Christians United for Israel

[justamoose89]

Has anyone here heard of an organization called Christians United for Israel (CUFI)? It was started by a protestant pastor and a jewish rabbi to try and bring awareness and understanding between Christians and Jews. Anyway I’m a student liaison for CUFI on campus, and I got a scholarship to go to the conference in DC this summer. I am aware that the president of the organization is John Hagee, who is famous for calling the Catholic Church the “whore of babylon” (of which he has apologized). However, last year at the conference, Hagee made it clear that he wanted Christians of all denominations to be involved, including Catholics, since all Christians owe our lineage to the Jews.

The organization is mostly political than anything. It’s a way to get all Christians informed about Israel, and why we should support it.

Here is the website: cufi.org/site/PageServer

tell me what you guys think!

 

[Wesley7]

I usually don’t get involved in groups other than the parish.

 

[ray8806]

Well in Psalms 122:6, the Holy Bible says, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.”

I believe that we should support Israel in it obtaining peace in the Middle East. Any organization that openly supports Israel is fine by me. Unless, of course, they have evil intentions- but that is besides the point.

 

[O_Duirnin]

If I may, I’ll quote some of the Instrumentum Laboris released today.

“The Israeli occupation of Palestinian Territories is creating difficulties in everyday life, inhibiting freedom of movement, the economy and religious life.”

“Certain Christian fundamentalist theologies use sacred scripture to justify Israel’s occupation of Palestine, making the position of Christian Arabs an even more sensitive issue.”

“Current animosity between Arabs and Jews seems to be political in character, and is therefore foreign to any ecclesial discussion.”

Compare Christians United For Israel to Justice and Peace Scotland, which is chaired by Bishop Peter Moran, the Bishop of Aberdeen, a figure far more worthy of respect than the anti-Catholic bigot John Hagee. This organisation has been directly involved in protests against Israeli brutality.

What position does CUFI take on Christians in the Palestinian Territories? I met a Melkite priest in Nablus who has regularly been unable to open his Church for Mass due to the presence of Israeli soldiers on its steps, who has been delayed for hours at checkpoints while trying to reach outlying parts of his parish, and forced to endure repeated, degrading searches. Many of his outlying parishioners have been unable to reach the Church at all, or when they have, have been unable to return home for days at a time. Another priest, a Latin Catholic, was very clear about who he blamed for the massive decline in the number of Christians in the Holy Land - “the occupation, the occupation”. And of course, there is the Greek Orthodox priest who was brutally murdered by an Israeli settler at Jacob’s Well, the very spot where Jesus met with the Samaritan woman.

 

[ErichK]

As much as I would love to support the existence of the state of Israel, the crimes against humanity, the racial preservation laws, the lobbyists, the intolerance, and the other vile things the Zionist state has committed and is currently committing to this day are the same as the persecutions and the crimes that the Nazis committed (I said nothing about the Holocaust, so don’t pull that card). In fact, I’d say that Israel has become the very organization that it was so persecuted against in the 1930’s-'40’s.

Not to mention, the existence of the Israeli state goes against both Jewish and Christian teaching. The Jews are to remain in exile until their messiah comes according to the OT, and through the death and resurrection of Christ, all Christians have become the Chosen People of God, and the New Israel is now both the corporeal and incorporeal Catholic Church.

Israel is nothing more than a warped National Socialist state, tweaked to fit the modern era and to thrive under the banner of the Star of David.

I’m not saying that the Jews don’t have a right to their own homeland, but for God’s sake, where’s the compassion? I’d think a group of people who have experienced the WORST suffering in history would show a little compassion to the people that have occupied their homeland for centuries, and yet, they’ve virtually imprisoned them and closed the curtain so that the international community can’t point a finger.

As far as I’m concerned, proposing partnership between Christian nations and Israel is proposing a partnership with Satan. When the crimes against humanity and the racism and intolerance, the persecution, ceases, I’ll look more kindly upon Israel.

May God bless the Jewish people and bring them to the true Israel - the Church of Christ, and may God bless the Middle East with peace and unity in mind and faith.

