US Christians and Israel: mixed views

Welcome for pressure on Israel by US Christians -4/10/04

Palestinian religious leaders have welcomed efforts by two US-based Christian groups to exert economic pressure on Israel in response to its policies against the Palestinians.

This week, the US-based Episcopal Church said it would contemplate action against companies involved in the occupation of Palestine, especially in the construction of the separation wall Israel is building in the West Bank.

Earlier, the Presbyterian Church, also embarked on a campaign against companies involved in the building of Jewish-only settlements in the occupied territories.

"We salute these two churches for taking these courageous steps to help the oppressed Palestinian people," said archimandrite Ata Allah Hanna, spokesman of the Orthodox Church in Jerusalem.

"We do hope and pray that other churches and groups will act similarly in fulfilment of Jesus Christ's ideals of siding with the victims of oppression."

He told Aljazeera.net the churches' decisions were not made hastily or haphazardly.

"They dispatched their representatives to Palestine who saw the enormity of Israeli repression and persecution. It is imperative to point out that no real Christian can accept, condone or ignore the colossal crimes Israel is committing in this holy land."

Some Jewish leaders have denounced the Presbyterian and Episcopal churches' attitudes towards its barrier.

"There is a certain moral blindness here that is very hard for me to understand," Rabbi Erec Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, was quoted as saying on Friday.

"There is no parallel pressure on the Palestinians. That is unfair," said Yoffie, who has been trying to convince the leaders of the Presbyterian Church to revoke its campaign.

Christian pilgrims show support for Israel

The Associated Press

JERUSALEM - Led by American evangelist Pat Robertson, thousands of Christian pilgrims gathered in the Holy Land yesterday to express support for Israel.
The solidarity mission arrived as Israel launched an offensive in the Gaza Strip to stop rocket attacks on southern Israel. More than 50 Palestinians and five Israelis have been killed in the fighting.

The tourists, many from the United States, said they were not frightened by the violence but only hoped to boost Israeli morale during their visit.

In two Jerusalem appearances, Robertson praised Israel as part of God's plan and criticized Arab countries, saying their hopes to include Israeli-controlled land in a Palestinian state are part of "Satan's plan."

Robertson also offered a hint of rebuke for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for his plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, saying only God could decide on transfers of biblical land.

Robertson's views coincided with those of many of Sharon's own constituency, who oppose his plan to evacuate all 21 Jewish settlements from Gaza next year. Sharon has pledged to push ahead, declaring that the presence of 8,000 Jews among 1.3 million Palestinians is untenable.

In a gathering of more than 4,000 pilgrims at a Jerusalem convention center, Robertson warned that some Muslims were trying to foil "God's plan" to let Israel hold on to its lands.

"I see the rise of Islam to destroy Israel and take the land from the Jews and give east Jerusalem to (Palestinian leader) Yasser Arafat. I see that as Satan's plan to prevent the return of Jesus Christ the Lord," said Robertson, a Christian broadcaster.

Robertson said he "sends notice" to Osama bin Laden, Arafat and Palestinian militant groups that "you will not frustrate God's plan" to have Jews rule the Holy Land until the Second Coming of Jesus.

"God says, 'I'm going to judge those who carve up the West Bank and Gaza Strip,' " Robertson said. " 'It's my land and keep your hands off it.' "

More than 4,000 people joined this year's annual pilgrimage, about 25 percent higher than the past three years, according to organizers with the International Christian Embassy.

The visit comes during Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles, a seven-day Jewish harvest festival that commemorates the 40 years Israelites wandered in the desert after the exodus from Egypt as mentioned in the Bible.

Evangelical Christians are strong supporters of Israel, believing that the return of the Jews to the Holy Land is foretold in the Scriptures and heralds the return of the messiah.

The Israeli government has forged a close alliance with conservative American Christians in recent years. Evangelical groups have contributed millions of dollars to Israel and lobbied in Washington in support of the Israeli government.