CWN - Senator Ted Cruz walked off the stage at a Washington conference on the persecution of Christians on September 10, after he was roundly booed for a keynote address in which he focused on support for Israel.
The controversial Texas Republican, who is often touted as a potential presidential candidate, irked an audience of Christians from the Middle East when he launched into a defense of Israel. The event, a conference In Defense of Christians, was dedicated to raising awareness of the persecution of Christian minorities.
“Christians have no greater ally than Israel,” Cruz said. When that comment was met with boos, he continued: “If you will not stand with Israel and the Jews, then I will not stand with you.” As the heckling escalated, Cruz left the room.
Leaders of the Eastern churches were puzzled and angered by the Texas lawmaker’s speech. The audience included representatives of nations with tense relations with Israel, and religious groups that have complained about Israeli government policies. More to the point, the conference in Washington had been designed to raise American public awareness of the brutal violence directed at Christians, and the threat that the Christian presence in the Middle East could be extinguished.
Among the participants in the Washington conference were several patriarchs of Eastern Catholic churches. Melkite Patriarch Gregory Laham, infuriated by the Cruz speech, reportedly threatened to withdraw from the conference. He was persuaded to stay by Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai, who encouraged all conference attendees to remain, despite any political differences.
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