An evangelical Christian group led by Rev. John Hagee raised $8.5 million for Israeli causes at a fundraising event earlier this week.  Six million dollars will be donated to groups that encourage Jews to make aliyah (immigrate) to Israel, while the rest will be donated to a variety of other causes, including funds to support Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria.

Hagee spoke at the event, warning his listeners that the United States “must never pressure Israel to give up land.”  Giving land to the Palestinian Authority “is tantamount to giving it to the Taliban,” Hagee said.