WATCH: Jewish & Christian Leaders Reveal What Media Won’t Tell You

Israel’s Innovation Envoy Fleur Hassan‑Nahoum took the Quad podcast on the road to Washington, D.C., broadcasting live from the Christians United for Israel (CUFI) Summit just days after rockets rained down on Israeli cities. Joined by an all‑star panel of Jewish and Christian women leaders, Fleur peeled back the layers of media spin to deliver an unfiltered, emotional deep‑dive into the real fight for Israel’s future—both in America and on the front lines.

The timing of this gathering couldn’t have been more poignant. Hassan-Nahoum herself had been running to bomb shelters with her family just four days prior, yet she made the journey from war-torn Israel to participate in this crucial dialogue about faith, solidarity, and the fight against rising antisemitism.

The Power of Christian Zionism: More Than Politics, It’s Biblical

Sandra Hagee Parker, Chairwoman of the CUFI Action Fund and daughter of the organization’s founders, provided perhaps the most illuminating explanation of Christian Zionism’s theological foundation. “It’s not an add-on,” she emphasized. “It’s not a political issue. It’s a biblical issue.” Parker explained that for committed Christians, supporting Israel isn’t something they pray about or debate—it’s as fundamental to their faith practice as attending church or reading the Bible.

This perspective challenges common misconceptions about Christian support for Israel being primarily political in nature. Parker’s explanation reveals how deeply embedded this support is in Christian theology, tracing back to Genesis and extending throughout biblical scripture. The organization’s approach treats Israel advocacy as a sacred duty rather than a political preference, which helps explain CUFI’s remarkable growth to over 10 million members across all 50 states.

The theological foundation Parker describes creates an unshakeable commitment that transcends political cycles and changing administrations. When she states that “the Bible guarantees we will be successful because we are commanded to do this,” she’s articulating a faith-based certainty that provides stability in an often turbulent political landscape.

Breaking Down Barriers: Jewish Leadership in Christian Organizations

Shari Dollinger, Co-CEO of CUFI and one of the few Jewish leaders in this Christian organization, offered a unique perspective on interfaith cooperation. Her presence in leadership demonstrates the organization’s commitment to authentic partnership rather than mere support. Dollinger’s experience illustrates how shared values around Israel and faith can create genuine bonds that transcend religious differences.

Dollinger addressed head-on the historical Jewish concerns about Christian evangelization, describing how Pastor John Hagee, CUFI’s founder, explicitly committed to a non-conversionary approach from the organization’s inception. This commitment has proven itself over nearly two decades of operation, creating a track record that speaks louder than any theoretical promises.

Her role also highlights an important evolution in Jewish-Christian relations, where Jews aren’t merely recipients of Christian support but active partners in shaping the direction and strategy of pro-Israel advocacy. This partnership model creates more sustainable and effective advocacy than traditional patron-recipient relationships.

Campus Activism: The Next Generation of Advocates

One of CUFI’s most significant contributions to the pro-Israel movement is its comprehensive approach to campus activism. The organization operates CUFI High School and CUFI on Campus programs, training hundreds of student leaders from across the nation in advocacy techniques and providing them with the tools to combat antisemitism on the front lines.

This educational approach recognizes that antisemitism doesn’t limit itself to adult spaces—it appears wherever young people gather, from high school classrooms to university campuses. By training Christian students to recognize and respond to anti-Israel rhetoric and antisemitic incidents, CUFI creates a network of allies who can provide support to Jewish students facing isolation and harassment.

The presence of over 200 high school students and 300 college students at the summit demonstrates the organization’s success in engaging younger generations. These students don’t just attend passive lectures; they participate in advocacy training and then take their knowledge back to their schools, creating ripple effects that extend far beyond the conference walls.

Understanding the IHRA Definition: Clarifying Common Misconceptions

Parker provided crucial clarification about the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, addressing widespread misconceptions that have hindered its adoption. The definition, she explained, doesn’t restrict free speech or criminalize criticism of Israel. Instead, it provides guidelines for identifying antisemitic motivations when illegal harassment or discrimination has already occurred.

This distinction is critical for understanding why the definition remains controversial despite being adopted by over 30 countries and 37 U.S. states. The IHRA definition serves as a tool for law enforcement and educational institutions to recognize when legitimate criticism crosses the line into antisemitic harassment, but it only applies after unlawful behavior has been established.

