Christian Friends of Israeli Communities

Christian Friends of Israeli Communities (CFOIC) is a Christian Zionist organisation that supports illegal settlement in the occupied territories:

CFOIC Heartland enables Christians to connect with the Jewish communities (settlements) in the heart of Biblical Israel. Judea and Samaria (the “West Bank”) is not occupied territory. It is the birthplace of the Jewish people.

According to the CFOIC website the organisation was launched in the wake of the Oslo accords in 1995:

Christian Friends of Israeli Communities (CFOIC Heartland) was established in 1995. as a Christian response to the Oslo Peace Accords in 1993. Christians around the world were deeply troubled by Israel’s major territorial concessions and felt compelled to stand with the people of Judea and Samaria.

Biblical Right

CFOIC believes that historic Palestine belongs to the Jewish people on the basis of biblical prophecy:

The Biblical region of Judea and Samaria was given to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants, forever, 4000 years ago. Because of sin, disobedience and lack of belief, most Jews were driven from the land around 70 AD. However, there were always some Jews living in the Land and Jews around the world have prayed to God three times a day, each day, to return His people to Zion. The prophets foretold the ingathering of the exiles and the rebuilding of the Land in the latter days. (Ezekiel 36, Amos 9 to mention a few). In 1948, Israel was reborn as a sovereign nation and in 1967 the “West Bank” was reunited with the rest of the nation in the prophetic, miraculous Six Day War. Although Jordan occupied Judea and Samaria for 19 years and Egypt occupied the Gaza Strip during the same period, there was never any attempt to form a Palestinian State at this time. The land remained barren until the Jews returned to cultivate it. This is truly the fulfillment of prophecy.

Oslo Accords

The CFOIC website describes the launching of the organisation following the signing of the Oslo Accords:

In 1993 and again in 1995, Israel transferred significant territory to the Palestinian Authority, in accordance with the Oslo Accords. Israel entered into this so-called peace process in the hopes that territorial withdrawal would ultimately bring peace and prosperity to an area that has known so much killing and bloodshed. Many political and religious leaders, however, warned that the withdrawals ran counter to God’s plan for the Jewish nation and would only weaken Israel in future confrontations with her enemies. Christian Friends of Israeli Communities (CFOIC) was established in 1995 in response to the Oslo Process. Christians around the world were deeply troubled by Israel’s major territorial concessions and felt drawn to the people that stood on the forefront of Israel’s territorial battle – the people of Judea and Samaria. CFOIC provided a much-needed vehicle for Christians to become better informed about events in Israel, particularly with regard to the Jewish communities in the heartland of Biblical Israel, to visit these areas and become personally connected to the people living there, and to provide practical support for vital community needs.

Settlements

CFOIC has provided assistance to the following settlements in the occupied West Bank:

Beit Hagai, Yair Farm, Hemdat, Ma'ale Efrayim, Karnei Shomron, Kokhav Ya'akov, Mitzpe Dani, Halamish (Neveh Tzuf) Ofra, Shadmot Mehola, Shani-Livne, Yitav, Alon, Mateh Binyamin, Gevaot, Karnei Shomron, Nofei Nehemia, Rechelim, Sde Boaz, Yakir, Bat Ayin, Beit Yatir, Gush Etzion, Kfar Adumim, Masua, Nokdim, Tomer, Nofei Prat, Immanuel, Barkan, Har Brakha, Netiv HaGdud, Fazael, Elazar, Kedumim, Susya, Naama, Ma'ale Levona, Rimonim

It has also supported numerous projects in the Jordan Valley and has provided assistance to what it describes as 'refugees' from abandoned settlements in the Gaza strip such as Gush Katif.

In an article for Corporate Watch, Tom Anderson and Therezia Cooper suggested that the projects chosen by the charity, especially those in the Jordan Valley, may be undertaken for strategic purposes:

Reading through the list of projects the charity is currently fundraising for, it becomes obvious that a lot of them are chosen for strategic reasons. For instance, there are a growing number of projects instigated in the Jordan Valley which is an area under threat of ethnic cleansing by the Israeli military. Whilst their projects in the valley might sound harmless enough – they include petting zoos, gyms and youth clubs – the aims are not. In the pitch for donations to the Argaman youth centre the charity states that “Argaman, like many of the Jordan Valley communities, is vital in securing Israel’s eastern border”.

Finances and Funding

Prior to December 2010 CFOIC received some funding from the UK based World Action Ministries (WAM). The organisation severed its connections with CFOIC after the latter's activities in the occupied territories was brought to the attention of WAM. Reportedly CFOIC received £35,397 via WAM. CFOIC now receives its UK donations via Stewardship Services (UKET) an evangelical Christian charity based in Essex. In spite of CFOIC not itself being a registered UK charity it is possible to claim Gift Aid by donating through Stewardship Services.

Revenue and Assets of Christian Friends of Israeli Communities in $
	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	Total 2008-2012
Total Revenue	138,764	176,194	196,465	333,977	409,316	491,332	1,354,454	816,343	707,975	907,942	623,620	6,156,382
Net Assets	9,144	22,157	16,665	37,854	29,311	29,149	19,470	38,769	23,669	50,845	136,027	413,060

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People

Directors (circa 2013)

Margy Pezdirtz (President) | Sondra Oster Baras (Vice President) | Ray Sanders (Board Member) | Patricia Skewes (Board Member) | Bart Nuboer (Board Member) | Kimberly W. Troup (Secretary and Treasurer)

Contact

Addresses Circa 2015:

CFOIC Heartland – Israel International Headquarters

P.O. Box 752

Ginot Shomron,

Karnei Shomron

Israel

Tel. / Fax: 972-9-792-0958

e-mail: sondra@cfoic.com

CFOIC Heartland – U.S. North American Headquarters

P.O. Box 50833

Colorado Springs,

CO 80949

USA

Tel: 800-647-3344

Fax: 719-683-2041

e-mail: kim@cfoic.com

CFOIC Heartland – Germany Christliche Freunde Israelischer Siedlungen

Tubizer Str. 20

D- 70825 Korntal-Muenchingen

Germany

Tel: 0711-8386393

Fax: 0711-8386339

e-mail: cfis.deutschland@web.de

CFOIC Heartland – Holland

Marktplein 6

Oldemarkt 8357 AZ,

Nederland

Tel: (0) 561-451905

Fax: (0) 33-2460412

e-mail: swan@fampoot.com

General email: info@cfoic.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CFOIC

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CFOIC

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/cfoic