Speaking in a keynote message at the annual Proclaiming Justice to the Nations’ (PJTN) International Prayer and Dinner Event for Israel held at the World Center in Orlando, Father Gabriel Naddaf of Nazareth encouraged American Christians to stand with Israel against the BDS – boycott, divest and sanction – movement.
He told the capacity audience of hundreds of PJTN watchmen in attendance that “as one of the few surviving Christians in the Middle-East, I praise God daily for the blessing of being able to call myself an Israeli.” He continued by praising the work of PJTN under Laurie Cardoza-Moore’s leadership, which has spearheaded the campaign to pass anti-BDS legislation across the United States stating, “I call upon anyone in any state who has not already passed an anti-BDS resolution to reach out to PJTN.”
Father Gabriel Naddaf is an Israeli Greek Orthodox priest who serves as a judge in Israel’s religious court system. He is one of the founders of the Forum for recruiting Christians in the Israel Defense Forces.
The PJTN event took place at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Convention, the largest annual assembly of Christian broadcasters and media which attracts participants from around the world. At this year’s gathering PJTN showcased their latest documentary, Boycott This! which exposes the lies behind the BDS movement. Father Naddaf, who appears in the film, was invited by producers to educate viewers on the absurdity of those who seek to divest from Israeli businesses who hire Palestinians.
Laurie Cardoza-Moore, President of PJTN, commended Naddaf for his lifetime of uncompromising commitment to the State of Israel by awarding him the distinguished “Ed McAteer Tree of Life Award”. The award is presented annually to a leader or organization that demonstrates an uncompromising commitment in support for the State of Israel. It is given in memory of the late Ed McAteer, an outstanding NRB leader for over 25 years.
Cardoza-Moore told supporters that BDS groups on university campuses worldwide have often used violence to intimidate and harm Jewish and Christian Zionist students and must be stopped with legislation, stating that “when these actions happen on our college campuses in direct contradiction with the civil rights act, we need to shut these groups down.”
She went on to condemn the rising tide of anti-Israel sentiment within the church. “As Evangelical Christians we believe that if God said it, He meant it. But now many Evangelicals are buying into an anti-Israel narrative that is not in the Bible… it is fake theology, like fake news and we must must fight it.”
