Christians United for Israel (CUFI)

CUFI and its founder John Hagee host an annual summit, which the Associated Press has described as “a regular stop for Republicans wishing to showcase their pro-Israel and conservative Christian bona fides to the mostly white evangelical audience.” During its July 2023 Summit, attendees included Republican candidates for the 2024 presidential election former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and former Vice President Mike Pence. ⁴

Background

Christians United for Israel was founded in 2006 by John Hagee, and at the time of its founding, it reported that it recruited 400 pastors and Christian leaders to advocate in favor of the Zionist movement and in support of Israel. As of 2023, CUFI claims over 10 million members and claims to be the largest pro-Israel group in America. ^{5 6}

CUFI recruits Christian church leaders of all denominations and college students to advocate for pro-Israel policies. It also provides Jewish history resources to oppose antisemitism and advocate for Zionism. ^{2 1}

Projects

CUFI on Campus is a Christians United for Israel program that was founded in 2007 as a Christians United for Israel student wing to campaign in opposition of “anti-Israel movements” and what it describes as “antisemitic activity” on college campuses. It holds events, offers lessons for high school teachers to implement, and other resources that discuss the Israel-Palestinian conflict and recent Jewish history as told by Holocaust survivors and Jewish historians. ^{7 3 2}

CUFI has a CUFI Rep program that recruits members of Christian churches to advocate for Zionism within their churches. Through the program, with approval of their pastor, representatives are expected to be the official “liaison” of the church they attend, and they are to inform congregants of CUFI’s events, “action alerts,” and other activities. ¹

The Israel Collective is a program created by CUFI in 2014 that publishes news from Israel and states it is created for American Christians. ^{8 9}

Advocacy

Christians United for Israel’s “Policy Agenda” on US-Israel relations advocates for the United States to fund social services in Israel and provide military resources for what it describes as “the maintenance of the Jewish state’s qualitative military edge in the region.” It also officially states that it opposes any notion that Israel’s military activities are not acts of self-defense and opposes demands for Israel to concede in its conflicts in the Middle East. ¹⁰

CUFI’s policy agenda also states opposition for US aid to the Palestinian Authority “until it changes its behavior.” It also advocates for sanctions on Iran and Hezbollah to attempt to “disrupt” their military and financial standing for their terrorist acts towards Israel. ¹⁰

Leadership

John Hagee is the founder and chairman of Christians United for Israel, founder and senior pastor of Cornerstone Church, and president and CEO of John Hagee Ministries. Cornerstone Church is a nondenominational Christian church based in San Antonio, Texas and that claims over 22,000 members. John Hagee Ministries broadcasts Hagee’s preachings across various media outlets internationally and states that it has given over $100 million towards charitable causes in support of Israel. ¹¹