'Stand for Israel' Draws High-Profile Supporters

by Fred Jackson and Bill Fancher

(AgapePress) A pro-Israel conference has wrapped up in Washington with leading evangelicals and political leaders voicing support for the Jewish state.

Hundreds of Christians were on hand at the "Stand for Israel" conference to hear high-profile politicians such as Attorney General John Ashcroft, Kansas Senator Sam Brownback, and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Ashcroft told the crowd that the war in Iraq is part of the war on terror, including Palestinian terror groups.

Rev. Richard Land of the Ethics & Religious Commission told the gathering that Southern Baptists believe the land of Israel was given to the Jews by the same God who promised to bless those who bless the Jewish people and curse those who curse them.

Meanwhile, Senator Brownback noted the strong support for Israel among American Christians. "What was very interesting to me," he said, "was the number of people who are strongly Christian who would come up to me at various places around the country and say 'You have to support Israel!'"

However, Christian talk-show host Janet Parshall noted that Israel also has its foes in America, including the major media.

"The New York Times no longer accepts as historical fact that a Jewish temple once stood on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem," Parshall said. "Now news stories refer to 'the Temple Mount which Israel claims to have been the site of the first and second temples."

The conference was sponsored by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.

Criticism of CAIR

Meanwhile, Robert Spencer believes the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is suffering from a big case of denial. Spencer, who is with the Free Congress Foundation, says CAIR spokesmen have been busily proclaiming to the national media that Islam is a peaceful and loving religion.

"They are trying to pretend that there is no violence in the Koran or in Islamic tradition -- never has been -- and that anybody who says otherwise is a hatemonger," he says.

Spencer asks: if that is the case, why haven't CAIR leaders encouraged Muslims to cooperate with FBI investigations trying to root out terrorists who are using mosques for meetings, planning sessions, and recruiting? "They don't seem to be willing to cooperate with government efforts to eradicate terrorism," he says.

In addition, Spencer says he has been unable to find any pro-Islamic groups that are condemning the Palestinian homicide bombings.

Spencer says CAIR's campaign to promote Islam as peaceful is a failure because their actions speak much louder. CAIR has not responded to Spencer's inquiries.

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