Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, events have been banned at Israel’s usually bustling Knesset building in Jerusalem, and the parliamentary halls have stood largely empty.
However, last week, a group of about 40 Jewish and Christian visitors arrived for a special day of interfaith prayer organized by the team behind the annual Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast. It was the first event held in the Knesset since the war began on Oct. 7.
“Our Christian friends from all over the world came to support Israel,” Knesset Member Matan Kahana (National Unity) told The Media Line.
He said that the Hamas attack of Oct. 7 was not only a war against Israel, but “it is a war against all the Western world, it is a war against the Judeo-Christian set of values. And we in Israel are only in the frontline of this war.”
Initiated in 2017 by Knesset Member Robert Ilatov (Yisrael Beitenu), the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast brings government, civic, and religious leaders together every year to pray for peace in Jerusalem. With the outbreak of the current war, and to mark the 76th anniversary of the 1947 United Nations partition plan, Knesset Member Tatiana Mazarsky (Yesh Atid), a member of the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast team, spearheaded the project to have a special day of prayer, titled “United for Victory, Special Day of Support and Prayer Saluting the IDF and the People of Israel.”
“What we have seen is basically international support for Israel,” influencer and human rights activist Hananya Naftali told The Media Line.
“It is vital, especially in this crucial time that we live in, because it is in the darkest hour that the true friends of Israel show up. We have just seen here in Jerusalem, in the Knesset, in the auditorium, Christian evangelicals taking a strong stance for Israel, and it is just warming my Israeli heart.”
Albert Veksler, the director of Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast, told The Media Line that praying for peace in Jerusalem is a biblical idea common to both Judaism and Christianity.
“This is common ground where both can agree and we can pray together. And this is the miracle of the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast, the rabbis and the pastors can pray together and feel comfortable about it,” he said.
“It is something that is really natural because we all read the Bible. We all believe in Israel’s right to exist and Israel’s right of self-defense.”
The Knesset speaker wanted us to come to the very heart of Israeli democracy to pray together and to ask for the nations to stand with us
Although events are currently not allowed in the Knesset, an exception was made for this one, reflecting its significance.
“The Knesset speaker wanted us to come to the very heart of Israeli democracy to pray together and to ask for the nations to stand with us,” Veksler said.
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana told the visitors that their coming to Israel at this time of war is greatly appreciated.
“It is a great demonstration of solidarity, friendship, and brotherhood,” he said.
“We are praying here today for our soldiers and their success. We also need your actions, your influence around the world, to help us bring all the hostages back and win this war.”
Mazarsky told The Media Line that such events are encouraging for Israel during a difficult time.
She said that Israel’s enemies “are conducting a psychological war through messages that they spread all over the world. They apply pressure on Israeli citizens and create fake news.”
Mazarsky said that this often leads to antisemitism.
“Every time that something happens in Israel, waves of antisemitism appear around the world. We always extend our hand to the Jewish communities in the Diaspora,” she said.
Naftali said that social media is one of the most important battlegrounds in the war, and it is often filled with distortions, lies and fake news about Israel.
A lot of Christians understand that it is now Israel that is fighting this existential war but if this enemy is not defeated, I’m talking about Hamas but also radical Islamic organizations, they are going to continue and knock at the door of Europe and the United States, so standing with Israel is basically standing for their own future as well
“That is why it is important to follow accurate media and to not be misled, because social media is a powerful and deadly weapon that can be used to spread the truth but unfortunately also to spread lies,” he said.
“A lot of Christians understand that it is now Israel that is fighting this existential war but if this enemy is not defeated, I’m talking about Hamas but also radical Islamic organizations, they are going to continue and knock at the door of Europe and the United States, so standing with Israel is basically standing for their own future as well.”
Mazarsky said even during the war Israel continues to receive new immigrants and invites all Jews to move to the country.
“We will hug them. We have an army that protects us. I am still sure that here is the safest place for us,” she said.
Veksler said that despite antisemitic and anti-Israel sentiments and acts worldwide, Israel’s Christian friends were demonstrating their resolve to stand with Israel by holding the joint prayers.
He said that the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast reaches 1.5 million people from 106 nations.