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Israeli FM: Evangelical support ‘more vital than ever’

“The Jewish state stands at a pivotal moment defending its place in the region,” Gideon Sa’ar told a visiting delegation of evangelical leaders.

Evangelical leaders from Africa tour the Knesset in Jerusalem during a visit to Israel. Credit: Dudu Koren
Evangelical leaders from Africa tour the Knesset in Jerusalem during a visit to Israel. Credit: Dudu Koren

Evangelical Christian support for Israel is “more vital than ever” amid widespread misinformation and disinformation about the Jewish state and a global wave of antisemitism, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said this week.

“The Jewish state stands at a pivotal moment defending its place in the region and around the world amid a rising anti-Israel and antisemitic wave,” Sa’ar told a visiting delegation of evangelical leaders from 18 countries.

The gathering, which was organized by the New York-based Eagles’ Wings with some 140 participants, including a prominent group of Brazilian women influencers and delegates from across Europe and Africa, coincided with a separate delegation of some 1,000 American pastors in the largest such group ever to come to Israel.

“If we do not act now, Israel risks losing the historic and consequential support of Christians who have long championed the Jewish state on the global stage,” said Bishop Robert Stearns, founder and executive director of Eagles’ Wings.

During their visit, the evangelical leaders met senior government officials, toured the Knesset and discussed the regional persecution of minorities with the head of the Druze community in Israel.

Etgar Lefkovits, an award-winning international journalist, is an Israel correspondent and a feature news writer for JNS. A native of Chicago, he has two decades of experience in journalism, having served as Jerusalem correspondent in one of the world’s most demanding positions. He is currently based in Tel Aviv.
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