United States Senator Joseph Lieberman has called for banning "terrorist videos" from YouTube but Mr. Lieberman has failed to recognize that he has closely associated and allied himself with a group that has repeatedly and very publicly incited acts, against Israel, which the state of Israel considers acts of terrorism posing a security threat of the highest magnitude.
Below: 60 second video with some hair-raising audio from CUFI Regional Director Billye Brim and from Pastor John Hagee-whom US Senator Joseph Lieberman has likened to Moses.
Israel's Shin Bet security service is charged with protecting The Dome of the Rock and the nearby Al Akhsa mosque, from attempts by Jewish, American and Islamic extremist groups to damage or destroy the Islamic holy sites, and the State of Israel considers such attempts to pose a top-level security threat to Isrsel, because it is widely assumed that the destruction would touch off a regional, or even a world, war.
In his 2000 book The End of Days: Fundamentalism and The Struggle For The Temple Mount, Israeli journalist Gershom Gorenberg described the apocalyptic aspirations of the many fringe religious groups aspiring to bring on the Apocalypse and the "end of days" through attacks on the Dome of The Rock and the Al Akhsa mosque. The danger of such attacks is not hypothetical: the last several decades have seen both individual and organized group efforts to attack the Islamic religious sites on and around the Temple Mount, from both Christian and Jewish fundamentalist groups.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/5/28/7321/08423
Full Version: Christians United For Israel
CUFI is bad mojo, and after Hagee's latest spew of ridiculous, hateful vitriol, I doubt they'll have many Jewish allies except for the Liebermans and other right-wing Orthodox factions.
I've been fighting this battle in my local Jewish Federation as part of the Community Relations Council. The Jewish community in Tulsa had some involvement in last year's "Night to Honor Israel," which made me and a lot of other Jews very uncomfortable.
Heated discussions followed about what to do when this year's "Night to Honor Israel" came around. Several members of the CRC, myself included, argued that backing Hagee's event meant backing someone whose views on every issue but Israel are hateful and odious, and the Jewish community cannot and should not associate itself with CUFI or the "Night to Honor Israel." We finally had a vote a few months ago and it was decided that the Jewish Federation would have no involvement in this year's Night to Honor Israel.
In retrospect, now that Hagee has shown his true colors, I'm really glad we did that.
I've been fighting this battle in my local Jewish Federation as part of the Community Relations Council. The Jewish community in Tulsa had some involvement in last year's "Night to Honor Israel," which made me and a lot of other Jews very uncomfortable.
Heated discussions followed about what to do when this year's "Night to Honor Israel" came around. Several members of the CRC, myself included, argued that backing Hagee's event meant backing someone whose views on every issue but Israel are hateful and odious, and the Jewish community cannot and should not associate itself with CUFI or the "Night to Honor Israel." We finally had a vote a few months ago and it was decided that the Jewish Federation would have no involvement in this year's Night to Honor Israel.
In retrospect, now that Hagee has shown his true colors, I'm really glad we did that.
Christian Zionist Gathering Mired in Controversy
Will Lieberman and Pipes continue backing Hagee regardless of what other anti-Jewish commentaries might be discovered? Will CUFI continue to escalate its push for the Bush Administration to deal militarily with Iran? These questions might be answered when CUFI members flock to Washington next month.
The battle lines over Pastor John Hagee have been drawn, redrawn, and are no doubt being drawn again as this is being written. The San Antonio, Texas-based mega-preacher with the multi-million-dollar empire has always been controversial, but these days, the pastor is a lightning rod for critics.
And as the days pass leading up to Hagee’s annual Christians United for Israel (CUFI) conference in Washington next month, new revelations of his anti-Semitism have come to light.
From Jul. 21-24, Hagee’s Christians United for Israel will be holding its third annual “summit” in Washington. Among the scheduled speakers are Gary Bauer, a CUFI board member and longtime religious right activist and president of American Values; former Republican senator Rick Santorum; Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Sallai Meridor; Brad Gordon, co-director of Policy and Government Affairs at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC); Daniel Pipes; and Senator Joseph Lieberman.
read it all -
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/06/17/9695/
Will Lieberman and Pipes continue backing Hagee regardless of what other anti-Jewish commentaries might be discovered? Will CUFI continue to escalate its push for the Bush Administration to deal militarily with Iran? These questions might be answered when CUFI members flock to Washington next month.
