Associated Press – April 7, 2008
JERUSALEM – American televangelist John Hagee led several hundred flag-waving followers across Jerusalem on Monday, a colorful display of the growing alliance between Christian evangelicals and Israel.
Hagee, who calls himself a Christian Zionist, pledged his unconditional backing for the Jewish state. He also vehemently denied he is anti-Catholic, telling reporters that comments attributed to him were either false or mischaracterized.
Presidential candidate John McCain recently distanced himself from a Hagee endorsement because of what Catholics alleged were disparaging remarks by the pastor, including suggestions that Catholic anti-Semitism shaped Adolf Hitler.
Some dovish Israelis are equally uncomfortable with Hagee and other evangelists because of their support for West Bank Jewish settlements and criticism of peace efforts with the Palestinians.
Hagee, who heads a megachurch in San Antonio, Texas, established “Christians United for Israel” two years ago. About 1,000 followers are on a 10-day visit to Israel to show their support and pledge funds to Israeli causes.
Police blocked traffic on Jerusalem’s busiest street as followers waved flags from all 50 U.S. states and chanted “we love you, Israel,” “Israel is not alone” and “God bless Israel.”
“You can see that they really love us from all their heart,” said Becky Davidov, 57, who works in a jewelry store. “We could use some more friends like these.”
“It’s all very nice,” said David Yom-Tov, another shopkeeper, “until Jesus comes back again.”
Indeed, many Israelis and Jews are troubled by what they suspect is the source of the unbridled support – a belief by some evangelical groups in an apocalyptic battle between good and evil in which Jesus returns and Jews either accept Christianity or perish.
Israel’s government has so far chosen to enjoy the generous financial and political support of leaders like Hagee, and worry about the second coming later.
Hagee, on his 24th visit to Israel, has met with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu.
Olmert spokesman Mark Regev said their meeting did not indicate Olmert agreed with all of Hagee’s positions.
“In all too many places in the world, there is hostility toward the Jewish state,” he said. “When people profess their support for Israel, obviously that is something we can appreciate.”
In this trip, Hagee’s group pledged $6 million in donations, and it plans a large march to Washington in July to call on the Bush administration not to pressure Israel into making any concessions to the Palestinians.
Hagee’s followers say their main inspiration is not the Armageddon, but rather, rectifying what they view as a historical Christian wrong – silence during the Nazi Holocaust, when 6 million Jews were killed.
“Our motto is: ‘Never again, not on our watch,” said Iris Dixon, of Texas.
At a solidarity event on Sunday in Jerusalem, Hagee insisted that the contested city remain united and under Jewish control. Palestinians claim the eastern part of the city, captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, as the capital of their future state.
Hagee’s politics are a source of concern for some Israelis and Jews who support peace with the Palestinians.
“In my eyes, this man represents an approach that is very dangerous to the future of Israel,” said Yossi Beilin, a dovish lawmaker. “In my eyes there is nothing more ridiculous and tragic than to see in this man a friend to Israel.”
Last week, the president of the largest branch of American Judaism – the liberal Union for Reform Judaism – called Hagee an “extremist” on Israeli policy who disparages other faiths. Rabbi Eric Yoffie called on synagogues in the movement not to work with the evangelist.
In a conference call with reporters Monday, Hagee responded to Yoffie.
“He supports this very serious charge by repeating verbatim the Catholic League’s claim that I called the Catholic Church ‘a great whore,’ a ‘false cult system,’ and an ‘apostate church,’” Hagee said. If Yoffie had checked his facts, Hagee said, “he would have found that I have never called the Catholic Church by these names.”
Hagee said it was true that he grown “skeptical of territorial concessions” but said his fundamental philosophy was that “Israelis alone have the right to make the existential decisions about land and peace.”
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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posted April 7, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Yossi Beilin, a dovish lawmaker said: “In my eyes there is nothing more ridiculous and tragic than to see in this man a friend to Israel.”
I think that pretty much sums it up. Except, I would add that it is equally tragic that this man represents Christianity in any form…and, even worse that he has a mega-church in the USA.
BTW, it would seem that the enemy is at work…because I personally have seen Hagee on more than one of his tv broadcasts refer to the Catholic Church as “a great whore, a false cult system, and an apostate church, as well as the anti-church. And, since in the article it is noted that Hagee denies the first three (the fourth term is not referenced in the article)….either Hagee is lying…or, someone has altered his tv broadcast. You be the judge.
Every time I see this man preach….I picture him with deep-red skin, dressed in red with horns and a pointy tail. But then, the same thing happens when I see Bene16
Peace!
posted April 7, 2008 at 7:05 pm
To Becky Davidov, jewelry store worker: “Don’t Judge A Book by The Cover!” Maybe you should (another old saying, sort of) “Kick This Gift Horse In the Mouth” Better still talk to Rabbi Yoffie in America. -;)
posted April 7, 2008 at 8:32 pm
“Hagee’s followers said their main objective is not Armageddon but rather rectifying what they view as a historic Christian wrong -silence during the Nazi Holocaust when 6 million Jews were killed.”
