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Haley Delivers Powerful Speech at CUFI Summit; Shows Unprecedented Support for Israel

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The Christians United for Israel (CUFI) organization held its 13th Annual conference at the Washington Convention Center from Monday July 23rd-Tuesday July 24th. CUFI is the largest pro-Israel grassroots organization in the United States containing more than 4.3 million members. Its stated mission is “to provide a national association through which every pro-Israel church, parachurch organization, ministry or individual in American can speak and act with one voice in support of Israel in matters related to Biblical issues.” The first college chapter of CUFI was established at California State University and it currently has an active presence on over 300 campuses. CUFI mobilizes its members through Rapid Response Alerts to raise popular support for Israel and lobby U.S. Congress in support of Israel. What a privilege it was to partake in a conference where Israeli flags were flown and a shofar was blown amongst 3,000 mostly non-Jews.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the assemblage via satellite at the CUFI Summit that “Christians also know another fundamental truth: Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish people for 3,000 years. Jerusalem has been the capital of Israel for 70 years. And Jerusalem will always be our capital.” (Photo Credit: CUFI)

With an historically strained relationship between Jews and Christians it is miraculous that an organization akin to this exists. I was unsure what to expect but I can unequivocally state the level of enthusiasm for the Jewish people and Israel significantly exceeded that which I have experienced at any Jewish “happening.” The pure joy that permeated the room which contained more than 600 students waving Israeli flags was contagious as I found myself longing to be in Israel as an omnipresent visual of the Western Wall was displayed on stage. The elation of the crowd at the Trump presidency was reiterated dozens of times as founder John Hagee praised the President for his unabashed defense of Israel. Hagee called the Iran deal treasonous and thanked the President for crushing the deal which he referred to as “the most deceptive document signed by a U.S. President.”

Hagee said the Jewish people “do not occupy the land of Israel; they own it” and he was collecting funds to stop the escalating Palestinian refugee problem. Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked Hagee and the CUFI via satellite and vowed “complete solidarity” with Christians persecuted in Iran. Netanyahu noted that “Israel is also the only country for thousands of miles where Christians not only survive, they thrive. Christian holy sites are protected and Christian worship is done without fear.”

Holocaust survivor Irving Roth. (Photo Credit: CUFI)

There is no better spokesperson for Israel than the Prime Minister who continues to be the most effective global advocate for the State of Israel. Another phenomenal advocate is Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Jewish Presidents, who spoke movingly about President Trump and the significance of his visit to the “Western Wall”-the first sitting U.S. President to do so. Hoenlein condemned the “Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions” (BDS) movement which he said should stand for “Build, Support Develop” [Israel]. If you were in fact to boycott Israeli products he noted you would be devoid of an iPhone, computer and certain medicines since Israel is a major producer of these items. He praised Israel for its GDP which is the same size as Iran’s even though Iran has ten times the population; and proudly stated that more than 150,000 Chinese had visited Israel this year. Moreover, in December Israel will land its first astronaut on the moon leading Hoenlein to conclude “we {Jews} are not grasshoppers we are giants.”

From the 2018 CUFI Summit, Erick Stakelbeck sits down to talk to guests from the Israel Defense Forces. (Photo Credit: CUFI)

At the “Night to Honor” Israel in the evening, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer, reiterated the strength of Israel under the current administration and thanked the 600 students who could have been watching “Game of Thrones”, for coming out to support Israel during the summer season. Dermer said there has never been an administration as supportive of Israel and recalled Netanyahu being the lone voice in opposing the Iran deal in 2015.

He said there was a new sheriff in town who was done with appeasing Iran and the sheriff had some deputies in the form of Bolton and Pompeo who were exposing Iran. Dermer said Iran was facing a strong headwind with its currency collapsing as countries pull out due to fear of U.S. sanctions. Dermer praised Trump’s decision to move the Embassy to Jerusalem which he said the Jews had an undeniable claim to from over 3,000 years ago remarking “Trump made history by recognizing history.” Dermer said that while Washington may be a swamp the U.N. was a cesspool of anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism that was being ameliorated under the leadership of Nikki Haley.

The founder and president of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), Pastor John Hagee regales the overflowing audience at the Washington summit with biblical foundations for support for Israel. (Photo Credit: CUFI)

As the choir of The First Baptist Church of Atlanta sung inspirational church hymns the crowds waved their flags with cheers and prayer as they anxiously awaited the arrival of U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. Haley arrived on stage to cheers and hollers as the crowd went wild. Haley humbly received the plaudits without basking in them and said the U.N. could be a force for good like when it passed sanctions against North Korea but it could also be a “frustrating and bizarre” place. She said that for too many decades it has been the epicenter of global anti-Semitism. She praised President Trump for his bold leadership in deciding to move the Embassy to Jerusalem a decision that recognized the “reality” that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.

