Page 4 - CUFI Update - Autumn 2016

DES STARRITT
Executive Director, CUFI UK
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Over the last few months we have seen a string of political attacks on Israel. Whilst not new, it is
crucially important that we confront this hatred and challenge the lies. Indeed, we believe that Christians United for Israel has been formed for such a time as this to mobilise Christians, to raise awareness and make our voices heard.
The United Nations is not a new place for anti-Israel rhetoric. A er all, it was 31 years ago this month that the UN adopted a resolution that labelled “Zionism as a form of racism”. This anti-Semitic resolution was revoked in 1991 and is widely seen as an historic mistake by the UN.
Despite this resolution being overwhelmingly revoked more than 25 years ago, anti-Israel activists and Palestinian leaders still declare that Zionism is racism “because the UN said so”. The damaging e ects of these unwise decisions can be long lasting.
In October we saw UNESCO, the UN body that exists to protect historical and cultural sites, do exactly the opposite when they passed a resolution that denied more than 3,000 years of Jewish history to their most holy site. To deny the Biblical roots of the Temple Mount not only goes against facts, logic and reason; it is at its core anti- Semitic. As Christians, we should be equally outraged that the Judeo-Christian links to Jerusalem are being undermined.
In the final vote of the dra resolution, 24 countries voted in favour of the resolution, six countries against the resolution (including the UK and USA) and 27 countries abstained. This is a clear example of how the words of Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel were so true when he said, “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.”
The day a er the vote a video emerged of a Palestinian leader using the outcome of this resolution to incite violence against Israel. He spoke to a large audience with President Mahmoud Abbas sat in the front row and told them that Jews had been lying this whole time, that Palestinians are the only ones with a right to Jerusalem and that the Palestinians will not share any of the land with Israel... because UNESCO said so.
It doesn’t matter that this vote went against historical fact, that the majority of countries abstained or that the head of UNESCO opposed the resolution. The only thing that matters is that UNESCO, which many see as representing the world, has confirmed the lies Palestinians have been taught since birth; that the Jews stole their land.
We have already seen a number of attempted knife attacks on Israelis since this resolution passed. This is why these resolutions are so dangerous, because innocent lives are at risk. This is why we must never remain silent in the face of evil.
In recent weeks our supporters have shown that they are not afraid to speak out. We are proud of the actions that CUFI UK supporters, like you, have taken when you have signed our petitions, contacted your MP and returned postcards for Boris Johnson. We have seen thousands of people support our campaigns in a short space of time and we are encouraged and truly grateful.
We ask that you continue keeping us in prayer as we work to turn the tide in this nation. And if you have not partnered with us already, please prayerfully consider supporting CUFI UK with a monthly donation to help further our work. Together, we really can make a di erence for Zion’s sake.
With every blessing, Des Starritt
RAISING OUR VOICES FOR ISRAEL
CHRISTIANS UNITED FOR ISRAEL - UK
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