Does anyone really believe Hagee’s motives and $$ are to make up for the silence for the Holocaust? Sure! He and his followers need to get ready for Armageddon…and for that to happen, Israel needs to stay/get in tact. After all “that’s what the Bible says.”
He and his followers are very arrogant marching about in Jerusalem, like cheerleaders. What a lovely sight they will be in DC in July…just as ridiculous as Jerusalem.
“It’s all very nice” said David Yom-Toy another shopkeeper, “until Jesus comes back again.’ Smart man, who has Hagee figured out.
posted April 7, 2008 at 8:53 pm
‘Presidential candidate John McCain recently distanced himself from a Hagee endorsement because of what Catholics alleged were disparaging remarks by the pastor, including suggestions that Catholic anti-Semitism shaped Adolf Hitler.’
Disparaging maybe, but pretty much true I think. If it didn’t shape Hitler, and for all I know it may have, it shaped the great number of Germans in those days that supported Hitler’s horrible policies. I abhor Hagee but that doesn’t mean he’s wrong in every respect.
“Israel’s government has so far chosen to enjoy the generous financial and political support of leaders like Hagee, and worry about the second coming later.”
I think they are on solid ground in not worrying about a second coming but they should use that money for good purposes, not to steal land.
“Hagee’s followers say their main inspiration is not the Armageddon, but rather, rectifying what they view as a historical Christian wrong – silence during the Nazi Holocaust, when 6 million Jews were killed.”
They are right that several Christians in, e.g. the US acted very badly then and cost a lot of Jewish lives. But I fail to see any fairness in punishing the Palestinians for what Christians in the US and Germany did to Jews over fifty years ago.
posted April 8, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I think this is most exciting. I agree most heartly. This land was promised to the nation of Isreal at Moses time and forever and ever.
posted April 8, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Hagee should just MHOFB.
posted April 8, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Hagee is a brilliant madman, he’s lost it, if he could direct his resources to better ideas than war, and land he would be closer to God.
posted April 8, 2008 at 4:07 pm
In the movie Kingdom of Heaven, Orlando Bloom’s character the knight Balian has an exchange with Saladin sultan of Syria and Egypt:
Balian: What is Jerusalem worth?
Saladin: Nothing…Everything.
That sums up my feelings about the city of Jerusalem it is worth nothing and it is worth everything. The sacred site of three of the world’s great religions shouldn’t be controlled by one group or state. It should instead be administered by a disinterested international group such as the UN as a neutral territory surrounded by Israel but not part of it. The so-called “reverend” Hagee’s march through the city qualifies as pollution. Hagee is a bigot whose extremist beliefs have more in common with al Qaeda or the Taliban than with Christ.
posted April 8, 2008 at 5:18 pm
I think everyone would be better off if the Book of Revelations was just used for its original purpose: as an inspiration for heavy metal lyrics.
posted April 8, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Great post Saladin! Best one. It would certainly stop the fight and dying over Jerusalem.
posted April 8, 2008 at 7:10 pm
If one thinks that God put anymore thought or holiness in Israel then He did in, let’s say the Grand Canyon then they are crazy and Jesus proved it to the Christians who follow Him.
For example when He referred to the temple He didn’t mean on of brick and mortar and so many listeners were so confused.
posted April 9, 2008 at 12:05 am
The folks who need to becareful are the Moslems! I am sure that hagee and his band of theological knuckledraggers will want to set in motion the destruction of the Noble Sanctuary and the Dome of the Rock. This would allow for the reconstruction of the Temple and the initiation of many prophesies in revelation. It would sure begin a world wor of cataclysmic proportions. No book of the Bible needs to predict this.
Haggee and all seem to think it is their right and purpose to bring about Armageddon. I hope that as other millenialists have been foiled, these people will be too. They might start something they do not have any hope of understanding simply because their intellectual abilities are profoundly limited.
posted April 9, 2008 at 2:12 am
Israel belongs to the Israelis, & I find the arrogance in deciding that others should run it… unsurprising from evangelicals.
posted April 9, 2008 at 3:29 am
oh my GOD have mercy on us all.
posted April 9, 2008 at 7:36 pm
If indeed GOD exists, Candice.
posted April 9, 2008 at 7:51 pm
I know which side of that “if” I’d rather be.
posted April 9, 2008 at 8:39 pm
And that would be?
posted April 14, 2008 at 2:06 pm
It would be interesting to ask Mr Haggee if he intends to meet with any of the Christians in Israel, i.e. the Palestinian churches who seem to have been conveniently forgotten by evangelical. Or do Arab Christians not count as brothers and sisters in Christ? One could say the same for the Assyrian Christians in Iraq being slaughtered while US troops do nothing to protect them,