Debate on Beck Rages – ‘A Unique Gentile Who Loves Israel’

Glenn Beck is a “unique Gentile” who loves Israel and Jews, a leading nationalist says in response to charges that his supporters are missionaries.
“This hysterical rant is embarrassing and potentially damaging to Israel. True friends for Israel is not common in our history or in current times,” said David Ha’Ivri, head of the Shomron (Samaria) Liaison Office after former Jerusalem councilwoman Mina Fenton’s criticism of Beck appeared in Arutz Sheva.
Beck is holding a massive “Restoring Courage” rally at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Davidson Visitors Center, adjacent to the Western Wall. An overflow rally will be held simultaneously at Safra Square, home to Jerusalem’s city hall and several hundred feet from the popular Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall in downtown Jerusalem.
Fenton charged, “Holding a Christian event near the southern wall will help in strengthening the Christian ‘Returning to Zion’ project that any Christian organization that respects itself initiates. They actually say that this area belongs to them.”
Ha’Ivri, who said he will attend the rally, was incensed at Fenton's remarks.
“This hysterical rant is embarrassing and potentially damaging to Israel,” he said. “True friends for Israel are not common in our history or in current times. Glenn Beck is one of those unique gentiles who appreciates the Jewish people and our national, historical and theological goals.
“His agenda is out in the open and very clear: he wishes us well as the Jewish people preserving our Torah culture on our Holyland.
“To assault Beck for his unconditional love for Israel would be comical if it weren't so sad.”
Ha’Ivri told Arutz Sheva Tuesday that Beck is not a missionary. “I also have no problems with Christian contributions to Israel so long as there are no strings attached,” Ha’Ivri continued.
The American-born spokesman said any person, whether in religion, business or society in general, may have hidden motives but cannot be judged without evidence.
“I think we, as Jews, have to be a little wise and not make the connection” between being Christian and being a missionary. These people believe whatever they believe. The fact that they are Christians does not mean they are missionaries.”
Ha’Ivri added that righteous Gentiles saved thousands of Jews during the Holocaust. Ha'Ivri admitted that many of them acted to convert Jews, but he pointed out that many did not. They, nor Christians who love Israel, cannot be judged as a group, he concluded.
Former MK Benny Elon (National Union), who created the Israel-Christian caucus in the Knesset to deepen and coordinate the support for Israel evidenced by Christian Evangelists, previously has criticzed Fenton's stand against Chrsitian Zionists.
In an interview with Arutz Sheva two years ago, when Fenton came out against him personally, he said that Israel needs all the friends it can get and since the evangelists are a large voting body in the United States, it is a blessing that they support Judea and Samaria as part of Israel. Having Christian friends doesn't mean accepting their religion, he remarked. When told that the evangelists are supporting Israel so that they can convert the Jews during the "Second Coming" of Jesus, he said with a smile, " We will deal with that when it happens."