Hagee conference opens

<snip>

"Christians United for Israel opened its third annual summit.

The second day of the conference will feature a session marking Israel's 60th anniversary and an evening banquet attended by U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Dan Gillerman, Israel's outgoing U.N. ambassador.

Saying the coverage at last year's summit was "intrusive," Christians United for Israel is barring media attendance at the four-day event in Washington except on Tuesday.

"CUFI received complaints last year that the press was intrusive and that their presence inhibited free discussion," said Ronn Torossian, a spokesman for the organization. "CUFI wants to create a more intimate and open setting this year, which will be more beneficial to our members and core audience."

<snip>

"Among those scheduled to attend this year's summit are Middle East Forum director Daniel Pipes, U.S. Rep. Elliot Engel (D-N.Y.), New York Times columnist William Kristol and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, a Pennsylvania Republican."

http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/109550.html

"The press was intrusive and their presence inhibited free discussion". That's because they talk about some scary-assed shit; they WANT armageddon. I hope someone infiltrates and gets some video.

<snip>

"The Institute for the Study of Christian Zionism brings together Jewish and Christian religious leaders and lay persons from around the country with a shared concern for the distortions of the more extreme expressions of Christian Zionism, of which Pastor John Hagee and his Christians United for Israel (CUFI) are the best examples. What is most troubling is the political access Pastor Hagee has, with politicians in Israel and the United States wittingly or unwittingly giving credence to what is best described as a militant apocalyptic theo-political ideology. Senator McCain belatedly realized how toxic Hagee's views are, disassociating his presidential campaign from Hagee's embrace. Several politicians who will be appearing on stage with Pastor Hagee in next week's CUFI summit in Washington DC apparently haven't gotten the message yet.

As representatives of the Institute for the Study of Christian Zionism we feel its time to go public with a petition we've put together which expresses our concerns for the support political leaders are giving to Hagee's poisonous ideology. Already over 500 have signed up, including a number of prominent Christian and Jewish leaders. Those who wish to add their names to our growing list* can do so by clicking on the link below the petition which will direct you to the website of the other organization which has joined us in this effort, Jewish Voice for Peace.

Thanks for joining our protest!"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/haim-dov-beliak-and-john-hubers/500-religious-leaders-aga_b_113928.html


link to petition

"Institute for the Study of Christian Zionism," rather chilling.

See, I find the likes of Hagee to be rather chilling, creepy, and above all, antisemitic, but I'm not getting any vibes like that from the group that's opposed to him. Now, if as I discovered today when throngs of pilgrims inundated town, you arm them with tamborines, giant crosses, and a huge dollop of fake uber-happiness, and plonk them in my path when I'm trying to get stuff done at lunchtime, then I'd find them extremely creepy....

Institute For the Study of Muslims chilling. Both shout out "we have our eye on you people."

Muslims are every person who are part of the religion of Islam. On the other hand, Christian Zionists are a small part of Christianity. Big massive difference there. For Christian Zionists, the 'support' of Israel by many of them comes about because they're Evangelicals who believe in all that biblical prophecy Rapture crap. Just look at who their leading lights are. More antisemitism there than you can poke a stick at. The group of Christians and Jews that you find to be chilling should be commended by all left-wing folk for having what must be cast-iron stomachs to deal on a constant basis with the ugly crap of the Christian Zionists...

chilling concept whether directed at CZ's, Muslims or any other group. That doesn't mean I like religious groups of any kind but believe the counter to their free speech and freedom of belief can only be more free speech such as the kind you are doing here. It's a nuanced view I guess.

..Whereas Muslims are all people who are followers of Islam. If you wanted to make a more accurate comparison, you should have equated Christian Zionists with radical Muslims, coz both groups are a small group within their respective religions, both groups are hatefilled wankers, and both groups attack the majority of members of their respective religions and claim the majority aren't *true* Christians or Muslims....

