FORT WORTH, Texas–Israeli and American political and religious leaders have signed a document, "The Jerusalem Accords," calling for the immediate moving of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and committing themselves to promoting Judeo- Christian values and together facing the threat of Islamic terrorism.
The "Accords" were signed at a four-day gathering, the "Enter His Gates Unity Conference," held here over the U.S. Labor Day weekend. Knesset (Parliament) members participating were the co-chairmen of the Christian Allies Caucus (CAC) Yuri Shtern (National Union) and Yair Peretz (Shas) as well as Rabbi Benny Elon (National Union), Gilad Erdan (Likud), Gila Gamliel (Likud) and Eliezer Sandberg (Shinui). Also signing the accords were more than 600 Christian leaders and delegates who belong to various Christian Zionist organizations, which promote the preservation of the biblical territorial sovereignty of the land of Israel.
The delegates and speakers included a number of America's most respected Christian leaders such as Pastors John Hagee, Jack Hayford, Steve Munsey and Bible teacher Kay Arthur.
The "Jerusalem Accords" were penned by MK (Knesset Member) Shtern and Josh Reinstein, an immigrant to Israel from Texas who is director of the CAC. The CAC is a non-partisan parliamentary caucus consisting of 14 members of the Knesset drawn from the seven major Israeli parties.
"Jewish and Christian leaders on both sides of the Atlantic have been taken aback by the confusion they are witnessing among large numbers of their fellow citizens in their attitude to the war on terror," said Reinstein. "Europe's inability to muster the resolve to defend itself against radical Islam is seen as a cautionary tale for America and Israel of what can happen when a loss of faith undermines Judeo-Christian values, the foundation upon which Western civilization is built," he added.
"The rise of radical Islam threatens the Judeo-Christian values and the civilization we share," Shtern said, "and in this conference, we are building an alliance with which Jews and Christians together will face this ominous challenge."
The conference was co-sponsored by the Texas-based "Battalion of Deborah," headed by Christian Zionist activist Jodie Anderson, and a new Christian Zionist organization, Covenant Alliances, which is working closely with Reinstein and the CAC to bring Israel's message to the churches.
Also participating were Sondra Baras of the Christian Friends of Israeli Communities; Esther Levens, director of the National Unity Coalition for Israel; Richard Booker, director of the Institute for Hebraic Christian Studies; Rebecca Brimmer, new director of Bridges for Peace; David Parsons of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem; Christine Darg, director of Women on the Walls; Christian Zionist leader and musician Robert Steams; lecturer/Bible codes author Chuck Missler and Covenant Alliances' Israel-based liaison Pastor David Decker, who has written a book on why Christians should support the rebuilding of the Third Temple.
"This conference proposes that Christians and Jews unite to turn the tide in the battle for the hearts and minds of their peoples and the Biblical values that are the strength of Western societies," said Reinstein. "The Jerusalem Accords formalizes this new and historic alliance."Jerusalem Accord
A common theme at the conference among the Christian leaders was a comparison of the heartaches of the Jewish settlers who were uprooted from Gaza and Samaria and the immediate subsequent devastation and evacuation of the American victims of hurricane Katrina. Some of the evangelical leaders, such as author and conference speaker John McTernan, ventured to say that the hurricane's devastation was a possible divine judgment because of American Road Map policy in the Middle East.There were also key panel discussions including "Strengthening the Relationship between African Americans and Israel," led by Pastor Glen Plummer, and "Advancing the Status of Women Based on Judeo-Christian Values," during which it was announced that a new women's coalition linked to the CAC would put forward biblical values and sponsor conferences for women in the holy land. This new coalition will be headed by Kay Arthur and popular American radio host Janet Parshall along with MK Gamliel.

(Jerusalem Post staff, September 11, 2005)