British Israel Group
The British Israel Group (BIG) is a pro-Israel advocacy group.
Contents
History
The organisation was founded in 2001 by lawyer Avi Lehrer.[1]
Activities
Israel Advocacy/Training Israel Advocates
According to the BIG website Lehrer founded the organisation because 'He was inspired to harness the knowledge of English-speaking ex Brits living in Israel and give them further training in public diplomacy in the cause of enhancing Israel's image.'[1]
The group has a mailing list and claims to have subscribers to its blog in more than ten countries world wide.[1]
Working with Christian Zionists
According to the organisation's website BIG works with Christian Zionist groups:
'BIG also works with the main pro-Israel Christian organisations offering talks, hospitality in Jewish homes and information to visiting groups.'[1]
In January 2003 the BIG organised a meeting between international Christian Zionist groups and BIG members.[2] More than 75 English speaking Jews and Christians were in attendance at the meeting held at the headquarters of the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem.[2] Representatives of Bridges for Peace, Christian Friends of Israel and the ICEJ were at the meeting.[2] Speakers at the event included Avi Lehrer, founder of the BIG, Bret Stephens, editor in chief of the Jerusalem Post. During his remarks Stephens commented that 'AIPAC (the America Israel Public Affairs Committee) doesn't deliver the votes for Israel... it's the Christian Coalition.'[2] He described Christian supporters of Israel as 'a huge reservoir of support' and stated that the Jewish community would be 'stupid to spurn, [Christian supporters of Israel] especially when we don't have so many friends and allies...'[2]
ICEJ executive director Malcom Hedding also spoke at the event. He remarked that: 'God has been faithful to the Jews and Israel is a fulfilment of God's promise.'[2] Asserting Israel's rights to historic Palestine he commented that: 'No other people have had a 4,000 year engagement with this land'.[2]
"Christian Zionism is not based on an apocalyptic belief system. We'll let God fill out the agenda," Hedding stated. He says that the core of Christian Zionist belief is that everything connected to Israel is based on God's promises. "God has been faithful to the Jews and Israel is a fulfillment of God's promise. Thus, a central tenet is the belief that God did bequeath the land to Abraham. This was in clear contrast to Stephens, who admitted to a level of discomfort with the notion of Jewish choseness and rejection of the idea that Israel's claims to the land are predicated on a deed from Abraham. "We take the word of God seriously," Hedding emphasized.
Israel's legitimacy is also based on historical facts, Hedding continued. "No other people have had a 4,000 year engagement with this land," he asserted. Despite their complete support for Israel, all the Christian organizations operate social assistance programs in the Arab sector since they "recognize the suffering of all peoples in this land." But the main agenda of the Christian Zionists operating here "is to comfort and bless Israel," Hedding said.
Theologically, Hedding says Christian Zionist ideas aren't so different from orthodox Jewish ideas. He told of a discussion with the chief rabbi of Australia (sic), who informed an astonished Hedding: "You know the Messiah is coming and the current conflict heralds that."
To sustained applause, Hedding concluded, "Although we turned up late after centuries of anti-Semitism, we are here now, as your friends."
People
Committee Members circa June 2015
Norman Cohen | Lola Cohen | Andrew Balcombe | Stuart Palmer | Hasja Palemer | Ian Solomon