I'm assuming you haven't read Orwell's 1984? Big brother is an all-powerful tool of a totalitarian state that controls every aspect of the people's lives. That's where the phrase 'Big Brother is watching you!' comes from. To claim that a group that studies those Christian Zionist nutters is "big brother" and trying to counter free speech does indicate a lack of understanding of what big brother and free speech is all about. See, groups that watch and criticise other groups are a good sign that freedom of speech is alive and well, not the other way round. Seeing as how you find this group of Christians and Jews creepy for daring to criticise Christian Zionists, why wouldn't you find groups who keep an eye on the Religious Right in the US, anti-abortion groups, the Palestinian media, or Scientologists to be creepy as well?

<snip>

"On the eve of next week’s Third Annual Washington Israel Summit of Pastor John Hagee’s Christians United for Israel (CUFI), the folks at the excellent JewsonFirst.org have released their new must-see video, entitled “Pastor John Hagee’s Preoccupation With the Jews”.

It’s the best documentation of Hagee’s views on the subject that I’ve seen to date and should thoroughly embarrass the Summit’s keynote speaker, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, not to mention the many neo-conservatives — Bill Kristol, Clifford May, Frank Gaffney, Daniel Pipes, Charles Jacobs, and Dennis Prager, among others — who will be featured at the Summit as “some of the most influential leaders and thinkers in Washington.” Their message will then be carried to lawmakers all over Capitol Hill by the thousands of attendees from all around the country.

Kristol’s best buddy, Gary Bauer, as well as Iran hawk, Patrick Clawson of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP), former Sen. Rick Santorum, and Reps. Elliot Engel and Mike Pence, will also be on the agenda which you can find here. Notably absent, of course, will be Sen. John McCain.

After watching the video, be sure to also reread last April’s letter to the editor in the New York Times written in Hagee’s defense by no less than seven former chairmen of the community’s most powerful organization, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. I alluded to it in connection with Hagee and the neo-conservatives back in May in a post that can be found here. Hagee may be a “true friend of Israel” in the former chairmens’ view, but his views about the Jews who live there and here (presumably including the chairmen themselves, as well as Sen. Lieberman) are considerably more ambivalent.

As noted in the May post, the new pro-peace lobby group, J Street, conducted a major petition drive that received tens of thousands of endorsements to persuade Sen. Lieberman to cancel his participation in this year’s Summit, particularly in light of McCain’s decision to repudiate both Hagee and his views about Adolf Hitler’s role in history.

But, as with Iraq, I guess, Lieberman is staying the course and has refused to pull out. The Summit should be interesting, but the press is barred from attending all but the closing banquet."

http://www.israelenews.com/view.asp?ID=2706

I am amazed that anyone would be fooled by him or his ilk.

Jews are the pawns, not the friends, of people like Hagee.

Jul 21, 2008 22:07 | Updated Jul 21, 2008 22:32
Israel reaches out to evangelical Christians in Asia
By ETGAR LEFKOVITS

In an attempt to stem a tide of rising Islamic extremism across the globe, Israeli politicians and academics reached out to a group of Asian evangelical religious and political leaders on Monday, in an increasingly more global Judeo-Christian alliance against radical Islam.

The fifth annual Jerusalem Summit Asia, which was held in a Jerusalem hotel, brought together members of parliament from the Knesset's Christian Allies Caucus, conservative Israeli academics and thinkers, and 150 political and religious leaders from the Philippines, India, Japan, China and Taiwan.

The event comes amid burgeoning relations between Israel and the largely supportive evangelical Christian community around the world, and at a time when the number of evangelicals continues to rise in Asia.

"This conference has further strengthened our relationship with Israel and inspired us to disseminate historical facts for all nations of the world - especially evangelical churches - about the biblical role of Israel in fulfilling God's grand plan for the ages," said Rev. Eddie Villanueva of the Philippines, the founder and spiritual director of Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide, which has a membership of over four million churches and chapters in 39 countries.

