Christians for Israel International

Not to be confused with Christians United for Israel or Christian Friends of Israel
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Christians for Israel International is a Christian Zionist organisation and the international wing of the Netherlands-based Christians for Israel. The organisation was founded in 1998 by the Dutch, American, Canadian and German affiliates of Christians for Israel.'History Christians for Israel ', Christians for Israel International Website, accessed 26 May September 2015 It is a registered non-profit (Dutch Chamber of Comerce No. 32070120).Christians for Israel International Website Governance. Accessed 26 May 2015. 
The organisation claims to have 'affiliates, partners and representatives in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, India, Indonesia, Italy, Israel, Kenya, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pacific Islands, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia and Former Soviet Union, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, South Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America and Zambia.Christians for Israel International Website Movement Christians for Israel International. Accessed 26 May 2015.
The organisation's website provides the following mission statement:
:Our mission is to bring Biblical understanding in the Church and among the nations concerning God's purposes for Israel and to promote comfort of Israel through prayer and action.
:Our vision is to establish a global network of Christians having local impact, for the blessing of the nation of Israel, the Jewish people and the church.
:Our strategy is to equip Christians in the nations to understand God’s purposes with the Jewish people and the nation of Israel, and to stand in the gap between Israel and the Church.Christians for Israel International Website Movement Christians for Israel International. Accessed 26 May 2015.
==Projects and Activities==
===Aliyah===
CFII engages in efforts to facilitate Jewish migration to Israel. According to the CFII website, working in collaboration with the Jewish Agency for Israel and other Christian Zionist organisations, it has facilitated the migration of 100,000 Jews since 1996.Christians for Israel International Website Help the Jews come home - ALIYAH. Accessed 26 May 2015.
It describes this work as 'fulfillment of biblical prophecy'.Christians for Israel International Website Help the Jews come home - ALIYAH. Accessed 26 May 2015. It also works with the United Israel Appeal. It's main centre of aliyah operations appears to be in Ukraine. 
Christians for Israel International Website Help the Jews come home - ALIYAH. Accessed 26 May 2015.
In 2004 CFII began a 'strategic alliance' with the Ebenezer Emergency Fund International a Christian Zionist organisation based in the UK. 
Christians for Israel International Website Help the Jews come home - ALIYAH. Accessed 26 May 2015.
===Supporting Occupation===
In September 2011 it was reported that in advance of Palestinian diplomatic efforts at the UN Christians for Israel International, together with the European Coalition for Israel were to hold a join protest on September 13 at The Hague and September 19 in Brussels.Michael Freund, 'European Christians mobilize to support Israel', Jerusalem Post, 11 September 2011, accessed 27 May 2015. The stated aim of the demonstrations was 'to defend Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the Jewish state of Israel.'Michael Freund, 'European Christians mobilize to support Israel', Jerusalem Post, 11 September 2011, accessed 27 May 2015. Andrew Tucker, executive director of CFII declared that:
:As Christians, we feel it is our task to be obedient to God, and to warn the nations to respect God's sovereignty... We simply cannot remain silent while the nations are planning to give Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria to Israel's enemies.Michael Freund, 'European Christians mobilize to support Israel', Jerusalem Post, 11 September 2011, accessed 27 May 2015. 
It was also reported that the two organisations had published a series of articles in English, German and Dutch arguing for Israel's rights to occupy all of historic Palestine on a website called Why Israel (www.whyisrael.org).Michael Freund, 'European Christians mobilize to support Israel', Jerusalem Post, 11 September 2011, accessed 27 May 2015. The same month it was reported that the German affiliate of Christians for Israel had produced a declaration in support of Israel signed by 40,000 people.Michael Freund, 'European Christians mobilize to support Israel', Jerusalem Post, 11 September 2011, accessed 27 May 2015. 
===Support for Israeli Settlements===
Through Christian Friends of Israeli Communities the CFII supports activities that bolster illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories.Christians for Israel International Website Christians for Israel helps the Jews at home. Accessed 26 May 2015.
