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Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was booed off stage at the “In Defense of Christians” conference in Washington D.C. last Wednesday for defending Israel and the Jewish people.
A group began to interrupt the senator when he stated, “Those who hate Israel hate America. Those who hate Jews hate Christians.”
Cruz continued to deliver his speech, stating, “If this room will not recognize that, then my heart weeps. That the men and women here will not stand in solidarity with Jews and Christians alike who are persecuted by radicals who seek to persecute them.”
As the interruption and boos continued, Cruz stated, “If you hate the Jewish people you are not reflecting the teachings of Christ. And the very same people who persecute and murder Christians right now, who crucify Christians and behead children, are the same very same people who target and murder Jews for their faith for the same reason.”
The senator waited patiently for quiet despite constant interruption and ended his speech saying, “I will say this- I am saddened to say that some here, not everyone, but some are so consumed with hate that you cannot address your brother. I will say this- if you will not stand with Israel and the Jews, then I will not stand with you.”
In a statement following the incident, Sen. Cruz addressed the “shameful display of bigotry and hatred” on a night dedicated and intended to be a “night of unity.” Cruz stated that a “vocal and angry minority of attendees at the conference tried to shout down my expression of solidarity with Israel… they cannot shout down the truth.”
Amir Tsarfati, a Jewish Christian, is the founder and president of Behold Israel, a news site to correct the scarcity in trustworthy reportage on issues and events impacting Israel, and to resolve the uncertainty about who or what to believe.