Updated Monday, April 07, 2008

Prominent Jews back controversial Texas pastor

By Michele Chabin

Religion News Service

JERUSALEM - Two influential Israelis defended American evangelical John Hagee on April 4, after the head of the largest group of U.S. Jews called the Texas pastor an "extremist."

Rabbi Benny Elon, a Knesset member and chairman of the Christian Allies Caucus, called Hagee a "man of courage." He also told the Texas pastor, who is traveling in Israel this week, that he's "the right man in the right time in the right place."

On Wednesday, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, blasted Hagee for his opposition to compromise with the Palestinians and his negative comments about other Christian denominations, most notably the Catholic Church.

Yoffie also urged members of his movement's 900 synagogues not to participate in evangelical celebrations of Israel's 60th anniversary next month.

Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, the chief rabbi of Efrat, said Yoffie's remarks were politically motivated.

"Yoffie was unfortunately letting his particular brand of Israeli politics get in the way of seeing a magnificent outpouring of support on the part of the evangelical community," Riskin said.

I've been working with Pastor Hagee a long time and I've never heard him take a philosophical stand on any particular political posture Israel should take," Riskin added.

Hagee is founder of Christians United for Israel, a pro-Israel organization that donates large amounts of money to Israel and Jews around the world.