===Opposing Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions===
The group campaigned against the Dutch pensions firm PGGM after it divested from Israeli companies as well as several supermarket chains that had reportedly boycotted produce from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.Cnaan Lipshiz, 'Interfaith Dutch volunteers defend Israel on social media80 people work in two 14-hour shifts each day in the ‘situation room’ to fight on the second front of Operation Protective Edge', The Times of Israel, 1 August 2014, accessed 27 May 2015 
===Operation Protective Edge===
In 2014, during Israel's attack on Gaza (Operation Protective Edge) CFII launched an appeal to raise $500,000 for use in southern Israel. Amongst other assistance the funds would be used purchase food parcels for IDF personnel.Christians for Israel International Website Christians for Israel helps the Jews at home. Accessed 26 May 2015.
During the conflict the CFII established an office staffed by 50 Dutch citizens in Tel Aviv for promoting the Israeli government's narrative on social media platforms:
:The volunteers at the Buitenveldert situation room began working last week out of the the cafeteria of the local Jewish Cultural Center, which they converted into a space where 80 people can work in two 14-hour shifts each day. The volunteers have created hundreds of posts and articles on Israel, which they disseminate through the Holland4Israel Facebook group and on Twitter, among other social media.
:“The idea is to empower pro-Israel advocates who used to work out of their student apartments by giving them a community framework, interaction and facilities,” said Ron Eisenmann, a former community leader from Amsterdam who spearheaded the project with Rabbi Yanki Jacobs, director of the Dutch branch of the Chabad on Campus network, and Christians for Israel, an international network of Christian Zionists.Cnaan Lipshiz, 'Interfaith Dutch volunteers defend Israel on social media80 people work in two 14-hour shifts each day in the ‘situation room’ to fight on the second front of Operation Protective Edge', The Times of Israel, 1 August 2014, accessed 27 May 2015
===Israeli Advocacy in the FSU===
CFII has sought to propagate Zionist views amongst the Christian population of the former Soviet Union. According to the coordinators of CFII's programme in the FSU:
:Christians in the FSU have an enormous hunger for the truth. They like to read, but there is little teaching available about God’s relationship with the Jewish people and His plans with the nation of Israel. That is why we have translated the book “Why Israel?” into Russian and Ukrainian. Now we are actively developing a Russian-language newspaper that seeks to put the current affairs around Israel in Biblical perspective.'Help your fellow Christians to discover God’s purposes for Israel...', Christians for Israel International Website, accessed 26 May September 2015
==='Global Prayer Call Study Tour'===
The CFII organises what it describes as 'study tours' of Israel.Christians for Israel International Website Global Prayer Call Study Tour 10-18 May 2015. Accessed 26 May 2015. The tours include attendance at the Global Prayer Call Conference in Jerusalem.Christians for Israel International Website Global Prayer Call Study Tour 10-18 May 2015. Accessed 26 May 2015. The most recent tour took place from 10-18 May 2015.Christians for Israel International Website Global Prayer Call Study Tour 10-18 May 2015. Accessed 26 May 2015. Attendees at the event included Willem J. J. Glashouwer, Tomas Sandell, Markus Ernst, Harald Eckert, Andrew Tucker, Rick Ridings, George Annadorai, Benjamin Berger, Pete Stucken, Drake Kanaabo, and Conrado Lumahan.Christians for Israel International Website Global Prayer Call Study Tour 10-18 May 2015. Accessed 26 May 2015.
===Visiting Israel===
In December 2011 it was reported that the South Sudanese affiliate of Christians for Israel International had organised tours from South Sudan to Israel for March, April and October of 2012. One of the organisers described the purpose of the trips as being 'to connect South Sudanese with Israel through holy land study tour and praying for Israel and Jerusalem.'Staff, 'South Sudan; Christian Pilgrims to Visit Israel in March', Africa News, 22 December 2011, accessed 27 May 2015. In its 2013 annual report CFII stated that in partnership with the Keshet Centre for Educational Tourism and other organisations it had organised 25 tours of Israel in the course of 2013 with some 700 participants.Christians for Israel International Website Christians for Israel International Annual Report 2013. Accessed 28 May 2015. 
===European Coalition for Israel===
Reportedly CFI was one of the organisations which founded the European Coalition for Israel.'Speech Andrew Tucker in Geneva: Gilad Shalit as symbol of Israel', whyisrael.org, accessed 27 May, 2009. 
===Philanthropy===
CFII supports a number of ostensibly philanthropic projects through the Hineni Foundation and the Jaffa Institute.Christians for Israel International Website Christians for Israel helps the Jews at home. Accessed 26 May 2015.