Israel’s Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer praised President Trump’s decision to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem which he said the Jews had an undeniable claim to from over 3,000 years ago remarking «Trump made history by recognizing history.» (Photo Credit: CUFI)

The United States was still taking names of countries that didn’t support U.S. interests at the U.N., according to Haley, with she and the President determined to make that connection. She praised Israel for its response to the Gaza situation remarking that they had acted with more restraint than any other country would. Haley recalled becoming a religious Christian twenty years ago but acknowledged she had no idea what G-d had in store. Being sent to the U.N. after the Obama administration had turned its back on Israel was a task Haley took on with seriousness and pride. The crowd gave her ovation after ovation as she remarked that she had no idea why the U.N., which is comprised of 293 countries, would spend half of its time attacking Israel.

Malcolm Hoenlein, the executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations , spoke movingly about President Trump and the significance of his visit to the «Western Wall»-the first sitting U.S. President to do so. Hoenlein condemned the «Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions» (BDS) movement which he said should stand for «Build, Support Develop» [Israel]. (Photo Credit: CUFI)
She insisted she was just assuring that Israel was treated as any other normal country but said the U.S. had no duty to be neutral between right and wrong, and in fact had a moral obligation to take sides even if it meant they had to stand alone. She said there would be no more free passes for those who bully Israel and she was proud of the U.S.’s decision to withdraw from UNESCO and the U.N. Human Rights Council. As screams of “2024” rippled through the excited audience Haley said she was just trying to survive her current job. At the conclusion of her speech, the choir belted out “Hava Nagila” as the more than five thousand person crowd exited the auditorium. The following day the group will meet with Senators Cruz and Cotton to lobby Congress in support of Israel–a mind-boggling ending to a historical conference.

Trinity Broadcasting Network’s Erick Stackelbeck presented a special award to Ambassador Nikki Haley. (Photo Credit: CUFI)

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Tuesday morning delivered remarks at the CUFI Summit. There, he discussed his efforts to enhance the U.S.-Israel relationship, and highlighted his bill, the STOP Using Human Shields Act. This legislation would impose sanctions on terrorists who use and facilitate the use of human shields, such as Hezbollah and Hamas terrorists.

“I, for one, am thankful that we have a President and an administration who understands a simple and powerful truth: that Israel is our friend,” Sen. Cruz said. “And that the Ayatollah Khomeini should never ever, ever, ever be allowed to have nuclear weapons. That they will stop, or we will stop them. There are battles that will continue. There are battles against BDS. There are battles against human shields, including the legislation I’m introducing this week to go against human shields.”

Senator Ted Cruz discussed his efforts to enhance the U.S.-Israel relationship, and highlighted his bill, the STOP Using Human Shields Act at the CUFI Summit. This legislation would impose sanctions on terrorists who use and facilitate the use of human shields, such as Hezbollah and Hamas terrorists.

Senator Cruz told the assemblage at the Washington Convention Center that, “This has been a year of celebration. Just a few months ago, I was so incredibly privileged, so incredibly humbled to be in Jerusalem for the opening of the United States Embassy. Many of you were there on the 70th anniversary of the creation of the modern State of Israel. As we stood there dedicating that embassy, fulfilling a promise that we had seen presidents on both parties make. We’d seen Republicans make that promise, we’d seen Democrats make that promise, and yet, when it came time for action, neither one followed through. But this year, America did follow through.

“The joy of being in Jerusalem visiting with Israelis, visiting with Americans, particularly those of the generation that went through the Holocaust. The survivors that were still there that you would visit with, with tears in their eyes, as they would look at you and say, ‘I never ever, ever thought this day would come.’

“The decision to move the embassy was a perilous debate. Within the Trump administration, it divided the administration. Within the administration you had certain voices at State, at Defense, that argued, ‘If we move the embassy, it will be provocative. If we move the embassy, the enemies of Israel will be unhappy.’ As compared to their usual state of happiness. And for a year and a half, a great battle waged within the administration as I and many other voices made the case to the President, this is the right thing to do. Every other nation on Earth, our embassy, is not in some other city, it is not in some other place, it is in the capital place. And in Israel, the capital place is the one and undivided and eternal city of Jerusalem.”

By: Lieba Nesis

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