Hagee's Week in Israel
Friday, September 9, 2011

Pastor Spoke at Restoring Courage, Met with Israeli Prime Minister, Nigerian Pastor and Palestinian Sheikh

SAN ANTONIO – In late August, Pastor John Hagee, founder and Chairman of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), the nation’s largest pro-Israel organization, helped to kick off Glenn Beck’s Restoring Courage rallies with a keynote speech at the Caesarea amphitheater. Please click here to view Hagee’s speech.

In addition to attending the Restoring Courage events, Hagee participated in several high level meetings during the week.

On Thursday, Hagee met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and introduced the Israeli leader to Pastor Enoch Adeboye, of Nigeria’s Redeemed Christian Church of God. Adeboye is a spiritual leader to millions and was named in 2008 to Newsweek’s list of the most powerful people in the world.

“I have been blessed with the opportunity to address Pastor Adeboye’s conferences – with literally millions of Christians in attendance – on several occasions. As our relationship deepened, I invited him to my home in Texas and we spoke about the Biblical and moral reasons for standing with the Jewish people and the State of Israel,” Hagee said. “The Pastor has warmly embraced Christian Zionism, and I am proud to have had the opportunity to introduce this important new ally to Prime Minister Netanyahu.”

In addition to meeting with Netanyahu and Adeboye, Hagee welcomed Sheikh Abu-Khader Ja'abari of Hebron to his suite in Jerusalem for a meeting facilitated by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin.

“I was very honored to have had the opportunity to meet and speak with Sheikh Ja'abari. The Shiekh, Rabbi Riskin and I spoke for nearly two hours, about the need to reject violence and develop greater tolerance between religious communities. This conversation was illuminating and in many ways inspired my hopes for peace. I pray that is only the first of many such meetings.” Hagee said.

“It is critical that the clergy of the three major religions of the world – Judaism, Christianity and Islam declare together their united belief in a God of love, morality and compassion,” Riskin remarked. He added that “we dare not allow the forces of fanaticism and Jihadism to speak for God and to take over the religious message. Sheikh Ja’abari is an important and refreshing voice in a Religion for Peace. I am proud that my Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation has partnered with the Interfaith Encounter Association, led by Yehuda Stolov, in bringing together Pastor Hagee and Shiekh Ja’abari.”

During Beck’s final restoring Courage event in Jerusalem, David Brog, CUFI’s executive director, read aloud Ja'abari’s letter in support of Beck’s efforts.

“I Sheikh Ja'abari greet you this evening with the courage of a loving friend.  So does my Koran ask me to look upon you and so does my heart and soul feel connected to you. Israel and Moslem are both children of Abraham and we are all children of one God.  May we truly walk arm in arm in peace together and bring our united God, the God of the universe, to the entire world in peace,” the letter concluded.

Christians United for Israel is the largest pro-Israel organization in the United States and one of the leading Christian grassroots movements in the world. CUFI spans all fifty states and reaches millions with its message. Each year CUFI holds hundreds of pro-Israel events in cities around the country. And each July, thousands of pro-Israel Christians gather in Washington, D.C. to participate in the CUFI Washington Summit and make their voices heard in support of Israel and the Jewish people.

CUFI’s mission is to provide a national association through which every pro-Israel church, parachurch organization, ministry or individual in America can speak and act with one voice in support of Israel.