===Publishing===
The organisation publishes a newspaper called Israel and Christians Today. In 2011 it was reported that the publication had more than 200,000 subscribers.Michael Freund, 'Time for faith-based diplomacy ', Jerusalem Post, 7 January 2011, accessed 27 May 2015. The newspaper is published in Dutch, English, German and Bahasa.Christians for Israel International Website Christians for Israel International Annual Report 2013. Accessed 28 May 2015. The Dutch version is distributed in the Netherlands, Belgium and Surinam.Christians for Israel International Website Christians for Israel International Annual Report 2013. Accessed 28 May 2015. The German version in Germany and Austria.Christians for Israel International Website Christians for Israel International Annual Report 2013. Accessed 28 May 2015. The English version in the UK, mainland Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Uganda, Nigeria and the United States.Christians for Israel International Website Christians for Israel International Annual Report 2013. Accessed 28 May 2015. The Bahasa version is distributed in Indonesia.Christians for Israel International Website Christians for Israel International Annual Report 2013. Accessed 28 May 2015.
===Biennial Forum===
CFII hosts a week-long biennial Forum for the organisation's international leadership in Jerusalem. The fourth such event was held in Jerusalem in March 2013. More than 80 members of the CFII leadership were in attendance at the Kibbutz Hotel Ramat Rachel in Jerusalem.Christians for Israel International Website Christians for Israel International Annual Report 2013. Accessed 28 May 2015.
===Restoration Work===
The organisation has spend $500,000 in restoring the Monteriore Windmill in Jerusalem. The windmill came under Israeli control following its occupation of East Jerusalem and the West Bank in 1967.Christians for Israel International Website Christians for Israel International Annual Report 2013. Accessed 28 May 2015. The opening of the newly restored mill was attended by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2012.Christians for Israel International Website Christians for Israel International Annual Report 2013. Accessed 28 May 2015. 
===Assistance to Other Organisations===
In 2013 CFII provided assistance to the following organisations:
*Jaffa Project
*Rama House of Love and Peace
*Savyon Educational Centre
*S’de Bar – youth
*Hineni
*First Baptist Church Bethlehem
*Christian Friends of Israeli Communities (CFOIC)
*Jerusalem Foundation – Kiryat HayoveChristians for Israel International Website Christians for Israel International Annual Report 2013. Accessed 28 May 2015. 
==Views==
===The Second Coming===
As a Christian Zionist movement the CFII believe that the establishment of Israel and conflict in the Middle East portends the second coming of Christ:
:We are living in momentous days. The Jewish people are coming home to the land. Collapse of the Israel/Palestinian
:peace talks. The nations of the world in conflict. Rise of extreme Islam. Demise of the US and rise of
:other global superpowers. Financial, environmental and energy crises, confusion in Europe. Rise of humanist
:secularism, and collapse of institutional churches. The Gospel of the Kingdom being preached in many nations
:and languages.
:Jesus said – learn the lesson of the fig tree. Heed the signs of His coming. Keep watch and pray... the return of the Jewish people which we are witnessing today is fulfilment of Biblical prophecy, in preparation for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Israel, the coming of Jesus Messiah and the establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth...Christians for Israel International Website Christians for Israel International Annual Report 2013. Accessed 28 May 2015.
===Refugees===
CFII do not accept Israeli responsibility for causing Palestinians to flee what is now the state of Israel in 1949:
:Just before and during the Independence War (1948-1949) many Palestinian Arabs - about 650,000 people in total – fled the land. These were different groups of Arabs, each with their own reason to leave the country. The great-mufti of Jerusalem, who collaborated with the Nazi’s and the governments of the Arab countries, incited many Palestine Arabs to abandon Israel and to go to the Arab neighbors. The refugee problem was and still is very complex, and is remains a major issue in the negotiations for peace.'Israel 1917-present', Christians for Israel International Website, accessed 26 May September 2015
An article by Jonathan S. Tobin hosted on the American CFII website also denies Israeli responsibility for the refugee problem:
:The Palestinian refugees, whose exit from the country was caused more by a general fear of the war sweeping over the land than by any action on the part of the Israelis...'Top Ten Myths about the Middle East Conflict', Christians for Israel International Website, accessed 26 May September 2015
Another article hosted on the site, authored by Steven Plaut, accuses Arabs (without providing sources) from neighbouring countries of masquerading as Palestinian refugees:
:Hundreds of thousands of Arabs from other Arab countries then declared themselves “Palestinian refugees” in order to get handouts from the UN and other international relief organizations.Christians for Israel International Website The 14 Lies Blocking Peace in the Middle East. Accessed 26 May 2015.
