Israeli officials, speaking on the first day of the Christian Unity for Israel conference on Monday night, August 26, emphasized that pressure on Iran to stop human rights violations and its military presence in Syria will remain strong.
At the conference, held in Washington, Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations, was one of the speakers. She said that the US will continue to stand with Israel. Ms. Haley urged the international community not to view Israel as a temporary entity.
The 13th annual conference of the Christian Alliance for Israel was held in the US capital on Monday and Tuesday, August 2nd and 3rd, with the participation of thousands of American supporters of Israel.
The Christian Coalition for Israel (CUFI) is considered one of the largest pro-Israel organizations, with millions of American Christians as its members.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participated in the conference via satellite on the first day on Monday, and stressed concerns about pressure on the Christian minority in the Middle East region.
He said: “Christians are being persecuted in Iran. Christian pastors are being imprisoned for years. I think this should be a concern for everyone, and let me be clear, Israel supports Christians in Iran. So why are so many people silent about the imprisonment and torture of Christians in Iran? Let me say that we Israelis will not be silent. And I will not stop emphasizing the long-term suffering of the Iranian people, whether Christians and Baha’is, or students and journalists.”
Christianity is recognized in the Islamic Republic of Iran's constitution, but the US State Department says Christians in Iran are not allowed to pray and are imprisoned for their religious activities.
Ron Dermer, Israel's ambassador to the United States, also emphasized in a speech that Israel will intensify pressure on Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions and its pursuit of hegemony in the region.
"We will not allow Iran to establish a military base in Syria, provide advanced weapons to Hezbollah, and produce precision-guided missiles in Syria or Lebanon," he said.
American pastor John Hagee, founder and president of the Christian Alliance for Israel organization, called on Christian activists at a conference on Monday to urge the American government and lawmakers to support Israelis against Iran.
The most well-received speaker at this gathering, however, was Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations, who is known for defending and supporting Israel against critics.
"Our demand for justice for Israel is in the spirit of peace," Ms. Haley said. "The UN's bias against Israel has long undermined the prospects for peace by fueling the illusion that Israel is going away. Israel is not going anywhere. When the world comes to that understanding, then peace will be possible."
Ms. Haley did not mention Iran in her speech, but the Islamic Republic is the only government whose leaders have repeatedly called for the destruction of Israel.
Source: Voice of America
