The World Council of Churches criticized on Wednesday the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, which is hosting its second Christian Zionist Congress from April 10 to 14.
The council’s statement was written by Gabriel Habib, secretary general of the Middle East Council of Churches.
It expressed concern that the presence at the congress of 7,000 to 10,000 Western Christians to support Israeli policies would be detrimental to the Christian presence in the region.
The congress will be part of Israel’s 40th anniversary celebrations.
The embassy was opened in 1980 in response to the withdrawal of all foreign embassies after Israel formally proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital.
One of its founders and spokesmen, Dutch-born Jan Willem van der Hoeven, said the term “Christian Zionism” was adopted to affirm God’s covenant with the Jews and their return to Zion. He said Christian support of Israel’s right to exist is based on the Bible and will remain constant regardless of circumstances.
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