July 20, 2006

by Jerry Gordon

The Christians United for Israel (CUFI) kickoff dinner that my colleague from American Congress for Truth Brigitte Gabriel and I attended courtesy of Maj. Gen Jim Hutchens (he brought the EGGED (Bus 19 wreckage to America), retired Army chaplain member of the CUFI board at the grand ballroom in the Washington Hilton on Tuesday night was a real rouser.

What a ‘Night to Honor Israel! The beginning of this week’s CUFI Washington/Israel summit.

There were more 3,400 charismatic Christians and Baptists, dancing in the aisles, cheering all the speakers, singing both the US National anthem and Hatikva in Hebrew with the Cornerstone Church singers and orchestra playing stirring Israeli songs, waving Jerusalem, Israeli and American flags. It was stupendous. The enthusiasm was so palpable you could cut it with a knife and serve it up as an appetizer! It was that good. There were delegates from all 13 regions and every state in America. The CUFI gathering was an amazing organizational effort and tribute to Pastor John Hagee, his wife Diana and Pastor Matthew Hagee of the Cornerstone Church in San Antonio Texas, Jim Hutchens, Gary Bauer, Stephen Borg, executive director, a Jew and many others.

After all Hagee and more than 400 Christian leaders had gathered in Washington on February 7, 2006 to announce what many call the ‘Christian AIPAC’ reflecting his stewardship of the Evangelical movement in America who are Israel and the Jewish people most stalwart supporters and friends.

What impressed Brigitte Gabriel and I was the composition of the huge overflow crowd that radiating enormous energy. It was a mixed racial and ethnic crowd that we saw from every corner of this great country. In many ways it reflect deep abiding American grass roots support for Israel that is reflected when I speak with my Charismatic Christian friends both in Connecticut like Christian broadcaster Paul Kretchmer and down south. People like talk show host and journalist Ken Lamb and Ken Lambert, a postal worker in Pensacola. I call them “tannach” or “bible Zionists.”

They never cease, as does Pastor Hagee, General Hutchins, Gary Bauer and others to invoke such as Genesis 12:3 – ‘I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’

Pastor Hagee said in keynote opening message was Isaiah 62: “For Zion’s sake, I will not be silent; You are not alone.” The response was a resounding: ‘Amen!’

Brigitte Gabriel and I were seated at a table of friends of General Hutchens including a couple recently returned from Jerusalem involved with the work of the Christian Embassy there and the new director for .

What a lift at Israel’s time of crisis in both Lebanon and Gaza

Pastor Hagee introduced his friend of long standing from San Antonio, Rabbi Aryeh Scheinberg of Congregation Rodolph Shalom who said the “motzi’-the blessing over the bread - by telling us about his initial encounter back in 1981. Hagee, when he called Scheinberg to set up a first of what have been innumerable meetings of goodwill and solidarity was asked ‘what is your agenda.” A reference to the usual Jewish question to earnest Christian Zionist seeking to establish rapport and, as it turned out solidarity. The skepticism has waned with the ensuing years and now the San Antonio board of rabbis are enthusiastic boosters of Pastor Hagee’s alliance with Israel and the Jewish people. Pastor Hagee has made significant contributions to Jewish Federations in Texas and has met every Israel Prime Minister since his first trip there in 1978..

Hagee read greetings from President Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Olmert. Bush commented: “G_d bless and stand by the people of Israel and G_d bless the United States.”

Olmert’s letter referred to the CUFI groups “bold stand at this crisis time,” and the group’s acknowledgement of Israel’s biblical ‘birthright’.

The brilliant array of speakers at the CUFI dinner cut a board ecumenical swath across the political landscape in Washington. Ambassador Daniel Ayalon –a former IDF armored force Captain and diplomat spoke and brought greetings and recognition of friendship to the assembled CUFI delegates. Later former IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe ‘Bogie Ya’alon would speak of Israel’s abiding friendship with America and the Christian community support for its defense and positions against disengagement.

U.S. Senators, Sam Brownback, Rick Santorum and Bronx Congressman Elliot Engel, author of the Syrian Accountability Act presented brief but telling remarks, as did Gary Bauer. Bauer in particular is so passionate that it radiates throughout the entire vast room. I had written of hearing him speak at another impressive occasion, the awards dinner of the International Federation of Christian and Jews last September that Brigitte Gabriel and I had also attended.

As Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania said to the vast audience; ‘the enemy [are] Islamic fascists’ and that the ‘war on terrorism is disinformation.’ Given the current crisis in the Middle East Santorum pointed to ‘Iran as the genesis of the problem.’ He noted that the Islamic Republic in Iran requires all university students to volunteer for training as a suicide bombers ‘as a condition of their admittance.’ Santorum referred to the recent defeat in the U.S. Senate of an Iran Freedom Support Act (‘IFSA’), because Bush Administration national security and State department officials wanted to give ‘diplomacy’ a chance to convince the “Messianic mullahs” and President Ahmadinejad to suspend nuclear enrichment and development of nuclear weapons. Now, as Santorum pointed out, Iran’s true objectives have been unveiled in its support and supply to Hezbollah in Lebanon of missiles raining death and destruction on Israel.

As Santorum pointed out in his remarks, the Senate action occurred just before the current eruption of Hezbollah actions directed at Israel with the support of Iran and Syria bent of destroying Israel and killing thousands if not millions of Israelis, if they had ‘the means,” to do it. As one regional CUFI Pastor said, “Iran certainly has the will.

The CUFI group was well organized and had buses ready to take the message to the Hill the next morning following a lick off news conference. Borg spent time later that long evening going over basic talking points for the immediately following Congressional Visits. Those talking points included in the delegate packages that we received addressed:

• Urging Congress to ‘permit Israel to continue anti-terror operations in Gaza and Lebanon as long as it deems necessary;’
• Requesting ‘that our government…not pressure Israel in any way to give land for peace’ and ‘that our State Department move the Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.’
• ‘Thank [Congressmen] who co-sponsored and voted for the Palestinian Anti-terrorism Act of 2006 and not giving aid to Hamas;’
• ‘Ask Congress to urge the Administration not to let Iran stall for Time …to build nuclear weapon[s]. Iran must agree to the incentive package offered it by the U.S. and Europe at once or the U.S. should bring the matter before the United Nations Security Council.’
• ‘Thank House Representatives who voted for the Iran Freedom Support Act (IFSA) and make sure the bill goes to Conference Committee once the Senate has acted.’
• ‘Urge Senators to …renew Iran Libya Sanctions Act (‘ILSA’).

The Night to Honor Israel by CUFI went on for hours. Brigitte stayed longer than I did, but she remarked to me the following morning that Pastor Hagee gave a magnificent parting address to a standing ovation by all who attended the dinner.

As Pastor Hagee noted at the outset of the evening, millions who couldn’t attend the Washington Summit event watched the proceedings beamed by satellite TV all across America, to Israel and around the globe.

I must say it was a stunning tribute to the biblical faith that binds these Evangelical Christians to the cause of Israel and friendship with Jews.

This was truly “a night to remember.” A night that honored Israel.