By Jerusalem Newswire Editorial Staff
Oct 08, 2004
A group of 50 Christian Zionists from North America, Europe and South Africa joined with thousands of Israelis Thursday night to stand in solidarity with the embattled residents of the western Negev and the Jewish settlers of Gaza.
The event was the annual Simhat Torah celebration wrapping up the Sukkot holiday, but much more than the Jews’ passionate love for the Word of God was on the agenda.
The gathered multitude - which included observant Jews from all areas of the country - danced with joy in the center of the oft-targeted town of Sderot, and erupted with applause when attending politicians labeled the town and the nearby Gaza settlements as signs of Israeli faith, strength and resolve.
“We are gathered here to say not Kassams, not terror attacks… not Amalek, not Haman, no one will ever move us,” shouted Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal.
Under the banner of the International Christian Zionist Center, the Christian group had spent the previous 36 hours enjoying a quiet Shabbat with the Jews of southern Gaza, before traveling with them to Sderot.
Their leader, Jan Willem van der Hoeven, told the gathering that the group had come to “stand with you in the name of all Christian Zionists.”
Many of the Israelis in attendance seemed genuinely overcome with emotion to realize that foreigners from the West had come to Sderot to declare their support for the Jews’ right to settle the Gaza Strip and all areas deeded to them by the Almighty.
One North American-born Israeli soldier told the group over and over:“You guys are amazing!”