All trips are paid for by Christian groups who love Israel. Archive photo: Church in Madrid
Photo: Reuters
Stations of the cross
More than a dozen Knesset members are part of the ‘Jewish-Christian’ lobby in the Knesset, and have traveled all over the world to address Christian groups and to drum up support for Israel
U.S.A.? Philippines? Germany? Korea? Today's Knesset member has got an open invitation almost anywhere in the world… as long as there are Christians there.
How? With the help of the Jewish-Christian lobby, that's how.
The "Knesset lobby to promote relations with Christian communities around the world" was created two years ago with just six members, but quickly became a virtual travel agency for Knesset members.
Today, 14 Knesset members from across the political spectrum – including members of the Likud, Labor, National Union, Shas, National Religious Party, Shinui and Meretz parties – are joined together by a common goal: To strengthen Israel's connection with the Christian world.
Group members have already managed to cash in on group membership. For instance, just this year Yuri Stern (National Union) has visited the Philippines, the U.S., and South Korea. Gila Finkelstein (National Religious Party) has been to Germany, Shinui MK Chemi Dadon has been to South Korea, and Benny Elon and Gila Gamliel have been to America several times.
In 2006 group members are planning more exclusive trips, to such places as Singapore, the Ukraine and South Africa.
All trips are paid for by Christian groups who love Israel, who are interested in strengthening ties with Knesset members.
'Everyone in the lobby holds his own views'
These groups have no shortage of money, and members often express views farther to the "right" than many Knesset members themselves, particularly with regard to God's promise of the Land of Israel to the Jewish people.
But what, exactly, happens on these trips? Meetings, public relations, lectures, the occasional fundraiser- but mainly promoting the message of harmony.
For instance, one convention in Texas in September addressed the question "Why Christians and Jews must stand together at this time."
Another, in South Korea in August, discussed "Enlisting the media in favor of Israel and the Jewish and Christian religions."
It turns out that members of the lobby have divided "regions" of responsibility. For instance, Gila Gamliel (Likud) and Gilad Arden are "responsible" for the United States. Chemi Doron covers Asia, Modi Zandberg does Africa, and Ilan Shalgi (Shinui) takes care of Europe.
"It's true that people like to travel, but this lobby is not a travel agency," said MK Yuri Stern, the group's founder. "We can't even keep up with all the requests."'
Stern said the group's goal is to encourage Christian Bible lovers to use their political influence to support the right of Jews to the land of Israel and Jerusalem.
"When we speak about borders, everyone in the lobby holds his own views, but we are creating a world-wide Christian coalition to support our right to be here," he said.