===Settlements===
The organisation describes the international community's designation of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories as illegal as 'a lie'.Christians for Israel International Website Nine Common Myths about Israel. Accessed 26 May 2015.
===Muslim Brotherhood===
CFII describes the Muslim Brotherhood as an organisation bent on world domination:
:The Brotherhood`s goal is to turn the world into an Islamist empire. The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928, is a revolutionary fundamentalist movement to restore the caliphate and strict shariah (Islamist) law in Muslim lands and, ultimately, the world.Christians for Israel International Website Who Is The Muslim Brotherhood?. Accessed 26 May 2015.
CFII also alleges that the Brotherhood was allied with Nazi Germany.
===Israeli Arabs===
The CFII America website provides material claiming that Israeli Arabs are unusually well-treated by Israel:
:Israeli Arabs are quite simply the best-treated political minority in the Middle East and are in some ways better treated than are minority groups in many European countries.Christians for Israel International Website The 14 Lies Blocking Peace in the Middle East. Accessed 26 May 2015.
===International Committee of the Red Cross===
CFII has accused the ICRC of corruption and accused the ICRC of changing international law by applying the Fourth Geneva Convention to the Occupied Territories.Christians for Israel International Website Nine Common Myths about Israel. Accessed 26 May 2015.
===Palestinian Statehood===
The organisation denies Palestinians right to self-determination and questions the existence of a Palestinian people (a common trope of Zionist organisations) and compared Arab concern over Palestinian refugees with Nazi Germany's utilisation of the ethnic Germans of the Sudetenland in its aggression against Czechoslovakia:
Palestinians are not a “people” at all and do not consider themselves such... The Arab world invented the “Palestinian people” so that it would serve the same role as the Sudeten Germans did in the late 1930s.Christians for Israel International Website Nine Common Myths about Israel. Accessed 26 May 2015. Christians for Israel International Website The 14 Lies Blocking Peace in the Middle East. Accessed 26 May 2015. 
==Funding and Finances==
In 2014 CFII's total revenue from donations, sales of 'educational material' and dues from its affiliates amounted to €429,000. Total disbursements amounted to €411,000.Christians for Israel International Website Christians for Israel International Annual Report 2013. Accessed 28 May 2015.
The Dutch affiliate received €4,694,000, substantially more than the German affiliate which received €1,101,000.Christians for Israel International Website Christians for Israel International Annual Report 2013. Accessed 28 May 2015. The international affiliates raised a total of €6,121,000 in donations.Christians for Israel International Website Christians for Israel International Annual Report 2013. Accessed 28 May 2015. 
==People==
Rev. Willem J. J. Glashouwer (President) Harald Eckert (Chairman) Andrew Tucker (Executive Director)
===Board Members circa May 2015===
Bert Fluit | Pim van der Hoff | Drake Kanaabo | Leon Meijer
==Branches==
Christians for Israel India | Christians For Israel Philippines | Christians for Israel Singapore | Christians for Israel Uganda | Christians People for Israel Nigeria | Christians for Israel Sierra Leone | Christians for Israel Zambia | Christians for Israel USA c4israel.us | Cristãos por Israel Brazil | Christen an der Seite Israels Österreich israelaktuell.at | Christenen voor Israël België VZW christenenvoorisrael.nl | Kristne for Israel c4israel.dk | Christen an der Seite Israels e.V. – Deutschland israelaktuell.de | Christians for Israel Greece c4israel.org/c4i/Greece | Cristiani per Israele – Italia c4israel.it | Christenen voor Israël christenenvoorisrael.nl | Christen an der Seite Israels Schweiz israelaktuell.ch | Christians for Israel Ukraine | Christians for Israel UK | Christians for Israel Australia c4israel.com.au | Christians for Israel Fiji c4israelfiji.org | Christians for Israel New Zealand c4israel.org.nz
==Contact==
Address circa 2015
:Head office: 
:Christians for Israel International
:P.O. Box 1100
:3860 BC Nijkerk
:Netherlands
:Tel: +31 33 24 588 24 
:Fax: +31 33 246 3644
Email: info@c4israel.org
Website: http://www.c4israel.org/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/C4Israel
==Notes==
Category:IsraelCategory:Zionist movement NetherlandsCategory:Christian Zionists