Page 3 - CUFI Update - Summer 2021

Concern for the younger generation.
A recent survey of young Evangelical Christians aged between 18-29 revealed some shocking results. The survey for 2021 showed just 33.6% of young Christians said they sided with Israel, while 25.7% sided with the Palestinians and 42.2% were neutral.
The reason this is shocking is because it is such a dramatic shift from previous years.
A similar survey in 2018 of the same demographic found that a massive 69% of young Christians supported Israel, with just 5.6% supporting the Palestinians and 25.7% supporting neither side.
That means support for Israel among young Christians has dropped by over half in just three years while support for Palestinians has increased over 350%!
Young Christians are having their faith challenged in the public square in far greater ways than previous generations. Christianity is far less prevalent in places such as schools or on television. Christians are
routinely locked and belittled on social media where many young people spend their times. Celebrities use these platforms to speak to their millions of followers and are highly influential to the younger generation.
Additionally, we have seen a decline in sound Biblical teaching within churches which this survey’s results also reflect. A majority of these young Christians, 65%, say they “never or rarely” hear about Israel in church. And just 12% hear about Israel weekly.
Now, this survey was taken in America. With our work on the ground here in the UK, we believe that the number of churches teaching about Israel in the UK is likely even lower than this.
Zionism is a large part of our Christians faith and, whether it is through fear or ignorance, churches are failing to teach this important message. And so, when young Christians encounter the large anti-Israel movement that exists in the world, they have no Biblical foundation on the issue to discern how God views this issue.
Over 50,000 sign CUFI petition
calling for Britain to recognise Jerusalem
Thank you to all those who have signed the CUFI-UK petition so far calling upon the British Government to officially recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the UK embassy. We’re pleased to announce that more than 50,000 people have now signed!
The petition challenges the shocking bias from the UK Government against Israel regarding Jerusalem, highlighting
the double standard that exists by situating the UK Embassy to Israel in Tel Aviv, yet having a UK Consulate to the Palestinians in Jerusalem.
Executive Director of CUFI-UK, Des Starritt, says, “As Christians, we believe that we should make a stand for Israel, even in the midst of such biased opposition. We are convinced that recognising Jerusalem, the biblical capital for the Jewish people for over 3,000 years, is the right thing to do.”
The reality is that Jerusalem is already the capital of Israel. It has been the capital for the Jewish people for over 3,000 years and for the State of Israel for 73 years. It is where Israel has chosen to place its government and parliament and where British government ministers gather on official visits. And, as Israel’s capital, it is the only capital city in the Middle East where all peoples can live with full religious freedom under Israeli law. This will not change.
Go to www.cufi.org.uk/jerusalem to access the petition.
CUFI calls for Britain
to withdraw from
Durban IV conference
We are calling upon the British government to withdraw from the Durban IV conference planned for September.
The infamous World Conference against Racism held in Durban in 2001 was overshadowed by notoriously trying to define Zionism as racism. The UN General Assembly plans to hold a 20th anniversary commemoration of the Durban conference in New York in September where world leaders will be asked to call for the “full and effective implementation” of the 2001 Durban Declaration.
The United States, Canada and Australia have already announced they are boycotting the event. CUFI strongly believes the UK should do likewise.
The 2001 event involved hatred, anti-Semitism and criticism of Israel that was excessive, disproportionate and unfair. Copies of anti-Semitic propaganda, including The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, were reportedly distributed at the parallel NGO conference and Jewish representatives were harassed. It was here that the ‘apartheid’ slur against Israel originated.
In 2011, former Prime Minister David Cameron said the 2001 conference in Durban “saw open displays of unpleasant and deplorable anti-Semitism.” He said it would be “wrong to commemorate those displays,” adding, ”Indeed, they should be condemned.”
Please take a few moments to send an email to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab calling for Britain to pull out.
Go to www.cufi.org.uk/Durban for our suggested wording.