At the very moment Israel found itself in a crushing vise of global criticism for Operation Protective Edge, the San Antonio, Texas-based organization Christians United For Israel (CUFI) last week roused its membership to loud, rollicking support of Israel at the group’s annual Washington D.C. Summit.
Led by Pastor John Hagee, some 4,800 foot-stomping, shofar-blowing Christian delegates who traveled from across the nation and overseas celebrated Israel and expressed their support of the Jewish state.
CUFI’s purpose, according to the group’s website, is “to educate Christians on the biblical and moral imperatives to support Israel and to build Christian support for Israel throughout America.”
The long roster of speakers at CUFI’s Washington Summit included Wall Street Journal deputy editorial page editor Bret Stephens; The Weekly Standard’s Bill Kristol; Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Charles Krauthammer; Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations; Christian Broadcasting Network investigative reporter Erick Stakelbeck; and Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked CUFI, via taped message, for standing by Israel. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of several elected officials on hand, exhorted Israel to “go as far as you need to go, and do what you’ve got to do” in Gaza.
Guests of honor Sheldon and Miriam Adelson were lauded for their philanthropic endeavors.
Ambassador Dermer exhilarated the crowd when he was heckled by pro-Hamas protesters and defiantly drowned them out as they were hustled from the auditorium. Dermer referred to the hecklers as “moral idiots” as CUFI members chanted “Israel! Israel!”
The day after the celebration, CUFI members swarmed Congress to lobby their representatives to stop funding the Palestinian Authority and to stand with Israel in its fight against Hamas.