Posted on 09/10/2004 10:38:39 AM PDT by yonif
After countless complaints from Foreign Ministry officials about Israeli politicians thronging New York City and Washington DC at the expense of the rest of America, one MK has taken the message to heart.
National Union MK Benny Elon completed a three week long tour of America's heartland on Friday, meeting Christian pastors, broadcasters, and Congressmen and thousands of ordinary folks in Indiana and Illinois.
The goal of the trip was to mobilize and organize grass roots support from American Christians to support Israel's continued control of Judea and Samaria and oppose Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan.
"I tried to reach as many people as possible and teach them that Judea and Samaria are part of Israel's biblical heartland," Elon said. "I asked them to tell their leaders that Beit El, Shilo, Hebron, and Nablus remaining in Israeli hands is as much an American Christian grassroots issue as family values and opposing abortion."
In the past, Sharon scolded Elon for speaking against the government's policies abroad while he was still tourism minister, but now that he is an opposition MK, Elon has been lobbying against the disengagement plan unencumbered. Elon even inaugurated an organization with an office in Washington called 'Heartland to Heartland' to lobby Christians in the US.
"This will give Israel a basis of friendship in the US beyond the six million Jews," Elon said. "It is crucial for us to have the support of dozens of millions of Christian Americans and not just Jewish pressure groups."
Elon met with large groups of Christians twice a day during the three-week tour, which would have lasted two more weeks if not for the birth of a new grandson in Israel. Elon outlined for his listeners his alternative diplomatic plan, which calls for Israel to keep hold of Judea and Samaria and give Palestinians Jordanian citizenship.
He also attended the Republican convention in New York and met dozens of Congressmen and politicians. Not leaving out the Jews, Elon also addressed the influential Chicago Rabbinical Council and spent Shabbat with the Jewish community of Skokie, IL. Sharon's associates were angered when they heard of Elon's tour.
"I believe that anyone who represents Israel abroad has to speak in Israel's national interests," a senior Sharon associate said. "Whether he is a formal ambassador or not, he has to represent the state of Israel. I don't think this is the proper way to do it."
Rabbi Benny Elon gets it.
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He sure does get it--heard him and met him about 6 months ago. I would love to see a new coalition between he and Beni Begin!
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