Support for Israel improves Jewish-Christian relations
Friday, October 11, 2002 | bySHARON SAMBER
WASHINGTON—Thousands of people gathered in Washington this week, but many were not Jews.
The participants in this week's rally are evangelical Christians, gathering in the nation's capital as part of a Christian Coalition of America conference.
According to the coalition, the Christian Support for Israel rally will "tell the world that Christians stand firmly behind the Jewish state and are unalterably opposed to trading land for a paper peace."
Such strong talk is not surprising from a group that, along with other evangelicals, has come out strongly in support of Israel despite growing international condemnation of Israeli policy toward Palestinians and a worldwide spike in anti-Semitism.
The relationship between evangelicals and Jews for years has been an uneasy one, but it appears to be solidifying as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues and Israel finds itself increasingly isolated.
Nevertheless, many American Jews and Jewish organizations remain wary of the evangelicals, suspecting their motives and disagreeing with them on domestic policy.
Even many of the groups who accept evangelical support for Israel don't see the relationship broadening.
"There is no alliance," said Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League. "The relationship is based on this one, specific issue."
The ADL took some heat in May when it ran an ad reprinting an open letter from Ralph Reed, the former executive director of the Christian Coalition, calling for support of Israel.
Rutgers University sociology professor Arlene Stein dismisses the idea that the evangelical community is a natural ally. The alliance with Christian conservatives could alienate large sectors of the Jewish community, she warns.
Foxman counters that the Jewish community ought to appreciate the evangelicals' support.
The American Jewish community also can see how enthusiastically Israel is accepting evangelical support.
In a recent speech to an international group of Christian pilgrims in Israel for Sukkot, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called the evangelicals "friends" and asked for their help.
"I have a message I'd like you to carry home: Send more of yours to come visit Israel," he said.
For years, Israel has welcomed evangelical support. Former Prime Minister Menachem Begin once said Israel would welcome evangelical help but "agree to disagree" with them theologically.
"Jews should have enough self-confidence in their own identity not to fear or be intimidated by Christian groups that are supportive of Israel," said Mark Regev, spokesman for the Israeli Embassy in Washington.
Sometimes the relationship can be awkward for other reasons.
In an interview Sunday with the CBS news magazine "60 Minutes," Rev. Jerry Falwell, who is scheduled to speak at the coalition's conference and rally, stressed the Christian right's support for Israel.
"There is nothing that would bring the wrath of the Christian public down on this government like abandoning or opposing Israel in a critical matter," he said.
Yet in the same interview, Falwell called the Prophet Mohammed a "terrorist," saying he believes the prophet of Islam was a "violent man, a man of war."
Jewish and Islamic groups lashed out at the conservative Baptist leader.
"The Rev. Jerry Falwell has once again demonstrated his intolerance by his outrageous charge about the Prophet Mohammed," Foxman said. "He owes an apology to the millions of good people who follow the Muslim faith. As a man of the cloth, he should be working toward bringing faith communities closer together, not driving wedges through them."
The Christian Coalition would not comment on Falwell's remarks except to say that Falwell does not represent the organization.
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, the founder and president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, said he disagrees with Falwell's comments, but believes the view that Islam is inherently evil and seeks to dominate the world is prevalent among Christians and Jews.
Eckstein stressed that comments from one evangelical Christian, albeit from a leader, should not prompt Jews to dismiss the good will of evangelicals.
Using this episode to undermine the good will of the community by simply pointing at Falwell is "outrageous," Eckstein said.
While the Christian Coalition is not as powerful as it once was, it still wields some clout in U.S. politics.
In August, when Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld doubted the wisdom of giving the Palestinian Authority more territory and accused it of promoting terrorism, the president of the Christian Coalition of America, Roberta Combs, praised him.
"There's been too much talk of a Palestinian state," Combs said. "This only encourages the terrorists to keep murdering innocent civilians in hopes of forcing Israel to reach a settlement which would imperil its survival."
The group also has a petition denouncing Palestinian suicide bombings as genocide and crimes against humanity. The petition gives support "clearly and unequivocally" to the Israeli government's military moves against terrorism, which have sparked international criticism.
Some Jewish community relations councils have been working with evangelical groups on the local level for years, primarily on interfaith efforts.