Knesset Christian Allies Caucus to mark six years of activity

Sister caucuses opening around the world

By ICEJ News

14 Jan 2010

In Budapest on Friday, Israel’s Knesset Christian Allies Caucus will celebrate its sixth birthday, marking a rare bright spot in Israel’s relations with the rest of the world.

Founded by the late MK Yuri Shtern, the Caucus will celebrate in Budapest by inaugurating its 16th sister caucus in the Hungarian parliament, with hopes to reach 30 by the end of the year.

The members of the national parliaments involved in the caucuses, who come from all faiths, work among their colleagues and constituencies to support Israel and Judeo-Christian values. The main item on the agenda this year is to mobilize support for keeping Jerusalem united under Israeli sovereignty and raising awareness of the threat Iran poses not only to Israel but to the entire Western World.

“I hope we will persuade more and more countries to support us [at the UN],” Knesset caucus chairman MK David Rotem of Israel Beiteinu told The Jerusalem Post. “We can definitely make inroads all over the world. When you appreciate their faith in the Bible, you understand their love of Israel. And eventually, as Jeremiah prophesied, everyone will understand and will support Israel.”

The Christian support for Israel in the US Congress is led by a Jewish Democrat, Rep. Elliot Engel of New York, and Rep. Mike Pence, a Republican from Indiana, and includes 15 Democrats and 30 Republicans. There are similar caucuses in the British and Canadian parliaments led by Conservative MPs, as well in the EU, Switzerland and Germany, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay in South America; Japan, South Korea and the Philippines in Asia; and South Africa, Malawi and Sierra Leone in Africa. Lawmakers in Nigeria, Italy and Sweden have plans to form caucuses in 2010, along with several others.

“The caucus is the consequence a long, hard and controversial journey,” said Malcolm Hedding of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. “The establishment of a caucus in the Knesset was proof that Christian support had caught the attention of the highest offices in Israel. We have stood the test of time, weathered the storms and proven our credentials.”

“The struggles are still before us. But if we get to all the Christians, that's more than a billion people who can counter the influence of Muslims against Israel,” said former MK Benny Elon, who still works with the caucus even though he has left politics.

Caucus director Josh Reinstein added that, “by reaching out to Christian friends of Israel who act as bridge builders, we have vibrant, independent, energetic streams of support Israel never had before… There is no limit to what we can accomplish focusing on the spiritual narrative not the political one.”

Visit the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus website at http://www.cac.org.il/

Print    Tell a friend