Israeli MKs meet Guatemala's Morales, thank him for Jerusalem embassy move

Seven Israeli lawmakers will attend National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C.

By LAHAV HARKOV
Updated: FEBRUARY 9, 2018 12:06
Ilatov L, Morales R (photo credit: Courtesy)
Ilatov L, Morales R
(photo credit: Courtesy)
The Knesset Christian Allies Caucus saluted Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales for his decision to move his country’s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, at an event in Washington D.C. ahead of Thursday’s National Prayer Breakfast.
"Many judge my decision because of my convictions and my faith. But I am proving to them I didn't do it just for that, but I did it because it was the right thing to do," Morales, an Evangelical Christian, said.
Morales received an award from the Israel Allies Foundation at an event Wednesday night.
"From the bottom of my heart, I tell you, I don't feel deserving of an award,” Morales stated. “I'm just trying to do the right thing and allow my God, my people, and history to judge me.”
The Israel Allies Foundation works on faith-based diplomacy and establishing pro-Israel groups in foreign parliaments, in conjunction with the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus, which is a multi-party group of lawmakers aiming to connect MKs and Christian leaders, organizations and political representatives in Israel and abroad.
Knesset Christian Allies Caucus chairman Robert Ilatov, of Yisrael Beytenu, said: “The president and members of his delegation told us that their country has been attacked in the international arena following their support for Israel and decision to move their embassy to Jerusalem.
“I told him that’s only the tip of the iceberg of what we have been experiencing for decades, but despite the difficulties, it is very important to stand with the historic truth and fight for it,” he added.
Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon also attended the event, and tweeted after that “it was an honor to congratulate President Jimmy Morales in person
on his courageous decision to move Guatemala's embassy back to Jerusalem.”
Ilatov also led the Knesset delegation to the annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C.; he was joined by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Michael Oren and MKs Avraham Neguise (Likud), Revital Swid (Zionist Union), Aliza Lavie (Yesh Atid), Yoel Hasson (Zionist Union) and Ksenia Svetlova (Zionist Union).
Neguise expressed enthusiasm about hearing US President Donald Trump speak at the breakfast, calling him “a true friend of the State of Israel.”
The only Jewish representative to speak at the National Prayer Breakfast this year was Simon Wiesenthal Center founder Rabbi Marvin Hier.


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