Will 2004 be the start of the Messianic Era for Jews and
Christians? In January Israel's Parliament, the Knesset, came to the
unprecedented conclusion that there is room for a Judeo-Christian alliance to
help Israel and to offer some kind of official recognition for the tremendous
efforts evangelical Christians have made to support the Jewish State and People
everywhere in the world.
Another milestone took place on February
8th, 2004. Israeli Tourism Minister Benny Elon (National Union) asked
Christian missionary groups to work to convert Muslims to Christianity in order
"to show them the light."
"Go from mosque to mosque and bring the
Muslims into the light, to those who preach murder and suicide attacks," Elon
said. (I've been saying this for over ten years in Christian churches all
over the world. In all three of my books, I have testimonies from former Muslim
terrorists who wanted to kill Jews, but when they became Christians, they became
lovers of Zion, lovers of the Jews and lovers of all
mankind.)
Elon, an Orthodox ordained rabbi who has been Israel's
Minister of Tourism in Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's government has also, during
the last few years, been in the vanguard of what is now clearly becoming an
international Judeo-Christian alliance for the defense of
Israel.
These two developments are historic watershed events.
Knesset Members (MK) created the "Christian Allies Caucus" on January 5th,
2004, in recognition of the importance to Israel's security of the international
pro-Israel Christian community. The caucus is the first of its kind in Knesset
history. Its purpose is to streamline communications and coordinate activities
between the Knesset and Israel's Christian allies. The caucus is also intended
to increase awareness, both in Israel and the international community, of
Israel's appreciation for the many and varied contributions that its Christian
supporters have made to the well-being of the people of Israel in their
day-to-day lives.
Co-chairman MK Dr. Yuri Shtern termed this a "political upgrade" of relations
between Israel and its Christian supporters throughout the world. "We will
not be demanding that Christians adopt any particular political viewpoint on the
conflict here," said Shtern in clarifying the goals of the caucus. "We
simply are reaching out to the Christians to support Israel on the basis of our
fundamental right to live here in peace and security."
Also co-chairing the caucus is MK Yair Peretz of the ultra-Orthodox Shas
party, who appealed for Christian assistance to help the poorest communities
during these difficult economic times.
Six other MK's comprise this caucus: Chemi Doron of Shinui, Gila Gamliel and
Gilad Eran of the ruling Likud party, Gila Finkelstein of NRP, Arieh Eldan of
the National Union, and Isaac Herzog of Labor.
The caucus MKs reflect the current make-up of the Knesset so that the views
of all of Israel's citizens will be represented in the caucus' deliberations.
"Israel has no better friend in the world than the United States, and that is in
no small part due to our Christian friends in America, and we hope to see the
same happen in Europe and elsewhere. Our shared values and beliefs, based on our
common Judeo-Christian heritage, are the source of the strong ties between us,
and in the post 9/11 world, our long-standing relationship has become more
important than ever before," said Chairman Shtern.
Meantime, Gadi Golan of the Israeli Foreign Ministry's religious affairs
department delivered an impassioned plea that the Israeli government across the
board should stop overlooking their Christian friends and especially that they
should cease "humiliating" Christians in the land with visa and tax
problems. "As Israelis, we should know the terrible mistakes we have
committed, and yet these beautiful people keep going on quietly with their many
kind works among us," said Golan.
Most Christian ministries present reported progress in the processing of
visas and thanked the Knesset members for their intervention with Ministry of
Interior officials. Clarence Wagner, International Director of Bridges for
Peace, noted that scores of Christians abroad had contacted his offices
welcoming the formation of the Knesset caucus. "There was an amazing
response," he said. "The phones were ringing off the hook."
The Knesset Christian Allies' Caucus is the outgrowth of
an idea that had been brewing over recent years among Israeli lawmakers,
particularly after broad segments of Christianity aligned to stop the
construction of a provocative mosque next to the Basilica of the Annunciation in
Nazareth. (I wrote about this mosque extensively in my second book,
Christian Revival for Israel's Survival.)
Representatives of the three major Christian Zionist organizations with
operations offices here in Israel-Bridges for Peace, Christian Friends of Israel
(CFI), and the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ)- were present at
the caucus' inaugural meeting to discuss areas of cooperation with the caucus
MKs.
Upon hearing the news, Malcolm Hedding, Executive Director of ICEJ, said, "We
welcome this initiative as an opportunity to further support Israel by making
known to Knesset Members the vital work that Christian Zionists do for and on
behalf of the State of Israel. I can assure you that the eyes of the
Christian Zionist world are upon what you are launching here today, and
therefore it must not fail. This forum must be a proactive mechanism for
developing better ties between Christians and the Jewish state and community
worldwide."
Also present at the launch of the caucus were the Ebenezer Fund, the
International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, the National Unity Coalition
and the Jerusalem Summit. In a statement, the caucus members said they would
seek to:
1) Recognize and further mobilize those Christians around the world who
are contributing to the security of the State of Israel and the welfare of the
Jewish People.
2) Bring to the attention of the Israeli public the unqualified support
Christians are giving to Jewish aspirations in the Land of Israel; and,
3) Provide Christian and Israeli leaders with a Knesset forum for
face-to-face encounters and enhanced cooperation.
The caucus members said they would now begin to develop joint welfare
projects with the participating Christian Allies that could be given
high-profile launches from the Knesset itself, while also enlisting Christian
support for new informational efforts to improve Israel's standing
internationally, with an urgent need to focus on Europe.
Secondly, as for Minister Elon's comments about converting Muslims to
Christianity, I believe that this is the only chance the world has for peace on
Earth and peace in the Middle East. Islam is a triumphalist religion that
cannot rest until all other religions are abolished and the whole world is "Dar
es-Salaam" (Islamic) - a sure prescription for constant war and destruction. I think that the recognition of this by Jews and Christians is a tremendous
breakthrough for Israel and all of humanity. I think that the Messianic
Era has now begun in earnest with this Judeo-Christian alliance.
* * *
[Avi thanks David Parsons of the International Christian
Embassy of Jerusalem (ICEJ) and the Bridges for Peace organization in the
preparation of this article for the March 2004 Israel Today Magazine in
Jerusalem. Reprinted by permission
of the author.]
