believe that the outrageous anti-Semitic attacks on Israel should instead be deleted? Do these comments appear to have been intentionally misrepresented?
...
It may be worth repeating some of my previous comments, so that they are not intentionally misrepresented
.....
Every Israeli, and every (non-Jew-hating) Jew wants peace.
.....
"Benjamin Netanyahu has laid out the simple requirements for a peace agreement with a two-state solution, which are fully supported by Israelis.
....
Israel has always been the victim, never the aggressor. The only impediment to peace is, and has always been, the arabs. The arabs have proven themselves time and again to have no interest in a true peace, which simply requires accepting the right of the Jewish State of Israel to exist.
...
On the other hand, there are "Jews" (in quotes because they are in fact self-hating anti-Semites, cloaked in their extremist far-left ideologies, who are in fact "JINO's" - Jews in name only) who, for their own unhealthy (dare I say perverse) reasons, are uncomfortable being Jews, and therefore find reasons to attack the Jewish State of Israel.
....
What is much more troubling is the "institutionalization" of "Jewish" anti-Semitism: culturally (as with the Forward) or politically (as with J Street). These groups act as a "Fifth Column" among American Jews.
....
These "Jewish" anti-Semites have a favorite false "narrative" (as the leftists like to say): they suggest that there are Israelis, and American Jews who support Israel, (whether they are domestically "conservative" or "liberal"), who do not want peace. To put it another way: it is yet another anti-Semitic blood libel."
....
YES, this is a "false narrative". It is one of the "Jewish" anti-Semites' - the Jew-haters' "Big Lies". Those anti-Semites who utilize the "Big Lie" simply repeat their libel in the hope that the more it is repeated, the more likely it is to be believed. It is yet another anti-Semitic blood libel, and it can be seen on display in anti-Israel web sites.
....
To repeat: "Every Israeli, and every (non-Jew-hating) Jew wants peace."
....
It is the arabs, and the anti-Semites, who do not.
Thank you Don for your support and thanks to Yehuda for a clear and consise reply and Frank
It is about time that an American President holds Israel, as well as the Palestinians, to their commitments to the Roadmap. CUFI should lose their tax-exempt status for funding the illegal settlements.
Mark Koch is a goosestepper, a hypocrite, and yes, a self-hater, just like sephardiboy. Except one difference, markie is schzoid. One day he claims he's not an Obama supporter, the next two days he virtually kvell's for the little pew sitter.
And as for you, so-called "Rev. McGarvey, too bad you weren't in Bethlehem seven years ago at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre when your oh-so-blessed Palestinian Muslims seized the church and began beating and starving the up-until-them pro-Arafat priests. They practically begged the IDF to save them.
You're no Christian, McGarvey, you're a fraud and yeah, a self-hating Christian. Go and shine Rev. Hagee's boots, that is, if he'll let you.
n4ws july
Alan it's nice to see you extending your lunatic vitrol towards Christians. Shows your commitment to diversity.
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