CUFI Responsible for GOP's Strong Pro-Israel Platform? - CBN News Chris Mitchell

CUFI Responsible for GOP's Strong Pro-Israel Platform?

07-20-2016

CBN News Chris Mitchell

WASHINGTON – From the streets of Tehran to the halls of the U.N. to Hezbollah on Israel's northern border, the Jewish state is surrounded by enemies seeking to demonize or destroy it. But the number of Christians standing up for Israel is growing.

Christians United for Israel, or CUFI, has grown to more than 3 million members.

Eleven years ago, Pastor John Hagee founded CUFI to teach Christians about the biblical mandate to stand with Israel "because every evangelical has a biblical basis for supporting the State of Israel."

"Supporting Israel is not a political issue, it's a Bible issue," Hagee told CBN News.

CUFI is having an impact on presidential politics. CNN credits the group with influencing Republicans to adopt the most pro-Israel platform in U.S. history.

"So because of Christians United for Israel, which was specifically named in the article, the Republican Party said we're going to have a plank that says Jerusalem shall be an undivided city in the future," Hagee explained.

Even with that political victory, Middle East experts like Col. Oliver North believe Israel is under more threat than ever.

"Now the Iranians and the North Koreans are building nuclear weapons and the means of delivering them. Israel is the nearest target and us as the Great Satan [are also a] target.  So it is different than it ever has been before," North told CBN News.

"So CUFI, Christian United for Israel, can make all the difference in the world for educating people about the real threat and what we need to do about it, simple as that," he said.

CUFI believes a big part of standing with Israel is what's happening on college campuses. An apartheid wall on one college campus vilifies Israel's security barrier.

The organization has enlisted hundreds of students to present the truth about Israel. They call it the battle for the future.

"We are fighting for the future of Israel. We're fighting for the future of America," CUFI campus representative Maria Lilly told CBN News.

Lilly says pro-Palestinian groups often try to shut down pro-Israel speeches on college campuses.

"We're in for a battle," she said. "On so many college campuses around the country and even around the world students face so much anti-Semitism and backlash for their support of Israel."

Pastor Hagee feels it's crucial for the United States to stand with Israel.

"The Bible verse, 'I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you' is the promise of God and God keeps His promises."