The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has strongly praised Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), a possible future presidential candidate, for walking out of a Christian conference, organized to condemn the killing of Christians by Muslims in the Middle East and elsewhere, after Cruz was booed by a segment of the audience for standing up for Israel and urging the audience do so as well.
Last night, Senator Cruz, addressing a Washington D.C. gala dinner of In Defense of Christians, a group that aims to raise awareness of Christiana being murdered by Muslims in the Middle East, was booed when he said, “Today, Christians have no greater friend than the Jewish state.” At that point, Senator Cruz (who is to speak and receive an award at the upcoming ZOA Brandeis Award Dinner on November 23 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in NYC), emphatically stated to the crowd:
“Those who hate Israel hate America, and those who hate Jews hate Christians, and if this room will not recognize that, then my heart weeps that the men and women here will not stand in solidarity with Jews and Christians alike who are persecuted by radicals who seek to murder them …. If you hate the Jewish people, you are not reflecting the teachings of Christ, and the very same people who persecute and murder Christians right now, who crucify Christians, who behead children, are the very same people who target and murder Jews for their faith for the same reason … If you will not stand with Israel and the Jews, then I will not stand with you” (Chris Good, ‘Ted Cruz Booed Off Stage at Middle-East Christians’ Group,’ ABC News, September 11, 2014).
Senator Cruz then walked off the stage and out of the building.
ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said, “We strongly applaud Senator Cruz for showing the moral clarity and courage to call out rank anti-Semitism and uncontrolled hatred of the Jewish state of Israel and demonstrating his contempt for it by walking out on the audience that had expressed it.
“It is shocking that a Conference designed to raise awareness of Christian minorities suffering murder and persecution from radical Muslims in the Middle East should have so many hateful anti-Semites who do not want Jews defended from the jihadist violence and terror that threatens their own Christian communities. These anti-Semitic people want Muslims to do to the Jews what they are doing to Christians.
“Unfortunately the very important and moral cause of speaking up and defending Christian minorities in the Middle East is being tarnished by organizations that bring in Israel-haters, including other speakers, who support Israel’s destruction, murdering Jews, while praising terrorists, like Hizballah’s Hasan Nasrallah in Lebanon. Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised when one sees that the Israel-hating Arab American Institute president James Zogby was one of the Conference organizers and sits on the In Defense of Christians advisory committee.
“I have personally met with Senator Cruz many times and I can publicly state that he is a sincere, knowledgeable and unabashed supporter of the Jewish state of Israel.”