Hundreds of Italian Christians pray for Schalit in Naples

Service led by MK David Rotem, head of Knesset’s Christian Allies Caucus while in Italy to sign pact with new pro-Israel caucus.

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Schalit video 248.88 (photo credit: )
Schalit video 248.88
(photo credit: )
NAPLES – More than 600 Christian supporters of Israel packed the Naples Pentecostal Church in Italy’s third largest city on Thursday night, praying for the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Schalit.
The prayer was led by Israel Beiteinu MK David Rotem, who heads the Knesset’s Christian Allies Caucus.
Rotem was in Italy to sign a pact with a new pro-Israel caucus in the Italian parliament. His delegation included Deputy Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Orit Noked (Labor), Knesset Christian Allies Caucus director Josh Reinstein and former tourism minister Benny Elon, who is president of the International Israel Allies Caucus Foundation.
“Israel is facing difficult times and Islamic fundamentalists who want to push us into the sea, but we won’t let them and you won’t let them,” Rotem told those present at the church service.
Elon quoted many biblical verses to prove that Israel is the fulfillment of prophecy and encouraged the crowd of Evangelicals to spread pro-Israel messages to all branches of Christianity.
“As we witness the threat of radical Islam, it is no small coincidence that Jews and Christians are coming together in the place where they parted ways 2,000 years ago,” added Reinstein. “If we stand together, we shall prevail and Christians and Jews will enjoy the blessings of God together.”
Giuseppe Platania, who will direct the new Italian-Israel AlliesCaucus, told the crowd that Christianity was the grafted branch of thetree of Israel. He said the Catholic Church declared that it wanted toseparate from the tree, but now it was imperative for the Church to begrafted back to its roots.
“We want all Christians to forget our differences and speak in oneunited voice blessing Israel, and we will do everything possible tomake that happen,” Platania said.