He said the conference organizers were planning the formation of a "biblical solidarity movement" promoting freedom of worship in every country of the world.

"Why should Christians in Muslim countries be second-class citizens?" asked Rev. Dr. Richard Howell, the general secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India.

The Summit Asia organizers see their efforts as a way to bring future support for Israel from a part of the world growing in international influence.

"As the number of evangelicals in Asia continues to increase, and Asia is rising as a world power, it is a very timely initiative for Asian Christians to undertake a Judeo-Christian endeavor to forge a future strong Israel-Asian alliance," said Marisa Albert, the meeting's organizer and executive director of Jerusalem Summit Asia, a branch of the Jerusalem Summit - a conservative Jerusalem-based NGO that debuted over five years ago and puts on the annual event. Albert is also the chairperson of the Jerusalem East Gate Foundation, a Jerusalem-based evangelical organization that promotes support for Israel through Asian pilgrimages and educational tours in the Holy Land.

"The unifying center for all evangelicals is Jerusalem," said Dmitry Radyshevsky, executive director of the Jerusalem Summit. "Besides, they understand that radical Islam is an equal danger for Christians as it is for Jews."

more...
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215331047063&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

From their resolution (emphasis mine):

'The Resolution affirms “the inalienable right of Jewish people to the entire Holy Land and Jerusalem as its eternal capital”. It also calls on all the Christians in the world to demand that their governments take “righteous steps on behalf of Israel and world peace”:


http://www.jerusalemsummit.org/eng/index_js_asia_seoul.php

Give me a tamborine-totin' pilgrim anyday!

Daniel Gillerman, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations.

Amazing, isn't it? If they're a Muslim or an Arab and are antisemitic, there'd be post after post condemning them and their antisemitism. But if it's an American Christian who claims he 'supports' Israel, then the antisemitism gets overlooked by some. Pretty damn lame...

Like those of most countries, Israeli ambassadors are not always as wise as they could be. Gillerman had no diplomatic experience before being appointed ambassador and has done silly things before such as calling Carter a bigot (note: this is not about Carter in particular; it's about a diplomat insulting the ex-president of an allied country. I would also have considered him silly if he'd said it about Reagan in his role as ambassador.)

Some Israelis may be short-term-ist enough to welcome the 'support' of the Hagee bunch, without considering where it leads. I would remind them of the tale of the Trojan horse.

<snip>

"The choir danced a hora, the fiddler played a hoedown, Joe Lieberman cited scripture and Pastor John Hagee said his enemies would never draw him away from Israel.

Thousands of followers of Christians United for Israel, the movement Hagee founded, traveled this week from across the United States to pack the cavernous Washington Convention Center in a defiant show of strength.

In the signature "Night to Honor Israel" on Tuesday, Hagee depicted himself as emerging from a lion's den of media dissimulation and political iniquity.

"There have been a great many misrepresentations and a great deal of confusion sown," Hagee said, his baritone booming over a constant swell of cheers and blessings.

Hagee was referring to the intense and at times outright hostile scrutiny he suffered this year after he endorsed the presidential candidacy of U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)

Within weeks Hagee withdrew his endorsement, unwilling to suffer a depiction of himself -- some of it distorted -- as a bigot who reviled Catholics, gays and Muslims and who was insensitive to the suffering of Jews during the Holocaust.

The experience clearly scarred Hagee. His speeches are usually optimistic prophecies of an Israel thriving against the odds, but on Tuesday night his sermon was peppered with dark, wistful humor.

His routine litany of "Never agains" punctuating pledges to protect the Jews from terrorists, Iran and anti-Semites was rounded out with a new promise Tuesday night: "What will I say the next time I'm asked to endorse a presidential candidate? Never again."

more

The conclusion........

snip...
The attendance at the July 21-23 event exceeded last year's numbers, although CUFI Executive Director David Brog said final numbers are not available yet. Brog said that in 2006 there were approximately 3,000 attendees and participation has climbed each ensuing year. The delegates—from all 50 states and several foreign countries—attended a celebration of the 60th anniversary of Israel’s statehood. They also learned how to lobby their representatives and senators regarding pro-Israel legislation aimed primarily at bringing sanctions against Iran.

