It is only natural that Israel's most recognized best friends are the Jews of the Diaspora. What is not so well known, yet a fast-growing phenomenon, are Israel's other best friends: American Christians. Recently I attended the Washington, DC conference of the Christian Coalition, to hear what they had to say about American foreign policy, specifically Israel. What I learned was both surprising and unexpected on several counts.

To understand the enormity of what I learned, one must understand the Christian Coalition itself. It is an 'over-group' of various Christian sects and affiliations representing millions of people. It includes various denominations within Christianity, and any and all Christians who have common goals both politically and/or theologically. I even saw a Catholic priest there. The people at the convention itself were, for the most part, the leaders of their churches or movements, so that each person potentially represented hundreds if not thousands of Christians. The conference itself, I was told, had about 700 registrants from all over the country, representing a voter bloc of millions.

The conference took place over several days and had at least (by my count) over 40 senators and congresspersons speaking at various times. The purpose of the conference was to outline the united goals of American Christians, especially in the political arena, as well as to teach leadership and administrative skills.

This conference was such an important event in the world arena that many countries had sent media representatives. I cannot tell you all of them, but I myself encountered a film crew from the BBC making a documentary on Christianity in America, CNN, C-Span, Al-Jazeera, some interviewer from Swiss radio, and some media from Canada. There were many more, judging by the number of cameras and microphones, but I never had a chance to ask them who they were or who they represented (I was too busy tripping over TV cables and dodging fixed microphones). In other words, this was a very big deal, especially in light of the fact that US presidential elections were about five weeks away.

Time and again, speaker after speaker, they all discussed family values, getting out the vote, pending legislation regarding the rules surrounding the tax-exempt status of religious institutions, and all received applause and an occasional standing ovation. But on the second day that I was there, the subject turned to Israel.

When the president of the Christian Coalition of America, Roberta Combs, gave an introductory speech about the topic of Israel, she stated that the Christian Coalition wholly supported Israel as a safe, secure and undivided country. This brought not just a standing ovation, but enthusiastic cheers and shouts of "Amen!" that were much more boisterous than any I had heard during the rest of the conference. Ms. Combs said that for too long the Christians had neglected the plight of tiny Israel in her battle for survival against those devoted to her destruction. But no more. Thunderous applause, yet again and yet again, a standing ovation.

Speaking about the plight of Israel and the Israelis, as well as the Holy Land's future, was Jodie Anderson, who heads an international Jewish and Christian group of Zionist women called the Battalion of Deborah. This organization is dedicated to preserving Jewish and Christian holy places, archeological digs and historic sites. It is also dedicated to helping the Jewish people living in Israel who suffer under the daily barrage of murderous terrorist attacks. Battalion of Deborah builds bulletproof playgrounds for the children living in the towns of Judea, Samaria and Gaza, so hilltop snipers cannot explode their heads with their murderous and genocidal attacks.

Battalion of Deborah also petitions both the US and Israeli governments regarding many issues, including:

A. Reestablishing the right of Jews to lead prayer and pray on the Temple Mount, in sovereign possession of the holy site, eternally.

B. Maintaining the Biblical territorial integrity of modern Israel and for the speedy, G-dly accomplishment of the Israeli Commonwealth within 'Greater Israel', an Israel comprised of its original, Torah-delineated territorial boundaries.

C. Retaining by the State of Israel complete possession and control of Samaria, Judea, Gaza and the Golan.

D. Rejection of the international proposition of a hostile Palestinian state on Israeli Biblical territory.

E. Canceling the Wye/Oslo agreements and all subsequent agreements and stopping the trade of Eretz Yisrael, the Biblical land, for "peace", which ultimately threatens the sovereignty and existence of the State of Israel.

Then there is the 'Roadmap to Israel's Destruction', formally known as the Roadmap. As I will discuss later, this is a tricky subject for the Christian Coalition, but one thing is certain: they deplore anything that will divide the land of Israel or give over any Jewish or Christian holy sites, historical places, landmarks or archaeological digs to the Arabs and Islamists. The 'Roadmap' does all of these things. Therefore, the Christian Coalition of America is wholly supporting legislation that would preserve these sites.

This legislation is sponsored by Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina, co-sponsored by 39 other members of Congress and designated H. Con. Res. 150. It is legislation dedicated to the protection and free access to holy sites around the world, but specifically mentions Israel. Here is the meat of it regarding Israel:

(1) Holy sites around the world, particularly in the Israeli and Palestinian region, should be protected from desecration and any other violation;

(2) The freedom of access of members of the various religions to the holy sites sacred to them should not be hindered;

(3) To assure the safety of American citizens, the holy sites currently under the sovereignty of the State of Israel should remain under Israeli protection, and that all holy sites in the region remain open to visitors of all faiths;

Similar legislation has been sponsored by Senator Graham of South Carolina and presented to the 108th Congress under the designation S. Con. Res. 32.

Also present at the Christian Coalition convention was Global Israel Alliance, which is yet another coalition of Jews and Christians dedicated to the preservation of a whole and united Israel. Global Israel Alliance too, is vehemently against the creation of an Arab/Islamist state in the heart of the Holy Land. Global Israel Alliance is sponsoring a referendum to be delivered to Congress and the White House telling them that their voting public abhors the 'Roadmap', which would divide the Holy land, expel Jews from their aboriginal and only homeland and give it over to those who actively promote the genocide of the Hebrew people. To view the thinking behind this referendum and to vote (very important!), go to the Global Israel Alliance website.

This Israel referendum presents some individuals with a temporary dilemma. In speaking to some of the conference attendees, they wholly support the referendum, but are torn about doing anything during this run-up to elections that would go against President Bush, who has been pushing the 'Roadmap.' However, once he is voted in for a second term, look for these same people to actively oppose the 'Roadmap.' They are and will continue to work to save Israel as a whole and complete country, undivided by international appeasement to terror and Islamist goals towards the destruction of the Jewish State.

Judging from the enthusiasm and sheer numbers, Israel never had a better friend than the Christian Coalition of America. It's nice to know that we, the Jews of Israel and the Diaspora, are not alone.