Evangelical Christian and Jewish groups join to support Israel

Israeli and American flags were held together with umbrellas on the Ellipse for two hours Friday, as evangelical Christians and Jews gathered to show support for Israel.

“We’re here to show our solidarity with Israel and the Jews,” Levin Leal of Garfield, N.J. said.

An organizer for the Beth Israel Messianic Church, Leal was one of about 300 people who gathered in the rain even though the organizing Christian Coalition had moved the event indoors to the Washington Convention Center.

While the convention center event attracted a variety of conservative leaders and members of Congress with more than 3,000 ralliers, the Ellipse looked more like a revival meeting than a traditional rally. It began and ended with a prayer for peace, and the first hour was dominated by guitar-led hymns.

“What’s happening over there is not a battle that will be won by political savvy,” said Lofberg. “It’s a spiritual battle.”

The majority of the crowd said they believe in the messianic view that Jewish control of Israel, especially Jerusalem, is prophesized in the Bible and will enable the second coming of Christ.

“I can’t think of a plan for peace, but the Bible says there will be peace and I believe it,” said Josiah Akinyele, a GW alumni and employee. “It’s the heritage of the Jewish people.

Susan Bartlett, an administrator for the humanitarian group Vision for Israel, said she hopes that U.S. foreign policy becomes more pro-Israel.

“I think there’s been a mixed signal,” she said, noting President George W. Bush’s statements supporting Israel’s right to self-defense along with condemnations of Israeli military strikes in the Gaza Strip.

“There were those of us who think the U.S. is united with Israel,” Bartlett said.

Senior Robert Lofberg, who accompanied the Rock Christian Fellowship to the rally, said he would like the United States to allow the same leeway to Israel in retaliating against terrorism America used in Afghanistan.

The protest had drawn national attention for some of the speaker’s past comments about Islam. Most notably, the Rev. Jerry Falwell called Mohammad, the founder of Islam, “a terrorist” on CBS’s “60 Minutes” last week. The crowd had a mixed reaction about the comments.

“I don’t think (Falwell) should apologize for speaking the truth,” said Robert Buckhanen, from Manassas, Vt.

“Is Mohammad a terrorist? No,” said Bartlett. “I think he was a misguided shepherd boy.”

Despite differences over domestic policy issues, there is a growing alliance between Messianic Christians and Jews because of their support for Israel. The leaders of the group made references to tearing down the “wall that separates Jews and gentiles.”

Buckhanen, a conservative Jew, had no qualms with the alliance.

“I think it’s great to see all these people supporting Israel,” he said. “I don’t care about their religious beliefs.”
-Andrew Saltz