Christians, Jews Ban Together to Combat Delegitimization of Israel - CBN NEWS STAFF CHARISMA NEWS

Some have stepped up their efforts to delegitimize Israel. Other groups have banned together to stop it. (CBNnews.com )

Christians, Jews Ban Together to Combat Delegitimization of Israel

 8/23/2016 CBN NEWS STAFF  CHARISMA NEWS

With a vote earlier this month, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has become the latest American church body to join the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.

In an attempt to fight against BDS, about 100 Christian leaders and Israeli Knesset members are working together. They met recently at the first joint meeting of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus and anti-delegitimization caucus.

"Serving in the IDF is not the only way of being a soldier for Israel," Joseph Sabag, with the Israel Allies Foundation, said.

"Israel's safety and well-being are the responsibility of every Jew and every Christian who loves Israel in every place at every moment of life," Sabag told those gathered for the meeting.

Sabag is spearheading the effort to push for legislation in the United States to fight the BDS movement against Israel.

"In May of 2015, South Carolina became the first state in America to adopt modern legislation regulating against the problem of commercial discrimination and boycotts against Israel," Sabag said.

Since then a dozen additional states have also taken action.

The BDS movement focuses its campaign on Israeli companies operating in the West Bank, which encompasses biblical Judea and Samaria. Ironically, this affects Palestinians greatly because when Israeli companies move, Palestinians lose good paying jobs.

Critics say the BDS movement isn't about justice or helping the Palestinians.

"The danger of BDS is that Israel will lose its—its legitimacy to defend itself and ultimately lose its legitimacy to exist as a Jewish and sovereign state," Knesset member Michael Oren told CBN News. "Our enemies understand this very well."

"What is going on with BDS is a global name for all the Israel haters. (It's) really the misinformation campaign that they're feeding to the general public and the miseducation that's happening at these campuses," Barry Shaw, author of BDS for Idiots, said.

Shaw said it's simple.

"The reason they're protesting only against the Jewish state and not the Arab states and regimes that abuse the Palestinians they profess to help is simply because Israel is the Jewish state," Shaw told CBN News. "That's no more or no less than blatant anti-Semitism."

Shaw says if these BDS supporters were honest their boycotts would include Israeli technology like their own computers, laptops and cell phones.

"But they need these to communicate their lies and their false narratives to their supporters and the general public," Shaw said.

Oren sees only one way to combat lies.

"We beat terror through a combination of steadfastness and very good intelligence, we beat terror," Oren said. "But there's only one true defense and one effective weapon against delegitimization and that is the truth." 

Reprinted with permission from CBN.com. Copyright The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., All rights reserved.

For the original article, visit cbnnews.com.

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Muslims Harass US Congressmen on Temple Mount

By Tzippe Barrow

CBN News Internet Producer - Jerusalem

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

JERUSALEM, Israel -- A delegation of U.S. congressmen got a taste of Muslim hospitality Tuesday during a visit to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City.

From the moment they and their guide set foot on the site, they were harassed.

"We walked up there and were almost immediately approached by several men who started shouting," Rep. Keith Rothfus, R-Pa., told the Jerusalem Post.

"We were tracked the entire time we were there and found these individuals surprisingly intolerant and belligerent," he said.

Intolerance and belligerence describes the welcome for all non-Muslim visitors to the Temple Mount these days. The site of the first and second Jewish Temples has become increasingly dangerous and unpleasant for Israelis as well.

Elizabeth Jenkins, wife of Rep. Evan Jenkins, R-W. Va., modestly dressed in a calf-length skirt and long sleeves, was the first target.

As the group began walking up to the Mount, a man started yelling that she needed to cover up more. Muslim women in burkas are paid to harass female visitors to the Temple Mount even when they're modestly dressed.

Israeli Police had to intervene to allow the group to continue.

Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., told the Post, "There was an effort to completely suppress not only any expression of religious conviction, but any articulation of historical reality."

When their tour guide pulled out a map of Israel, a cleaning man signaled another man who approached the guide and demanded to know if any of his material spoke of the (Jewish) Temple. You may not, he was told, refer to the area as the "Temple Mount." You must only call it the "Dome of the Rock."

From that point on, the guide was continually harassed by men representing the Wakf, the Islamic trust controlling the day-to-day administration of the site. When some of the Wakf representatives tried to take his maps and diagrams, the guide told them he wasn't doing anything illegal and would only stop if Israeli officers told him to.

