US senator leaves dinner after boos for pro-Israel stand
Cruz, Republican presidential hopeful, says he walked out of 'In Defense of Christians' event after vocal opposition to his remarks on Israel, Jews.
A Republican senator mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2016 said he walked out of a speech Wednesday night to a Christian organization after some audience members booed his comments in support of Israel and the Jewish people.
At the "In Defense of Christians" dinner, Sen. Ted Cruz said he told the gathering that those who hate Israel also hate the United States and those who hate the Jewish people also hate Christians. He said that hatred of Israel and Jews runs counter to the teachings of Christ.
Ted Cruz speaking in Congress (Photo: AFP)
That elicited boos from a small but vocal minority. Cruz insisted that Christians in the Middle East have no better friend than Israel.
"After just a few minutes, I had no choice," Cruz said. "I told them that if you will not stand with Israel, if you will not stand with the Jews, then I will not stand with you. And then I walked off the stage."
Cruz called anti-Semitism a "corrosive evil" that reared its ugly head at the event.
"Tonight in Washington should have been a night of unity as we came together for the inaugural event for a group that calls itself 'In Defense of Christians," Cruz said. "Instead, it unfortunately deteriorated into a shameful display of bigotry and hatred."