 

[Dokimas]

well in psalms 122:6, the holy bible says, “pray for the peace of jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee.”

i believe that we should support israel in it obtaining peace in the middle east. Any organization that openly supports israel is fine by me. Unless, of course, they have evil intentions- but that is besides the point.

agreed!!!

 

[simspt]

As much as I would love to support the existence of the state of Israel, the crimes against humanity, the racial preservation laws, the lobbyists, the intolerance, and the other vile things the Zionist state has committed and is currently committing to this day are the same as the persecutions and the crimes that the Nazis committed (I said nothing about the Holocaust, so don’t pull that card). In fact, I’d say that Israel has become the very organization that it was so persecuted against in the 1930’s-'40’s.

Not to mention, the existence of the Israeli state goes against both Jewish and Christian teaching. The Jews are to remain in exile until their messiah comes according to the OT, and through the death and resurrection of Christ, all Christians have become the Chosen People of God, and the New Israel is now both the corporeal and incorporeal Catholic Church.

Israel is nothing more than a warped National Socialist state, tweaked to fit the modern era and to thrive under the banner of the Star of David.

I’m not saying that the Jews don’t have a right to their own homeland, but for God’s sake, where’s the compassion? I’d think a group of people who have experienced the WORST suffering in history would show a little compassion to the people that have occupied their homeland for centuries, and yet, they’ve virtually imprisoned them and closed the curtain so that the international community can’t point a finger.

As far as I’m concerned, proposing partnership between Christian nations and Israel is proposing a partnership with Satan. When the crimes against humanity and the racism and intolerance, the persecution, ceases, I’ll look more kindly upon Israel.

May God bless the Jewish people and bring them to the true Israel - the Church of Christ, and may God bless the Middle East with peace and unity in mind and faith.

I can not understand the ignorance of so many evangelical Christians who foolishly support Israel ignoring the harm Christians have had to endure by the Israel govt. for the last 60 years. I usually stay out of politics but this is one of those issues that blows my mind. I was at a non denom church a few years ago where the head pastor was collecting donations for support of Israel, that was it for me.

 

[bosnian_muslim]

The christians of Palestine (the palestinians) would not be happy to hear this.Whats more important,jews of Israel,or christians of Palestine?

30% of all palestinians are christians,and you should know they are great fighters for the palestinian cause

 

[simspt]

The christians of Palestine (the palestinians) would not be happy to hear this.Whats more important,jews of Israel,or christians of Palestine?

30% of all palestinians are christians,and you should know they are great fighters for the palestinian cause

The percentage of Christians in Israel was much greater before the land grab and policies enforced by the Israels. Most American Christians are ignorant on this subject IMHO.

 

[bosnian_muslim]

Most Americans dont know that the wife of Yasser Arafat was a palestinian christian,that Arafat always went to the christmas mass(untill the jews captured him,after that the church of Bethlehem every christmas put an empty chair and a picture of Arafat,to show their support for Arafat).After the death of Arafat the churches mourned

But to an average american “born again” christian(from texas lol) thats not important

 

[choy]

Most Americans dont know that the wife of Yasser Arafat was a palestinian christian,that Arafat always went to the christmas mass(untill the jews captured him,after that the church of Bethlehem every christmas put an empty chair and a picture of Arafat,to show their support for Arafat).After the death of Arafat the churches mourned

But to an average american “born again” christian(from texas lol) thats not important

funny my priest was talking about this last night over dinner
i think she was Eastern Catholic

 

[choy]

oh, probably unbeknown to many Christians in North America, in Israel if you’re not a Jew, you’re a Palestinian. so in the eyes of the Jews, all Christians are Palestinians

 

[simspt]

most americans dont know that the wife of yasser arafat was a palestinian christian,that arafat always went to the christmas mass(untill the jews captured him,after that the church of bethlehem every christmas put an empty chair and a picture of arafat,to show their support for arafat).after the death of arafat the churches mourned

but to an average american “born again” christian(from texas lol) thats not important

sad but true

 

[bosnian_muslim]

oh, probably unbeknown to many Christians in North America, in Israel if you’re not a Jew, you’re a Palestinian. so in the eyes of the Jews, all Christians are Palestinians

they are palestinian,and feel palestinian

 

[Dokimas]

Most Americans dont know that the wife of Yasser Arafat was a palestinian christian,that Arafat always went to the christmas mass(untill the jews captured him,after that the church of Bethlehem every christmas put an empty chair and a picture of Arafat,to show their support for Arafat).After the death of Arafat the churches mourned

But to an average american “born again” christian(from texas lol) thats not important

I don’t consider myself ‘better’ than average and I may be less than average but I do think it’s important. BTW, I had heard about Mr Arafat’s wife. I wonder about his belief, is it that Jesus is God and his Savior?