"Our guide was very respectful, but very appropriately strong in his convictions," Jenkins recounted. "He was not confrontational, but handled it very appropriately."

But it didn't stop there. Police were again required to stave off a group of about 20 men who began shouting and interrupting the guide, who quietly assured them "the men running around with walkie-talkies are not the final authority."

"Despite the screaming and shouting and pointing of men with walkie-talkies, the police were able to exercise their authority and let us proceed comfortably," Jenkins said.

Nonetheless, a group of Muslim men followed them around for the rest of their visit.

As they left, they saw more Muslim men surround a group of Jewish visitors shouting at them, "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is greater).

The congressmen undoubtedly will never forget their experience on the Temple Mount.

Franks said he wished people were more aware that harassment of an historical site stems from "people who want to rewrite history."

After experiencing the situation firsthand, he added, "In general, when there is a lack of resolve in protecting religious freedoms, it emboldens those who have no compunction about suppressing it."

The congressmen are part of a group from the Israel Allies Foundation, which mobilizes political support for Israel based on Judeo-Christian values. The delegation came to learn firsthand why Israel opposes the Iranian nuclear deal.

Following Tuesday's visit to the Temple Mount, the congressmen met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and later with President Reuven Rivlin.

Stand In Solidarity With Israel

Christian Lawmakers Gather In Jerusalem To Stand In Solidarity With Israel

Posted by: Staff Writer September 24, 2013 , 11:53 am


And Ruth said: ‘Entreat me not to leave thee, and to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God; (Ruth 1:16)







Minister of Defense Moshe Ya’alon addresses Christian lawmakers from around the world at the Israel Allies Foundation’s Jerusalem Chairman’s Conference. (Photo: Knesset Christian Allies Caucus/Facebook)
Twenty-five members of parliaments and congresses from around the world gathered in Jerusalem to stand in solidarity with Israel. These lawmakers are the chairmen of Israel Allies Caucuses which represent hundreds of members of Congress and Parliament worldwide. Under the Israel Allies Foundation (IAF), these caucuses coordinate international activity on Israel-related issues. Over the Sukkot festival, the participating lawmakers met with Minister of Defense, Moshe Ya’alon, Minister of Economy, Naftali Bennettand others.
The 2013 Chairman’s Conference is the initiative of the Israel Allies Foundation and is co-sponsored by the World Jewish Congress and the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. The Chairman’s Conference took place on September 22nd and 23rd, 2013 at the Mamilla Hotel in Jerusalem.
The participants included members of Congress from the US, and members of Parliament from the European Union, Canada, the UK, Brazil, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Macedonia, Poland, South Africa, Guatemala, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Uruguay.
During the two-day conference, the lawmakers discussed ways to strengthen Israel and specifically address the recent European boycott of Israeli products and academia in Judea and Samaria  and Jerusalem. Participants called this ban an act of discrimination and a move destructive to peace efforts. The delegation also toured Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and met with top Israeli government officials including: Minister Naftali Bennett and Minister Moshe Ya’alon.
British MEP Roger Helmer exclaimed, “I was struck by how tiny the state of Israel is if you remove Judah and Samaria. They are an intrinsic part of Israel…This interest is beneficial not only to Israeli residents but to all other residents in that area as well.”
IAF President, Rabbi Benny Elon said, “The arrival of more than 20 parliamentarians representing hundreds of pro-Israel Congressmen and Parliamentarians from around the world, presents a clear picture of massive international support for the Jewish State. This is a tremendous demonstration of strength. After meeting personally with these Parliamentarians, I am sure that their sympathy and support for Israel will translate into practical measures against the boycotts on Israel and its economy.”
“The planned EU ban on Israeli institutions in east Jerusalem and Judah and Samaria is both discrimination and destructive, and based on a prejudiced interpretation of the situation on the ground and of international law. I applaud the action taken by this international parliamentary body,” Alon added.
US Rep. Doug Lamborn, who has also co-sponsored HB 2846, also known as the “Recognition of Jerusalem as the Capital of the State of Israel Act” said, “We urge the EU to halt these harmful directives which will only serve to harden positions and undermine peace talks currently underway.”
Deputy Minister of Defense Danny Dannon lauded the esteemed group for their efforts, telling them, “I want to thank the Israel Allies Foundation, and you, the lawmakers, for standing with Israel and for what is right. I know it is not easy and that you are in the minority but you are doing the right thing.”
Article: BreakingIsraelNews