Visiting US legislator to MKs: Reject occupation lie
"The door of truth is in fact more open today than ever before, particularly in the US, the very wellspring of international policy-making on Israel."
By GIL HOFFMANUpdated: FEBRUARY 18, 2018 05:52South Carolina State Rep. Alan Clemmons receives a lifetime achievement award from the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus and World Jewish Congress. Pictured from left: Colonel Moshe Leshem, MK Yehudah Glick, MK Robert Ilatov, caucus director Josh Reinstein, Clemmons, MKs Hilik Bar and Anat Berko, WJC(photo credit: GIL HOFFMAN)
The Knesset should officially and explicitly reject the lie of occupation, and should do so as soon as possible, South Carolina state Rep. Alan Clemmons told 10 MKs at the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus’s Night to Honor Our Christian Allies, held at Jerusalem’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Thursday night.The caucus and the World Jewish Congress gave a lifetime achievement award to Clemmons, who drafted the first bill prohibiting boycotting, divesting from and sanctioning Israel.Clemmons’s bill was the model for legislation that has passed in 25 US states.US Ambassador David Friedman attended the event and praised Clemmons for his service to the US and his help to Israel.Clemmons told the crowd, “Friedman worked at my side in representing President Trump as we prepared and offered the most pro-Israel American political party platform in the history of the allied nations of Israel and the United States of America.“As an American who deeply cares about Israel, I take great comfort, and no little pride, in knowing that the interests of the United States of America are being well represented in Israel by a mensch,” Clemmons said.Clemmons said the Republican Party platform they wrote together, which was unanimously adopted on the floor of the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, led to President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s eternal capital and will lead to the relocation of America’s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem in 2019. He asked to explain to the crowd what he said was the view of America’s pro-Israel majority.“We believe that like the US, the modern State of Israel, is a country born from the aspiration for freedom, and standing out among the nations as a beacon of democracy and humanity,” he said. “Our relationship extends well beyond our mutual strategic interests. Israel is an exceptional country that shares America’s most essential values.”Turning to the MKs, he asked to reassure them that America seeks only to support Israel in solving its challenges, as it sees fit in its own judgment.“Do not be afraid,” he told them. “By doing so yourselves, you can expect that your friends and allies will more-effectively protect you from the lie of occupation and modern antisemitism. Do not believe those pessimists who wish to argue that such a bold policy statement is not prudent. The door of truth is in fact more open today than ever before, particularly in the US, the very wellspring of international policy-making on Israel.”Additionally, the caucus, together with the Tourism Ministry, presented award-winning journalist and author Christine Darg with the “Night to Honor our Christian Allies” Tourism Award. Darg is the founder of Exploits Ministry and the co-founder of the media ministry Jerusalem Channel. Darg’s Exploits Ministry has been bringing Christian groups to Israel at least three times a year for more than two decades.Josh Reinstein, director of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus, said, “It is people like Representative Alan Clemmons and Christiane Darg that are leading this new wave of independent and fervent support, the likes of which have never seen before.“Faith-based diplomacy has changed Israel’s international standing forever,” Reinstein said.The event was co-sponsored by Israel365, which works to build relations between Jews in Israel and Christian Zionists. Speakers at the event included MKs Nachman Shai (Zionist Union), Yehudah Glick (Likud) and the caucus’s chairman, Robert Ilatov (Yisrael Beytenu).
