On Monday, Israel’s new Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid, met with Nikki Haley, former UN Ambassador for the US under the Trump Administration, and Pastor John Hagee, founder and leader of Christians United for Israel, an influential pro-Israel Christian Zionist organization, 10 million members strong.
Lapid—the architect of the new government—is serving first as the foreign minister, while Naftali Bennett is starting as prime minister. With Christian evangelicals numbering 600 million worldwide and antisemitism on the rise globally, the continued support of this community on the foreign stage seems to be a priority for the new administration.
Lapid signaled the importance of the meeting with Haley and Hagee, sending a tweet and photo of the trio to his followers. “I met with Pastor John Hagee and Nikki Haley and thanked them for their unwavering support for the State of Israel. The relationship between our countries is based on a deep bond and vital shared interests.”
Lapid also said to an assembled group of diplomats and staff, “The fact that we are supported by Evangelical groups and other groups in America is important and heartwarming.”
In addition to Hagee and Haley’s visit and pledge of continued support for Israel, many prominent Evangelical leaders have sent letters and statements of support. The list includes Gordon Robertson, president of the Christian Broadcasting Network, Troy Miller, CEO of National Religious Broadcasters, Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, Michael Little, former president of CBN, Susan Michael, USA Director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, Robert Stearns, president of Eagle Wings, among many others. Politicians, such as former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee, and former US Representative Michelle Bachmann.
