President Reuven Rivlin. (Hadas Parush/Flash90) (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
Reuven Rivlin

President Rivlin underlined how Israel’s history has mobilized powerful movements around the world and stressed the importance of the Jewish people’s return to Zion.

President Reuven Rivlin addressed on Tuesday evening the 36th Annual Tabernacles Festival of the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, attended by 5,000 Christian visitors to Jerusalem from 85 countries, among them around 50 ministers and members of parliaments, from around the world, who are members of the International Israel Allies Caucus Foundation.

Rivlin welcomed the visitors to Jerusalem, Israel’s capital, and stressed the importance of the Jewish people’s return to Zion, both in ancient and modern times, as an inspiration to all peoples.

“What an inspiration,” he declared, “was the return from exile in Babylon for the Jewish pioneers of the 19th century [who returned to Israel], and indeed for the 17th century pioneers fleeing European persecution, seeking freedom in the New World [who came to America], and eventually founding ‘One nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all’.”

Rivlin, a scion of a famous Jerusalem family, shared with the gathering his family’s personal story of their arrival in Jerusalem over 200 years ago.

He thanked the visitors for their support, and for coming from around the world, and said, “Thank you for standing with us.”

Pioneered by former Member of Knesset Rabbi Binyamin Elon in 2004, the Israel Allies Foundation (IAF) works with the US Congress and parliaments around the world to mobilize political support for Israel.

The lawmakers attending the conference came from countries around the world, including Britain, Italy, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Greece, Hungary, Czech Republic, Greece, Finland, Canada, South Africa, Uganda, Guatemala, Uruguay, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay.

By: United with Israel Staff