Hundreds of Christian supporters of Israel including about 15 pastors from Arab countries in the Middle East as well as Pakistan made a visit to Jerusalem for a prayer confab, in a show of solidarity with the Jewish state.
The trip, which coincides with the first anniversary of the war against Hamas in Gaza and comes at a time of international opprobrium against Israel, highlighted the counter-force of faith-based diplomacy.
The 350-strong delegation attending the 14-day prayer convocation in Israel includes religious and government leaders from 80 countries, including Jordan, Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan, and formerly from Iran, as well as China and throughout Africa.
“We are here to stand in solidarity with Israel and pray for the protection and victory of Israel,” Tom Hess, president of All Nations Convocations Jerusalem, told JNS on Thursday. “These are not regular tourists, they are Joshuas and Calebs, spiritual soldiers in the army of God praying for Israel.”
Israel and Pakistan do not maintain diplomatic relations, and for security reasons the Pakistanis entered Israel on foreign passports.
Many of the delegates had to rebook their flights as airlines canceled flights to Israel due to the escalating tensions with Hezbollah in the north, with some needing to take three or four flights to arrive at the wartime event, which is marking its 30th anniversary.
“This moment underscores the power of faith-based diplomacy grounded in shared values of freedom and liberty,” said MK Sharren Haskel, co-chair of the Knesset’s Christian Allies Caucus, which hosted the group at Israel’s parliament. “It is these principles that will ultimately help us overcome the threat of radical Islam and its violent leadership.”
Josh Reinstein, director of the Knesset’s Christian Allies Caucus, said, “Christians and Jews are coming together around the world in an unprecedented burst of activity. Since October 7, much of the world media has been focused on the enemies of Israel, but in Israel we see millions of our friends rallying for Israel as never before.”
Separately, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem is planning to host 400 visiting Christians next week for the week-long Feast of the Tabernacles, about 10% of the normal numbers for what is generally the capital’s largest tourism event of the year. The evangelical group will visit southern Israel and plant hundreds of red and yellow tulip bulbs in memory of the victims of the Oct. 7 massacre.