The battle lines over Pastor John Hagee have been drawn, redrawn, and are no doubt being drawn again as this is being written. The San Antonio, Texas-based mega-preacher with the multi-million-dollar empire has always been controversial, but these days, the pastor is a lightning rod for critics.
And as the days pass leading up to Hagee’s annual Christians United for Israel (CUFI) conference in Washington next month, new revelations of his anti-Semitism have come to light.
From Jul. 21-24, Hagee’s Christians United for Israel will be holding its third annual “summit” in Washington. Among the scheduled speakers are Gary Bauer, a CUFI board member and longtime religious right activist and president of American Values; former Republican senator Rick Santorum; Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Sallai Meridor; Brad Gordon, co-director of Policy and Government Affairs at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC); Daniel Pipes; and Senator Joseph Lieberman.
read it all -
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/06/17/9695/
I think the Hagee christians are not so much for isreal people as they are for the land. Its my understanding that their line of thought comes from rev. thats the problem with anything over there, it seems nothing is for the greater good, but for the good of a religion. just my opinion.
Hundreds of Jerusalem Christians are loosing residency rights in
their City due to policies of the Israeli Ministry of Interior. The
policy that aims to reduce the number of non-Jews in the City takes
its toll on families and individuals who hold residency permits at
foreign countries. No matter how long they travel abroad, no matter
if they were born in Jerusalem before or after Israel occupied East
Jerusalem , they are considered visitors in their own city.
Palestinian Christians who make today not more than 9,000 will lose
15% of their population as a result of this policy. While Jews from
all over the world and even converts to Judaism are allowed to
immigrate to Israel under the Israeli "Law of Return", the
indigenous Jerusalemites are considered temporary residents.
Originally, Seven years of being out of Jerusalem was the deadline
for losing one's right to live in his own city. Now, only a proof of
residency in another country is enough for Israel to consider
Jerusalem as not "the center of life" for this person or family and
thus deny them the right of living in their home town once they
travel abroad. In addition to this particular policy, the Israeli
authorities are still implementing other regulations aiming at
further decreasing the numbers of Palestinian, Christians and
Moslems, in Jerusalem . From freezing the law of family reunion to
impossible requirements for building in the city, to the Separation
Wall that separated hundreds from the center of Jerusalem .
Palestinian Christians of the city will soon lose half of their
population. The local Churches in Jerusalem are gravely concerned,
and join the call of their communities to put an end to Israel's
policies and refuse any kind of exclusivity over the City. At this
stage Israel cannot be entrusted in the fate of this Holy City and
its people. The International and Christian Communities need to act
fast to defuse Israeli policies at the highest level.
We want peace and justice in the Holy Land , where followers of all
faiths will live in dignity and their rights will be preserved. And
we believe that the international community can help us make it
happen.
their City due to policies of the Israeli Ministry of Interior. The
policy that aims to reduce the number of non-Jews in the City takes
its toll on families and individuals who hold residency permits at
foreign countries. No matter how long they travel abroad, no matter
if they were born in Jerusalem before or after Israel occupied East
Jerusalem , they are considered visitors in their own city.
Palestinian Christians who make today not more than 9,000 will lose
15% of their population as a result of this policy. While Jews from
all over the world and even converts to Judaism are allowed to
immigrate to Israel under the Israeli "Law of Return", the
indigenous Jerusalemites are considered temporary residents.
Originally, Seven years of being out of Jerusalem was the deadline
for losing one's right to live in his own city. Now, only a proof of
residency in another country is enough for Israel to consider
Jerusalem as not "the center of life" for this person or family and
thus deny them the right of living in their home town once they
travel abroad. In addition to this particular policy, the Israeli
authorities are still implementing other regulations aiming at
further decreasing the numbers of Palestinian, Christians and
Moslems, in Jerusalem . From freezing the law of family reunion to
impossible requirements for building in the city, to the Separation
Wall that separated hundreds from the center of Jerusalem .
