JERUSALEM – The World Jewish Congress (WJC) and Knesset Christian Allies Caucus (KCAC) on Thursday honored Christian leaders Rep. Alan Clemmons and Christine Darg for their steadfast commitment to the State of Israel, as part of the 12th annual Night to Honor our Christian Allies, at the Waldorf Astoria in Jerusalem, in the presence of government officials and Knesset members from across the political spectrum. This year’s event was co-sponsored this year by Israel 365, and featured a keynote address by US Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman.
“Israel is grateful to our Christian friends around the world for their passionate and unwavering support for the Jewish State and the Jewish People. They have stood with us in good times and bad. When Israel is vilified and Jews are targeted, we know that we can always count on them—just as they know that the imperiled Christians in the Middle East have no better friends than the people of Israel,” said WJC-Israel Chairman, Gad Ariely.
The Knesset Christian Allies Caucus/World Jewish Congress “Night to Honor our Christian Allies” Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Clemmons, an eight-term American legislator serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives. Since 2011, Clemmons has distinguished himself as a foremost US policymaker working to support Israel. Currently, 25 American states have passed pro–Israel legislation and key public policy initiatives that began on his desk, and trillions of dollars have been regulated against the BDS movement as a result. His recent efforts include authoring and spearheading the Israel Plank of the Republican Platform, which set the stage for US President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the relocation of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
“It has been my great honor to lead the policy efforts of the tens of millions of pro-Israel Americans who stand with you as a matter of faith and principle. What I can promise with certainty is that our support for Israel’s wellbeing is of overwhelming concern, and will never be sold out or abandoned. We stand with Israel proudly, now and always,” said Clemmons.
The Knesset Christian Allies Caucus, together with the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, also presented the “Night to Honor our Christian Allies” Tourism Award to Christine Darg, founder of Exploits Ministry and co-founder of the media ministry Jerusalem Channel. Darg’s Exploits Ministry has been bringing Christian groups to Israel at least three times a year for over two decades. As a friend and supporter of Israel, Christine has aided the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus in strengthening the bonds between the State of Israel and Christians around the world by bringing them to the Land. She is an award-winning journalist and author of a number of books including: The Wounded Lover, Speak to the Mountain, and Signs and Wonders in the Muslim World.
“The Church has a divine mandate to pray that God will fulfill Israel’s calling and destiny. Already Israel is a beacon of democracy and stability. Israel is a shining light of hope for both her neighbourhood and the world,” said Darg.
US Ambassador David Friedman delivered the keynote address of the evening, praising President Donald Trump for recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and stressing that it has taken 70 years for a US president to do so. He also said that the audience that Trump was the first sitting president to visit the Western Wall.
Other speakers included Knesset Christian Allies Caucus (KCAC) Chairman MK Robert Ilatov; World Jewish Congress-Israel Executive committee Member Moshe Leshem; KCAC Director Josh Reinstein; Bridges for Peace International President and CEO Rebecca Brimmer; and Pastor Naim Khoury.
About the World Jewish Congress and the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus
The World Jewish Congress (WJC) is the international organization representing Jewish communities in 100 countries to governments, parliaments, and international organizations. WJC-Israel is the affiliate in the region. The KCAC is a multi-partisan caucus comprising 19 Knesset members, initially established in 2004 by the late Dr. Yuri Shtern. The caucus aims to forge direct lines of communication between Knesset members and Christian leaders and organizations, and political representatives in Israel and throughout the world. There are 36 Israel Allies Caucuses in governments worldwide, maintained by coordinated efforts of the Israel Allies Foundation.