The resistance to adopting this definition often stems from misunderstanding its purpose and scope. Parker’s explanation helps clarify that the definition doesn’t create new restrictions on speech but provides guidance for interpreting existing laws against harassment and discrimination.

The Abraham Accords: Expanding the Circle of Peace

Chama Mechtaly, founder of the Emma Lazarus Institute, brought her expertise in Middle Eastern affairs to discuss the expanding Abraham Accords and their potential for creating broader regional peace. Her optimism about Middle Eastern developments, contrasted with her concerns about Western radicalization, provides an important perspective on current geopolitical trends.

Mechtaly highlighted the Trump administration’s strategic approach to engaging Middle Eastern diaspora communities in America, leveraging their connections and networks to expand peace agreements. The appointment of figures like Tom Barrack as envoy for Lebanon and Syria demonstrates how personal relationships and cultural understanding can facilitate diplomatic breakthroughs.

The conversation revealed how the Abraham Accords represent more than simple diplomatic agreements—they embody a return to shared Abrahamic values that unite Christians, Jews, and Muslims around common principles of peace and cooperation. This theological framing helps explain why Christian organizations like CUFI have embraced the accords so enthusiastically.

Confronting Misinformation and Media Manipulation

The panel dedicated significant attention to combating misinformation and calling out public figures who spread false narratives about Israel and Jewish communities. Alyssa Rosenheck, author and photographer, emphasized the deadly consequences of unchecked misinformation, particularly when it comes from influencers with massive platforms.

The discussion of figures like Candace Owens and Glenn Doyle highlighted how social media personalities can cause real harm through careless or intentional spreading of false information. The panel stressed that platform size brings responsibility, and those who fail to fact-check their content before sharing it with millions of followers contribute to dangerous narratives that can inspire real-world violence.

This focus on media literacy and accountability reflects a broader challenge facing advocacy organizations in the digital age. The speed at which misinformation can spread requires constant vigilance and rapid response from those committed to maintaining factual accuracy in public discourse.

The Therapeutic Power of Solidarity

Throughout the conversation, Hassan-Nahoum repeatedly referenced the “therapeutic” and “cathartic” nature of her experience at the CUFI summit. Coming directly from bomb shelters in Israel to find herself surrounded by thousands of unwavering supporters provided emotional healing that she clearly needed and valued deeply.

This emotional dimension of advocacy work often goes unrecognized in political discussions, but it represents a crucial element of sustaining long-term commitment to difficult causes. The mutual appreciation between Israeli visitors and American Christians creates a positive feedback loop that strengthens both communities’ resolve to continue their advocacy work.

The healing power of solidarity extends beyond individual comfort to create lasting bonds that survive political changes and temporary setbacks. When advocacy is grounded in genuine relationship and mutual respect, it becomes more resilient and effective than purely transactional political alliances.

Building Bridges Across Faith Communities

The success of CUFI’s interfaith approach offers important lessons for other advocacy organizations seeking to build broad coalitions. By maintaining clear boundaries around religious conversion while emphasizing shared values and mutual respect, the organization has created a model for successful interfaith cooperation that other groups might emulate.

The key elements of this success include explicit commitments to non-proselytizing, genuine partnership in leadership roles, consistent actions that match stated values, and focus on shared objectives rather than theological differences. This approach has allowed CUFI to maintain both its Christian identity and its appeal to Jewish partners and supporters.

The expansion of the Abraham Accords to include Christian communities represents a natural evolution of this interfaith model, extending successful Jewish-Christian cooperation to include Muslim partners committed to peace and coexistence.

Looking Forward: Challenges and Opportunities

As the conversation concluded, participants expressed both hope for expanding peace in the Middle East and concern about rising extremism in Western countries. This duality reflects the complex global environment in which advocacy organizations must operate, balancing optimism about diplomatic possibilities with vigilance about domestic threats.

The growth of CUFI to 10 million members provides a foundation for expanded advocacy efforts, but it also brings increased responsibility to use that influence wisely and effectively. The organization’s multi-generational approach, from high school students to senior leaders, suggests a sustainable model for long-term advocacy that can weather political changes and evolving challenges.

The panel’s emphasis on education, relationship-building, and principled advocacy offers a blueprint for effective activism that other organizations might adapt to their own contexts and causes.

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