Palestinian Christians of the city will soon lose half of their
population. The local Churches in Jerusalem are gravely concerned,
and join the call of their communities to put an end to Israel's
policies and refuse any kind of exclusivity over the City. At this
stage Israel cannot be entrusted in the fate of this Holy City and
its people. The International and Christian Communities need to act
fast to defuse Israeli policies at the highest level.
We want peace and justice in the Holy Land , where followers of all
faiths will live in dignity and their rights will be preserved. And
we believe that the international community can help us make it
happen.
QUOTE (ABQ @ Jun 22 2008, 07:11 PM) 
Hundreds of Jerusalem Christians are loosing residency rights in
their City due to policies of the Israeli Ministry of Interior. The
policy that aims to reduce the number of non-Jews in the City takes
its toll on families and individuals who hold residency permits at
foreign countries. No matter how long they travel abroad, no matter
if they were born in Jerusalem before or after Israel occupied East
Jerusalem , they are considered visitors in their own city.
Palestinian Christians who make today not more than 9,000 will lose
15% of their population as a result of this policy. While Jews from
all over the world and even converts to Judaism are allowed to
immigrate to Israel under the Israeli "Law of Return", the
indigenous Jerusalemites are considered temporary residents.
Originally, Seven years of being out of Jerusalem was the deadline
for losing one's right to live in his own city. Now, only a proof of
residency in another country is enough for Israel to consider
Jerusalem as not "the center of life" for this person or family and
thus deny them the right of living in their home town once they
travel abroad. In addition to this particular policy, the Israeli
authorities are still implementing other regulations aiming at
further decreasing the numbers of Palestinian, Christians and
Moslems, in Jerusalem . From freezing the law of family reunion to
impossible requirements for building in the city, to the Separation
Wall that separated hundreds from the center of Jerusalem .
Palestinian Christians of the city will soon lose half of their
population. The local Churches in Jerusalem are gravely concerned,
and join the call of their communities to put an end to Israel's
policies and refuse any kind of exclusivity over the City. At this
stage Israel cannot be entrusted in the fate of this Holy City and
its people. The International and Christian Communities need to act
fast to defuse Israeli policies at the highest level.
We want peace and justice in the Holy Land , where followers of all
faiths will live in dignity and their rights will be preserved. And
we believe that the international community can help us make it
happen.
their City due to policies of the Israeli Ministry of Interior. The
policy that aims to reduce the number of non-Jews in the City takes
its toll on families and individuals who hold residency permits at
foreign countries. No matter how long they travel abroad, no matter
if they were born in Jerusalem before or after Israel occupied East
Jerusalem , they are considered visitors in their own city.
Palestinian Christians who make today not more than 9,000 will lose
15% of their population as a result of this policy. While Jews from
all over the world and even converts to Judaism are allowed to
immigrate to Israel under the Israeli "Law of Return", the
indigenous Jerusalemites are considered temporary residents.
Originally, Seven years of being out of Jerusalem was the deadline
for losing one's right to live in his own city. Now, only a proof of
residency in another country is enough for Israel to consider
Jerusalem as not "the center of life" for this person or family and
thus deny them the right of living in their home town once they
travel abroad. In addition to this particular policy, the Israeli
authorities are still implementing other regulations aiming at
further decreasing the numbers of Palestinian, Christians and
Moslems, in Jerusalem . From freezing the law of family reunion to
impossible requirements for building in the city, to the Separation
Wall that separated hundreds from the center of Jerusalem .
Palestinian Christians of the city will soon lose half of their
population. The local Churches in Jerusalem are gravely concerned,
and join the call of their communities to put an end to Israel's
policies and refuse any kind of exclusivity over the City. At this
stage Israel cannot be entrusted in the fate of this Holy City and
its people. The International and Christian Communities need to act
fast to defuse Israeli policies at the highest level.
We want peace and justice in the Holy Land , where followers of all
faiths will live in dignity and their rights will be preserved. And
we believe that the international community can help us make it
happen.
