Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., September 29, 2008 Elul 29, 5768 | | Israel Time: 00:03 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 09:30 03/06/2008 They only appear to be supporters By Colette Avital Tags: supporters The Israeli public is so thirsty for love that it becomes very excited by the support it gets from Christian groups; this is the case when the support comes in the form of political support or in the form of millions of dollars in cash that flows generously to various causes in Israel, some of them questionable. Several weeks ago, the evangelical leadership even held a conference in Israel, and some of our most important leaders were on hand. The support of American evangelicals does not receive the necessary attention in Israel. The outrageous statement by Reverend John Hagee, an evangelist who disseminates his opinions not only in his church in Texas, but also through popular television broadcasts, is an example of extremist views that are being ignored by those who laud the support Israel gets from evangelicals. Hagee is the founder of the Christians United for Israel lobby, and as such received the blessing of the Jewish lobby AIPAC during its annual conference last year. Hitler and the Holocaust, Hagee argues, were part of a divine plan to expel Jews from Europe and bring them to the Land of Israel. It was written about and prophesized in the Bible, Hagee says. How will God restore Jews to their homeland? asks Hagee. The answer: "through fishermen and hunters. A hunter is the one who comes with a gun and forces you; Hitler was a hunter." Advertisement As someone familiar with the evangelicals' views and beliefs on the second coming of Jesus, there is nothing surprising to me about his statements. It only causes me to sigh in relief because the truth is coming out. This time it was not a slip of the tongue, and the statements are documented on the Church's Web site. Do we still need to point out that Jesus can return only after Armageddon, and to this end it is best if Israel continues to be at war? But the support of Hagee and his lobby is not impartial. This is support to specific leaders and parties, to whom he offers generous assistance. Hagee's evangelicals reject the two-state solution, which is currently acceptable for the vast majority of the Israeli public; as such, Hagee's followers direct their funding and assistance toward a clear political agenda in Israel. In an interview with Haaretz some two years ago, Hagee said he would offer aid to hospitals and orphanages. To those who know him, this is not a likely option. Hagee, a clear "friend" of Israel who preaches that it must not relinquish an inch of land, declared his support for Senator John McCain in the race for U.S. president. But his latest declarations, and this latest one most of all, embarrassed McCain to the point that he renounced the reverend's support. Is it not appropriate then to expect Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to make an unequivocal announcement that they, too, are cutting ties with Hagee and his ilk? After all, the aims of this bear hug are clear. MK Colette Avital (Labor) served as Israel's Consul General in New York. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Defending against Iran U.S. deploys early-warning radar system at Israeli base to detect Iranian missiles. Chinese train in Israel Haifa stadium had been turned into mock Bird's Nest in pre-Olympics exercises.   1.   Support is not to be disdained 09:36  |  Natallie Durson 03/06/08   2.   DURSON with millions of Islamofascists,Neonazis and useful idiots 09:57  |  PETER SM 03/06/08   3.   Arafat`s groupie Avital was sabotaging efforts to show true 09:59  |  Absolute Sweden 03/06/08   4.   Only bad dogs bite friendly hand 10:11  |  Paqid Yirmeyahu 03/06/08   5.   FALWELL AND HAGEE ARE THE TRUE ALLIES OF ISRAEL 10:18  |  indrajaya 03/06/08   6.   Welcome those who support Israel 10:43  |  Motic 03/06/08   7.   Great and Awesome Day 10:48  |  Joseph 03/06/08   8.   INDRAJAYA.USAMA bin Ladin &ABU Bakr Bashir your true allies 10:51  |  PETER SM 03/06/08   9.   Coalition 10:58  |  Sherlock Holmes 03/06/08   10.   