Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with American Evangelical Christian leaders in Washington, DC, July 24, 2024. (Photo: Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO)
In 2018, Michael Oren, Israel’s deputy minister for public diplomacy, told participants of a terrorism and cybersecurity conference that Israel needed to create an “Iron Dome” of diplomacy.
Referring to the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system, which has proven its value multiple times since its deployment in 2011, Oren explained that Israel was facing a highly skilled enemy in the form of “Pro-Palestine” Hamas supporters. He said they were implementing a well-honed diplomatic and media strategy – one aimed at attacking the legitimacy of the Jewish state in the public arena, and that they were utilizing legal attacks, commonly referred to as “lawfare.”
“We are not prepared for diplomatic warfare,” Oren, also a former Israeli ambassador to the U.S., told the attendees. “We need a legal and diplomatic Iron Dome to protect us” from delegitimization and negation of Israel’s right to exist.
Since the start of the 2023 Gaza War, the need for such a “diplomatic Iron Dome” has only increased, as Israel has faced a host of online attacks on social media accusing IDF soldiers and commanders, as well as political leaders, of war crimes. The International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice have also pursued legal action against Israel and its leaders based on lawsuits initiated by anti-Israel groups.
Even before the war, Israeli leaders recognized the immense value of the strong support that Evangelical Christians have often shown towards Israel, based on multiple scriptures from both the Old and New Testaments, speaking of God’s enduring love for Israel and His desire to bless its people and to use them to bless the world.
The Knesset Christian Allies Caucus (KCAC), which was started in 2004 by the late Knesset Member Dr. Yuri Shtern with MKs from several Israeli parties, sought to connect Evangelical leaders with Israeli politicians to mobilize support for Israel and turn popular sentiment into political action.
Shortly after, the Israel Allies Foundation (IAF), founded by Orthodox Rabbi Benny Elon in 2007, was created to achieve a similar goal of mobilizing political support for Israel in governments around the world.
Recently, newly-appointed KCAC co-chair MK Moshe Tur-Paz, and IAF President Joshua Reinstein sat down for an interview with ILTV host Maayan Hoffman to talk about the role of faith-based diplomacy in the future, especially following next month’s inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump for a second term.
Tur-Paz, a member of the centrist Yesh Atid party, led by Yair Lapid, said, “In the past year, we have confronted Iran in ways we never have since the country’s founding,” he asserted.
However, he said that he is encouraged by the steps that Trump has taken in support of Israel since winning the election in November
“We know we may have new challenges ahead, but we have a strong friend in the United States—in Congress and the White House. That’s a big, big thing for Israel,” he told Hoffman.
Reinstein, who also served as director of the KCAC, said he sees good days ahead for Israel because of its Christian allies.
“It’s a new dawn,” Reinstein stated. “And this is thanks to our Christian allies. This is what we’ve been working for over the last 21 years – to mobilize Christians around the world to stand with Israel and create real political action.”
He also expressed hope for significant change with the incoming Trump administration.
“When Trump comes in, he is going to sign a variety of executive orders,” Reinstein commented. “I don’t think you’re going to see any more lawfare like the International Criminal Court. I think you’re going to see the end of UNRWA. You’re going to see Jerusalem embassies opening up one after another.”
Reinstein said he believes Trump’s incoming administration will be “the most pro-Israel administration in the history of American-Israel relations, even more so than the last Trump administration, which was probably Israel’s greatest supporter to date.”
He attributed that to the selection of several pro-Israel Evangelicals to prominent positions, including incoming Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
Reinstein said the work of KCAC and the Israel Allies Foundation is providing the protection that Oren spoke of.
“We’ve basically become the diplomatic Iron Dome of the state of Israel,” he said, noting that both groups have managed to turn “Christian support into real political action through faith-based diplomacy.”
“I think the best is yet to come for faith-based diplomacy,” Reinstein added.