I hope that last paragraph pertains to the Muslim population as well...but somehow I doubt its' equal sincerity.
QUOTE (ABQ @ Jun 22 2008, 07:11 PM)
Hundreds of Jerusalem Christians are loosing residency rights in
their City due to policies of the Israeli Ministry of Interior. The
policy that aims to reduce the number of non-Jews in the City takes
its toll on families and individuals who hold residency permits at
foreign countries. No matter how long they travel abroad, no matter
if they were born in Jerusalem before or after Israel occupied East
Jerusalem , they are considered visitors in their own city.
Palestinian Christians who make today not more than 9,000 will lose
15% of their population as a result of this policy. While Jews from
all over the world and even converts to Judaism are allowed to
immigrate to Israel under the Israeli "Law of Return", the
indigenous Jerusalemites are considered temporary residents.
Originally, Seven years of being out of Jerusalem was the deadline
for losing one's right to live in his own city. Now, only a proof of
residency in another country is enough for Israel to consider
Jerusalem as not "the center of life" for this person or family and
thus deny them the right of living in their home town once they
travel abroad. In addition to this particular policy, the Israeli
authorities are still implementing other regulations aiming at
further decreasing the numbers of Palestinian, Christians and
Moslems, in Jerusalem . From freezing the law of family reunion to
impossible requirements for building in the city, to the Separation
Wall that separated hundreds from the center of Jerusalem .
Palestinian Christians of the city will soon lose half of their
population. The local Churches in Jerusalem are gravely concerned,
and join the call of their communities to put an end to Israel's
policies and refuse any kind of exclusivity over the City. At this
stage Israel cannot be entrusted in the fate of this Holy City and
its people. The International and Christian Communities need to act
fast to defuse Israeli policies at the highest level.
We want peace and justice in the Holy Land , where followers of all
faiths will live in dignity and their rights will be preserved. And
we believe that the international community can help us make it
happen.
their City due to policies of the Israeli Ministry of Interior. The
policy that aims to reduce the number of non-Jews in the City takes
its toll on families and individuals who hold residency permits at
foreign countries. No matter how long they travel abroad, no matter
if they were born in Jerusalem before or after Israel occupied East
Jerusalem , they are considered visitors in their own city.
Palestinian Christians who make today not more than 9,000 will lose
15% of their population as a result of this policy. While Jews from
all over the world and even converts to Judaism are allowed to
immigrate to Israel under the Israeli "Law of Return", the
indigenous Jerusalemites are considered temporary residents.
Originally, Seven years of being out of Jerusalem was the deadline
for losing one's right to live in his own city. Now, only a proof of
residency in another country is enough for Israel to consider
Jerusalem as not "the center of life" for this person or family and
thus deny them the right of living in their home town once they
travel abroad. In addition to this particular policy, the Israeli
authorities are still implementing other regulations aiming at
further decreasing the numbers of Palestinian, Christians and
Moslems, in Jerusalem . From freezing the law of family reunion to
impossible requirements for building in the city, to the Separation
Wall that separated hundreds from the center of Jerusalem .
Palestinian Christians of the city will soon lose half of their
population. The local Churches in Jerusalem are gravely concerned,
and join the call of their communities to put an end to Israel's
policies and refuse any kind of exclusivity over the City. At this
stage Israel cannot be entrusted in the fate of this Holy City and
its people. The International and Christian Communities need to act
fast to defuse Israeli policies at the highest level.
We want peace and justice in the Holy Land , where followers of all
faiths will live in dignity and their rights will be preserved. And
we believe that the international community can help us make it
happen.
Have a link? Hint: "Laity........."
QUOTE (Sinisterblogger @ May 29 2008, 01:22 PM)
CUFI is bad mojo, and after Hagee's latest spew of ridiculous, hateful vitriol, I doubt they'll have many Jewish allies except for the Liebermans and other right-wing Orthodox factions.
I don't know about your community, but I'd bet that overall the orthodox have kept their distance from Hagee more than the more "liberal" community. More over theology than anything else.You are probably right that Hagee went over the top in his stupid statements, and his relationship with the Jewish community wll be difficult to rebuild. But he's not an anti-Jewish bigot. In fairness to him, he has done much to fight anti-semitism in the Christian world.
