Richard Melson

April 2006

CUFI

http://www.cufi.org

Christians United For Israel (C.U.F.I.)

(210)477-4714

PO BOX 1307

San Antonio, TX 78295-1307

info@cufi.org

The purpose of Christians United For Israel (C.U.F.I.) is to provide a national association through which every pro-Israel church, Para-church organization, ministry or individual in America can speak and act with one voice in support of Israel in matters related to Biblical issues.

"The Lord answered me and said: 'Write the vision, And make it plain on tablets. That he may run who reads it.'"

Habakkuk 2:2

Christians United For Israel

Rapid Response Update
April 3, 2006

NEWSFLASH FROM NEW YORK CITY!

This past Wednesday, Diana and I flew to New York City to meet with Malcolm Hoenlein, President Of Conference Of Presidents Of Major American Jewish Organizations, and those he had invited for lunch.

Those who came to lunch were the major leaders of the Jewish Community in North America.

The purpose of the lunch was to explain the purpose and objectives of Christians United For Israel. After speaking for approximately 20 minutes the floor was opened for questions, which I answered for about an hour. The questions were fair and penetrating.

The good news is that the meeting was extremely positive. Christians do not know the concerns, fears, past hurts and mixed emotions the Jewish people have toward Christians. Believe me, they have historical reasons to question our motives.

Following the two-hour luncheon, Diana and I with Steve Sorensen went downtown to visit the Ambassador Counsel General of Israel, Arye Mekel.

We explained to him in full who we were and what our agenda for CUFI was. When we told him of our Regional Directors, he was delighted to hear Dr. Stearn was the New York Director.

Diana and I with Steve Sorensen returned to Texas that night which was an 18-hour day. We are making great progress and we must stay focused.

First, we need as many State Directors in place as soon as possible.

Secondly, focus on getting the people in your region, states and cities to Washington D.C. on July 18-19. Everyone...and I mean everyone is watching to see how many people we will be able to get to Washington.

I would like for every Regional Director to have as a personal goal 150 people from his region. If you go over...great! If we have a weak showing we will have the appearance of being another tempest in a teapot.

Blessings to each of you as you work for the Lord and make Jerusalem the praise of all the earth.

Most Sincerely,

Dr. John C. Hagee

National Chairman

Christians United For Israel

C.U.F.I. Rapid Response Update for Monday, April 3, 2006

Christians United For Israel cufi@cufi.org

Monday, April 3, 2006

John Hagee:

New lobby's activities will be a 'political earthquake.' (Archive)

John Hagee

New Christian pro-Israel lobby aims to be stronger than AIPAC

By Shlomo Shamir

NEW YORK - Televangelist John Hagee told Jewish community leaders over the weekend that the 40 million evangelical Christians in the United States support Israel and that he plans to utilize this power to help Israel by launching a Christian pro-Israel lobby.

Hagee - the founder and senior pastor of the evangelical Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, that claims an active membership of more than 18,000 - said the lobby's activities would be a "political earthquake."

In his meeting with Mekel, Hagee said he planned to establish an effective network of key activists across the United States who can be reached within 24 hours if necessary for emergency lobbying efforts. He said he has already appointed 12 regional directors who are to be responsible for lobby activities in their areas and that he plans to appoint representatives in every state and major city.

Hagee also said he would head a delegation of 500 evangelicals slated to visit Israel this summer.

"The evangelical population's support of Israel is very important," said Mekel yesterday.

The Israeli ambassador to the United States, Danny Ayalon, responded in a similar fashion while discussing the new lobby in February.

"We see Christians in the United States as true friends and important supporters on the basis of shared values, and we welcome their efforts to strengthen the ties between Israel and the U.S.," Ayalon said at the time.

Anti-Defamation League director Abe Foxman was a bit more cautious. He said Hagee's project should be welcomed, but added that Jews and Israelis should be both respectful and wary. Foxman noted that Hagee told the Conference of Presidents that evangelicals support Israel from a biblical perspective, but did not explain exactly what he meant.

Rabbi James Rudin, author of "The Baptizing of America: The Religious Right's Plans for the Rest of Us," said Sunday that Hagee - one of 20 evangelical leaders who met with Ariel Sharon during his last trip to Washington - has been known for many years as an enthusiastic advocate of Israel, and is a typical right-wing Christian supporter of the country.

Some 400 Christian community leaders met in San Antonio in February to establish the lobby. Other than Hagee, its leaders include evangelist George Morrison; fundamentalist Baptist minister Jerry Falwell; and Gary Bauer, president of the American Values organization aimed at protecting marriage, family and faith. All are well-known supporters of Israel, and considered hawkish

The lobby is slated to launch in July, during a Washington conference in which hundreds of American evangelicals are slated to participate, Hagee said at a meeting of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, which represents 52 national Jewish groups. He also discussed the lobby with Israel's consul general in New York, Aryeh Mekel.

Hagee said his group would be a Christian - and more powerful - version of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a large pro-Israel lobby, and would target senators and congressmen on Capitol Hill. A quarter of congressmen are evangelicals, and many American legislators represent regions that include a large evangelical population, he said.

CUFI

April 3, 2006