CPTnet
ORLANDO FL: Worshipers Celebrate Israel, Forget Palestinians
by David Hiebert
May 14, 1998

Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida=97Ecstatic worship and=
lots
of preaching were two features of the programming that greeted seven Cpters
who attended the "Israel's Jubilee: 50 years in the land" celebration here
April 29-May 3. The team came together to call attention to a part of
Israel's statehood which did not get much attention from the Christian
Alliance for Israel, which organized the gathering. Agenda planners forgot
the Palestinians.=20

Several of the Cpters approached conference planners to ask for a few
minutes from the platform to call attention to this issue, but were not
given a hearing, and were not put on the program.=20
>From their literature table, sandwiched in with 200 other merchandizers,
tour leaders and mission organizations, the CPT team passed out literature
on the concept of CPT and the "Pledge by Christians to our Jewish
Neighbors." The one-on-one dialogue served the conference very well.
According to Marilyn Miller, CPT delegate from Boulder, CO, "there was a
steady flow of people walking past and stopping to pick up CPT literature.
Many of them took time to dialogue with CPT members."=20

Israeli and biblical symbolism abounded among the 8,000 who registered for
this gathering of Christian Zionists. Shofars (trumpets made from animal
horns), Star of David tambourines and neo-Hebrew clothing styles were
evident in all public sessions and in the vendors booths. The government of
Israel sponsored a free breakfast for clergy who might bring a tour group to
the Bible lands. Throughout one speech by Sid Roth, an Israeli flag waved
behind him.=20

Speakers at the conference showed unequivocal support for the state of
Israel. General Shimon Erem, retired from the Israeli Defense Forces, used
the symbolism of the Bible in one hand and a gun in the other to show how
Christians should act in the world. Dancers lead worshipers with "The
Millennial Reign" and re-enacted a short history of the modern state of
Israel, including the 1967 Six Day War, when Israel occupied the Golan
Heights, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.=20

Theologically, the conference goers included many who took the Bible
seriously and literally. Some of the passages that were quoted many times
included God's promise in Genesis 26:3 to Abraham that "to you and to your
descendants I will give all these lands." The most quoted verse, however,
came from Genesis 12:3: I will bless those who bless you, and the one who
curses you I will curse." (The last phrase of the verse "and in you all the
families of the earth shall be blessed" escaped unquoted.)=20

As evidence that this Scripture is still being fulfilled, a speaker noted
that President Clinton insulted Israeli Prime Minister Netenyahu one day by
making him wait ten minutes. The next day, Clinton's relationship with
Monica Lewinski was exposed.=20

Amy Babcock Sellers, CPT delegate, Pittsburgh, PA noted that "Not
recognizing the difference between the state of Israel and the Israel of the
Bible allows atrocities to happen in the name of God, as if it carries out
God's purpose. Christian Zionists here claim that a lack of support for the
political entity of the state of Israel is anti-Semitic and anti-God. If
this is true, justice becomes a politician's pawn. It does not care about
people. It is not life-giving. It serves the empire and it gives privilege
to those in power."=20

Why was important to have a CPT presence in this gathering? One commitment
of CPT is to stand where the bullets are flying, but without arms. CPTer
Cliff Kindy, North Manchester, IN observed that the Christian Right are
major players in Mid East politics. Israel gets more U.S. military and
foreign aid than any other country. (see some specifics on this aid at
http://www.fas.org/asmp/profiles/israel_armstable.htm). CPT's presence with
the Zionists could give new perspectives for use in Hebron and other
conflict ridden areas. However, Harold A. Penner, a CPT delegate, Akron, PA
is inclined to "shake the dust off his feet" and not look back. In spite of
the attempt to bring the Palestinian agenda to light, conference planners
claim that over 5,000 FAXes supporting Israel's hard stand against "U.S.
coercion of Israel" were sent by conference participants.=20

Delegation Participants included:
Amy Babcock-Sellers, Pittsburgh, PA
Harold A. Penner, Akron, PA
David Hiebert, Scottdale, PA
Marilyn Miller, Boulder, CO
Bob Carlsten, Denver, CO
Linda Hardesty, Boulder, CO
Cliff Kindy, North Manchester, IN