 

[pete_29]

WOW !!!

 

[Roy5]

I view Hagee as a dangerous pied piper who is a very effective speaker to those who don’t know the facts. He and others like him share responsibility for the success Al Qaeda has had in recruiting suicide terrorists. For over 60 years the USA has been the bread and butter of Israel, providing it billions upon billions of dollars, giving it the latest military equipment, and vetoing many resolutions critical of Israel in the UN. It was because of our prejudicial policy that Muslim bitterness first arose.

 I have heard Hagee, read his books, etc. He has a gift for combining questionable Bible prophecy with rapid-fire rhetoric, impressing the uninformed. He lives very well, and I rather suspect money is funneled to him to support his work from Israel. In fact, I believe he has been awarded very citations by Israel, AIPAC, etc. 

 He is anti-Catholic, and he also is very unfriendly to most mainline, moderate Protestants, where there is considerable sentiment that the only way to solve the Israeli-Palestinian issue is for the USA to force a fair settlement. The fact that Israel has kept building new settlements on the West Bank proves in my mind that Israel has been determined to take over that area by establishing 'facts on the ground'. If only we had a policy years ago that was genuinely pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian I doubt if we would be in our present mess.

 Hagee also is a war-oriented demagogue. He has figured out a Biblical scenario that depicts an inevitable war soon to come - the whole 'end times' fantasy embraced by certain extreme fundamentalists.

 My advice. Don't get involved with Hagee! 

 Let me recommend an important book, written by two courageous university professors. "The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy" - by a Professor Walt and someone else (name slips my mind at the moment). A superb expose of how the American people have been fed a false history of the Holy Land. I have been there four times as a pilgrim and saw all manner of discrimination against Palestinians, whether Christians or Muslims.

 

[simspt]

I view Hagee as a dangerous pied piper who is a very effective speaker to those who don’t know the facts. He and others like him share responsibility for the success Al Qaeda has had in recruiting suicide terrorists. For over 60 years the USA has been the bread and butter of Israel, providing it billions upon billions of dollars, giving it the latest military equipment, and vetoing many resolutions critical of Israel in the UN. It was because of our prejudicial policy that Muslim bitterness first arose.

 I have heard Hagee, read his books, etc. He has a gift for combining questionable Bible prophecy with rapid-fire rhetoric, impressing the uninformed. He lives very well, and I rather suspect money is funneled to him to support his work from Israel. In fact, I believe he has been awarded very citations by Israel, AIPAC, etc. 

 He is anti-Catholic, and he also is very unfriendly to most mainline, moderate Protestants, where there is considerable sentiment that the only way to solve the Israeli-Palestinian issue is for the USA to force a fair settlement. The fact that Israel has kept building new settlements on the West Bank proves in my mind that Israel has been determined to take over that area by establishing 'facts on the ground'. If only we had a policy years ago that was genuinely pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian I doubt if we would be in our present mess.

 Hagee also is a war-oriented demagogue. He has figured out a Biblical scenario that depicts an inevitable war soon to come - the whole 'end times' fantasy embraced by certain extreme fundamentalists.

 My advice. Don't get involved with Hagee! 

 Let me recommend an important book, written by two courageous university professors. "The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy" - by a Professor Walt and someone else (name slips my mind at the moment). A superb expose of how the American people have been fed a false history of the Holy Land. I have been there four times as a pilgrim and saw all manner of discrimination against Palestinians, whether Christians or Muslims.

I agree, my info on the subject comes from Christians who lived in the region in the 40 and 50s (not books) and witnessed first hand the mistreatment of Christians and Muslims in the region.