We Should Not Reject Evangelical Alliance by Abraham H. Foxman

[Herschel]

The lesson to be learned from recent differences between many American Jews and conservative Christians — on Mel Gibson’s film, "The Passion of the Christ," and on equal rights for gays — is not to walk away from relationships with evangelicals.

It is not to reject evangelical support for Israel. It is not to view the evangelical community in a simplistic way. It is not the lesson Arlene Stein offers in her op-ed piece (see above).

It is, rather, to reinforce a dual approach: working for and welcoming conservative Christian support for Israel at a particularly difficult time for the Jewish state, and, at the same time, never backing off or toning down our principled positions on social issues about which we vehemently disagree with evangelical approaches.

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http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=11981

Well said by Mr. Foxman. The continuing support for Israel from various groups throughout the political spectrum ensure she will have America's backing. The 2004 election will not alter this.

[Comadreja]

1. Your friends=our foes

Tom DeLay, Republican thug and the Christian Zionists. Here's an idea for you...keep them over there next time they come to celebrate injustice in Palestine. Drive them over to Gaza and turn them loose on the streets to convert the Palestinians to Fundamentalism...PLEASE!
http://www.theocracywatch.org/

[Herschel]

2. I do take issue with Mr. Delay

on some topics. However, his support of Israel is welcome.

[rdfi-defi]

3. even if his support is based on the belief that jesus will judge all the

jews and send the nonconvertants to hell once the jews occupy biblical israel. these people do not support israel, they support what ever fits their apocalyptic ideology

[drdon326]

4. Rules:

Do not discuss the truthfulness and/or stupidity of various religions.

[rdfi-defi]

5. i did not "discuss the truthfulness and/or stupidity"

of any religion. i was comenting on the motivation of the "christian right's" support for the current israeli governments policies

[number6]

11. well at least your not always with Tom

..;)

[Darranar]

6. The Christian Right is anti-semitic, intolerant, and reactionary...

the alliance between them and pro-Israel activists is quite disgusting.

[Herschel]

7. I would gladly support

bipartisan legislation in support of Israel.

[Darranar]

8. And what does that have to do with the issue at hand?

I am speaking of the Christian Right, not of the right-wing in general.

[rdfi-defi]

9. you started the thred

we are talking about christan "evangelicals" please stay on subject

[BEZARK]

10. "God does not hear the prayers of Jews"

-- Rev. Jerry Falwell, evangelical and Israel supporter.

You decide if you want him as an ally.

[PsychoDad]

13. The evangelicals are not "allies"

They are fattened sheep to be fleeced. Large amounts of cash is generated by the religious right in the form of Donations to pro-Israel groups, such as the Jerusalem Friendship Fund ...

"For the last 25 years Eckstein, an Orthodox rabbi from Chicago, who settled in Israel about a year ago, has been heavily involved in relations between the Jewish and Christian communities in the United States.

For the last eight years he has headed the Jerusalem Friendship Fund that collects donations from the evangelical community in aid of immigration and welfare projects in Israel. To date, Eckstein says, the fund has distributed around $60 million.

Eckstein now wishes to use his connections to deepen evangelical support for Israel and talks of setting up a Christian version of the pro-Israel lobby on Capitol Hill, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)."
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=169829&contrassID=2&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y

60 million from just that one venture... And what do the evangelicals hope to see from their investment?

The destruction (natural or artificial) of the Dome of the Rock Mosque and the building of the third temple. Why? In evangelical eschatology, Jesus will not return UNTIL the third temple is built.

A strange symbiotic relationship to say the least, Iirc, Israel attempted in 97 to ban Christian missionaries...the bill died quietly , in part, due to pressure from the US - in favor of the "right" of Christian missionaries to convert Jews.

[Blayde Starrfyre]

12. Enjoy it while you can

As I have said before, fundamentalist Christian support of Israel is a temporary solution to what they view as the "Muslim problem." Think about it: more than 1 billion Muslims in the world, around 20 million Jews. Who does the Christian Right regard as the bigger threat? Israel is just a temporary prop in the war on Islam. If all the Muslims in the world disappeared today, Pat Robertson would start having fantasies of reconquering the Holy Land for Christ tomorrow.

It reminds me of a headline from The Onion's book of news from the last century:

"JAPAN FORMS ALLIANCE WITH WHITE SUPREMACISTS IN WELL THOUGHT OUT SCHEME"