Brog, a Jew, said the Washington summit was a "strong demonstration that our problems are overcome and turn adversity to advantage."

Hagee told the group that CUFI has been approached by Christians in Canada, Mexico and Hong Kong to rally pro-Israel groups of Christians. He told the crowd that CUFI "will go to the ends of the earth" to get out the message about supporting Israel.

Hagee received repeated standing ovations as he talked about the biblical mandate to support Israel. But he also indirectly responded to media criticism that has tried to portray him as someone who supports Israel to usher in an end-time Armageddon.

At one point in his speech, Hagee said: "Notice what I didn't say. ... I didn't say hurry up the end times. That's because God is sovereign. We don't know when these things will happen, and we can do nothing to hurry them."

Hagee also seemed to be speaking to his critics when he said, "Instead of trying to expose our dark motives, you're actually exposing your own dark motives."

Hagee introduced several prominent Roman Catholics who attended the event at his invitation, including Bill Donovan of the influential Catholic League. Donovan had been the most vocal critic of some statements attributed to Hagee that were characterized as anti-Catholic.
snip

"What the enemy meant for evil, God has turned into good," Hagee said.

As recently as a month ago it looked as if attendance at the summit would be lower this year due to a variety of circumstances, including higher gas prices. However, there was a surge in registrations just before the event began.

Rabbi Aaron Rubinger of Ohev Shalom synagogue in Orlando, Fla., attended the event as a guest, and as he viewed the large crowd he said it looked as big as the annual meeting of AIPAC (American Israel Political Action Committee).

Numerous Jewish representatives were there, including Rabbi Aryeh Scheinberg, Hagee's longtime friend, and Daniel Gillerman, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations who gave a rousing speech during the banquet.
snip

CUFI divides the country into regions and states, with regional and state directors who organized the attendees to visit their representatives and senators on Capitol Hill. Many came with pre-arranged appointments, but the group went from office to office leaving materials and talking with staff when lawmakers were not available.

Hagee also introduced a new campus thrust for CUFI headed by Andrew Summey called CUFI On Campus. Approximately 200 college students attended the event as guests of CUFI.

Father Rodger Hunter-Hall, a prominent Catholic scholar, gave a gracious benediction and blessing to the group, the first time a Roman Catholic had been invited to address CUFI in its short history.

more
http://www.charismamag.com/cms/news/archives/072308.php

I'm finding it rather ironic that you've not had one critical word to say about antisemites like Hagee. Even Veggie has gotten it right in this thread and recognises that just because someone hides behind the mantle of 'supporting' Israel, it doesn't mean they're someone who should not be denounced for their anti-Jewish stance...

<snip>

"If you believe the latest poll of American Jews, they have lost that lovin' feeling for Joe Lieberman and probably never had it for Pastor John Hagee.

Therein lies the rub: Hagee's spokesmen do not believe the results, saying the poll - commissioned by J Street, the new left-leaning pro-Israel lobby - relied on skewed questions. As for Lieberman, the Democratic-turned-independent US senator from Connecticut is not disputing the findings, but says he pays little attention to polls.

According to the poll, which has a margin of error of 3.5 percent, Lieberman scored an unfavorable rating of 48 percent among US Jews, compared to a favorable rating of 37 percent. Hagee, the leading right-wing Christian Zionist whose endorsement of US Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for president triggered a firestorm earlier this year, fared even worse: The pastor registered a 7 percent favorable rating and 57 percent unfavorable.

The poll, based on interviews with 800 Jewish respondents between June 29 and July 3, comes amid heightened criticism by liberals of Lieberman's support for Hagee and his pro-Israel efforts."

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