As part of the ICEJ-UK branch’s conference season, we just held meetings in Edinburgh and Glasgow, the principal cities of Scotland, in hopes of countering the worrying anti-Israel atmosphere in the country. Until recently, the first minister in the Scottish parliament was Hamza Yusuf, a Muslim of Pakistani heritage, married to a woman of Palestinian descent. The Scottish parliament takes an anti-Israel position in general, and Scotland’s Jewish community keeps a low profile.
Thus, we felt this was the right time to raise the ICEJ’s profile within both the Christian and Jewish communities. To this end, we held our Christian conference in a church in Edinburgh and, through God-appointed connections, met the following day in a beautiful ancient synagogue in Glasgow.
Our keynote speaker at both events was Liz Hirsh Naftali, a Jewish lady who has become a major international advocate for the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. Her great-niece, Abigail, was the young three-year-old child kidnapped by Hamas after they had murdered her father and mother. The story literally reduced people to tears.
We have a wonderful UK worship team called Sisu (meaning ‘rejoice’ in Hebrew), and we were blessed by anointed music all weekend.
In Edinburgh, our UK prayer coordinators, Gordon and Karen Beattie, asked me if I realised there were so many nations represented in our gathering. People came because they had heard of ICEJ and our godly reputation worldwide. We invited the people to pray for their own nation and for Israel.
With prayers offered by believers from the UK, Paraguay, China, Ukraine, Poland and France, plus others representing Estonia, Nigeria, the West Indies and America, it was indeed an INTERNATIONAL Christian Embassy meeting.
The following day, we held a joint meeting with Glasgow Friends of Israel in the Garnethill synagogue. Liz spoke movingly about the hostages. The Jewish people were amazed at the video on our aid projects and all that ICEJ stands for.
“As chair of Glasgow Friends of Israel, I would like to extend my warmest thanks to ICEJ and everyone involved in this most wonderful event,” Jewish community leader Sammy Stein said afterwards. “The presence of ICEJ in Glasgow was immensely welcome and deeply meaningful to our Jewish community. I would like to express my gratitude for ICEJ‘s support for the right of the Jewish people to self-determination, and for Israel’s right to exist in peace and security.”
“It was a delight to welcome ICEJ to our synagogue in Glasgow for the ‘Standing Together’ programme. Thank you for the opportunity to work with such a fine organisation. We look forward to future events,” added local host Susan Siegel.
Australian Christians Fearless in Defence of Israel
By Sarah Way, ICEJ-Australia National Director
Countless Australians are appalled by the sharp rise in antisemitic incidents threatening the social cohesion for which our nation was once renowned. According to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, antisemitic incidents surged over 300 per cent in September 2024 compared to the same period last year. This alarming trend continues, marked by the recent arson attack on Melbourne’s oldest synagogue and the targeting of a Jewish-owned restaurant by pro-Palestinian protestors.
Last week’s torching of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation was the second synagogue attack in Melbourne in recent months, following last year’s horrific arson of the Adass Israel Synagogue. Jewish schools, daycare centres, homes, and students on campuses have also faced threats and intimidation. It is unacceptable that Jewish Australians feel unsafe to gather, worship, or study in a democratic, multicultural nation.
As National Director of the Australian branch of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ), I issued a press statement condemning these latest antisemitic attacks and now extend this message of solidarity from Australian Christians to our Israeli friends.
These attacks reflect the impact of anti-Israel misinformation spreading through our media, education system, and public discourse. They reveal that the hatred is not about Israeli policies, but a resurgence of classic antisemitism – where anti-Zionism acts as a modern fig leaf for age-old hatred.
We have urged national leaders to act decisively. This issue demands more than just arresting perpetrators – it requires changes across society: media integrity, targeted education, and leaders who take real action to protect Jewish Australians.
The violence and vitriol we are witnessing stem from unchecked attitudes that intensified following the Hamas massacres of October 7, 2023. Weekly pro-Palestinian protests in our cities have normalized hateful rhetoric, including genocidal chants and Nazi comparisons, sending a dangerous signal of societal tolerance.
In response, the ICEJ and other Christian Zionist organisations have stood publicly with Israel and the Jewish community, participated in rallies, spoken to the media, and supported the relaunch of the Australia-Israel Allies Caucus in Parliament. We have sent messages of solidarity and advocated for stronger antisemitism policies through media statements, government engagement, and university liaison.
ICEJ-Australia will join the Combatting Antisemitism Movement’s Mayoral Summit in Queensland and soon launch a Young Ambassadors Program to equip future Christian leaders to counter antisemitism.
Australians once proudly served in the ANZAC Corps, securing victories such as Beersheba in 1917 that helped pave the way for the Balfour Declaration. At the 100-year reenactment of that famous battle in 2017, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated:
“This great charge opened the gateway for the Jewish people to re-enter the stage of history. Without the Light Horsemen’s involvement, it is doubtful if there would be a modern-day Israel.”
Today, many Australians, including scores of evangelical Christians, are determined to restore our nation’s reputation as fearless defenders of Israel.