In my opinion, he just an evangelical whose long term goals is at odds with the long term goals of the Jewish community.
QUOTE (ABQ @ Jun 22 2008, 07:11 PM)
Hundreds of Jerusalem Christians are loosing residency rights in their City due to policies of the Israeli Ministry of Interior. The policy that aims to reduce the number of non-Jews in the City takes its toll on families and individuals who hold residency permits at foreign countries. ...
Now the facts:
AFP - Jerusalem's Arab Population rising twice as fast as its Jewish
From Israel-Palestinian ProCon
Section III shows breakdown between Jewish, Muslim & Christian communities
Here's one perspective, there certainly are others:
Paletine's Christians Continue to Suffer Persecution - Christianity Today.
Arab population of Jerusalem increase under Israeli sovereignity. (NY TImesO
QUOTE (Viewer @ Jun 23 2008, 07:37 AM)
I don't know about your community, but I'd bet that overall the orthodox have kept their distance from Hagee more than the more "liberal" community. More over theology than anything else.
You are probably right that Hagee went over the top in his stupid statements, and his relationship with the Jewish community wll be difficult to rebuild. But he's not an anti-Jewish bigot. In fairness to him, he has done much to fight anti-semitism in the Christian world.
In my opinion, he just an evangelical whose long term goals is at odds with the long term goals of the Jewish community.
You are probably right that Hagee went over the top in his stupid statements, and his relationship with the Jewish community wll be difficult to rebuild. But he's not an anti-Jewish bigot. In fairness to him, he has done much to fight anti-semitism in the Christian world.
In my opinion, he just an evangelical whose long term goals is at odds with the long term goals of the Jewish community.
These are not the words of someone who is trying to fight anti-Semitism in the Christian world:
QUOTE
"Theodore Herzl is the father of Zionism. He was a Jew who at the turn of the 19th century said, this land is our land, God wants us to live there. So he went to the Jews of Europe and said 'I want you to come and join me in the land of Israel.' So few went that Hertzel went into depression. Those who came founded Israel; those who did not went through the hell of the holocaust.
"Then god sent a hunter. A hunter is someone with a gun and he forces you. Hitler was a hunter. And the Bible says -- Jeremiah writing -- 'They shall hunt them from every mountain and from every hill and from the holes of the rocks,' meaning there's no place to hide. And that might be offensive to some people but don't let your heart be offended. I didn't write it, Jeremiah wrote it. It was the truth and it is the truth. How did it happen? Because God allowed it to happen. Why did it happen? Because God said my top priority for the Jewish people is to get them to come back to the land of Israel."
"Then god sent a hunter. A hunter is someone with a gun and he forces you. Hitler was a hunter. And the Bible says -- Jeremiah writing -- 'They shall hunt them from every mountain and from every hill and from the holes of the rocks,' meaning there's no place to hide. And that might be offensive to some people but don't let your heart be offended. I didn't write it, Jeremiah wrote it. It was the truth and it is the truth. How did it happen? Because God allowed it to happen. Why did it happen? Because God said my top priority for the Jewish people is to get them to come back to the land of Israel."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/21/m...d_n_102892.html
Hagee's real message is that Jews don't belong anywhere but Israel, and when Jews don't go to Israel, god sends Hitler. That's not an ally.
QUOTE (Sinisterblogger @ Jun 23 2008, 09:34 AM)
Hagee's real message is that Jews don't belong anywhere but Israel, and when Jews don't go to Israel, god sends Hitler. That's not an ally.
Hey, I'm not going to defend him. He's negative on so many issues. Hitler tape included. I don't agree with him politically, I don't agree with him theologically. But I am happy that he sends his money to some good causes. Since I don't think his "end vision" is relevant I don't care if he believe in whatever. But he has also done much to combat anti-semitism among Christians (yes, maybe for the wrong reasons.)Jews should keep their distance from him because of his wide range of views, not because he hates Jews. I believe the evidence does not show that. It's not always about me.
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