Colette oi vey 10:59  |  Hilda 03/06/08   11.   Hagge`s underlying premise is Jewish 11:06  |  Pete Eriksen 03/06/08   12.   MK Avital 11:06  |  nicole 03/06/08   13.   But the left eagerly begs support from the EU 11:19  |  Binyamin Dissen 03/06/08   14.   Time for Israeli (Jewish) people to "de-humiliate" themselves.... 11:26  |  Swiss (Dino) 03/06/08   15.   Pastor John Hagee 11:28  |  Johnny Weintraub 03/06/08   16.   Hagee is a better friend of Israel than Colette Avital 11:36  |  Josh 03/06/08   17.   Indrajaya 11:51  |  Craig 03/06/08   18.   I strongly endorse Haggee, great humanitarian ,friend to Jews 11:59  |  POP 03/06/08   19.   Haggee is a great Christian, Jesus loves you. 12:00  |  Dutch 03/06/08   20.   # 17, CRAIG F (a.k.a. PETER SM) 12:05  |  indrajaya 03/06/08   21.   Collete Avital`s Hypocrisy 12:26  |  Ben Israel 03/06/08   22.   Abbas is a holocaust denier, but Avital is in bed with him 12:35  |  Ilan 03/06/08   23.   Hagee theology 12:54  |  Gregor 03/06/08   24.   Swiss Dino 13:07  |  Gregor 03/06/08   25.   Avital is factually wrong 13:16  |  Ira Weissman 03/06/08   26.   thirsty for love 13:22  |  ron 03/06/08   27.   Birds of a feather 13:58  |  JW 03/06/08   28.   indrajaya (a.k.a. Dutch) 14:20  |  Craig 03/06/08   29.   # 24 Gregor 14:32  |  Swiss (Dino) 03/06/08   30.   Avital- Hidden Motives 14:34  |  Amos 03/06/08   31.   Hagee`s Theology, Gregor 14:43  |  Said 03/06/08   32.   Hagee is a racist 14:48  |  Ray 03/06/08   33.   interesting 15:14  |  michael 03/06/08   34.   Religious people are crazy, they prove it daily... 15:44  |  POP 03/06/08   35.   Hagee 16:09  |  Roslyn 03/06/08   36.   Leftist are suicidal 16:14  |  Zvi 03/06/08   37.   LOVE JOHN HAGEE HE LOVES ISRAEL! 16:25  |  petra 03/06/08   38.   MK AVITAL FINALLY SOMEONE SPEAKS THE TRUTH 16:29  |  Jew by choice 03/06/08   39.   # 28 CRAIG F (a.k.a. PETER SM) 16:44  |  indrajaya 03/06/08   40.   Is Colette Avital going to renounce Abu Mazen and his ilk? 17:54  |  Genuine Tosefta 03/06/08   41.   Anything goes for $$$$$$ 23:49  |  BIG 03/06/08   42.   If not Hagee;who? 00:34  |  Salty 04/06/08   43.   "And Jacob dwelt alone". 04:57  |  Josh 04/06/08   44.   Christian support for Isreal 17:10  |  Kurt 14/06/08   45.   Christian support for Isreal 17:36  |  Kurt 14/06/08   46.   How can Hagee be wrong? 01:03  |  Karl 15/06/08   47.   The Holocaust Question 20:25  |  Cheri Tamman 26/07/08   48.   Know Your Friends 23:00  |  Jacob 28/09/08

Read & React Burston: Will Palin win Jews - and Florida - over to Obama? Responses: 81 U.S. deploys radar system at Israel base to detect Iran missiles Responses: 60 Gideon Levy: Enough with the 'political process' game Responses: 83 Olmert said to offer Palestinians Jordan Valley land swap Responses: 38 Editorial: Capitalism isn't dead, but U.S. is on the path to decline Responses: 80 More Headlines 20:20 Olmert: 'Jewish underground' behind attack on leftist prof. 22:45 U.S. deploys radar system at Israel base to detect Iran missiles 20:52 One-third of Austrians vote for extreme right in parliamentary elections 21:48 Helen Mirren to play Mossad spy in Hollywood remake of Israeli film 23:17 Israelis, Iranians join world in mourning 'king of cool' Paul Newman 22:44 High Court to IDF: Reconsider bound Palestinian shooting charges 22:33 Haaretz.com: The year in review 21:57 Presidential blog / President Shimon Peres' Rosh Hashanah greeting to the world 23:31 IDF to impose closure on West Bank and Gaza over Rosh Hashanah 22:56 Ramle woman and her infant son critically injured in hit-and-run 22:43 Settlers deny involvement in shooting death of West Bank shepherd 20:21 Will Palin win Jews - and Florida - over to Obama? 20:17 Palestinian man infiltrates Israel by swimming from Gaza 15:03 IDF soldier attacked with acid may regain sight, say doctors 17:05 Hamas releases 35 jailed Fatah men in Gaza in goodwill gesture Previous Editions Select Day 28 sep 26 sep 25 sep 24 sep 23 sep 22 sep 21 sep 19 sep 18 sep 17 sep 16 sep 15 sep

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Dial 013 for your long-distance calls and get all your money back US CITIZENS Vote for real change. Request your ballot today! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved