Paul Calvert spoke with Josh Reinstein, the Director of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus

Established in 2004, the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus strives to build direct lines of communication, cooperation and coordination between the Knesset and Christian leaders around the world. With 1.8 million Christians visiting Israel each year the Caucus seeks to highlight the contribution of Christians in the US, Europe and worldwide to Israel's security and the welfare of the Jewish people. To find out more Paul Calvert spoke with Josh Reinstein, the Director of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus.

Paul: What is the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus?

Josh: The Christian Allies Caucus was established in Israel's parliament, at the Knesset in 2004 in an effort to reach out to Christian leaders around the world and build a direct line of communication, cooperation and coordination with them. We wanted to reach out to church leaders of Christian organisations and political leaders because we realised that the time was right to forge this new relationship between Jews and Christians in the 21st Century.

Paul: Do you have Israeli Allies Caucus' in parliaments around the world and what is their role?

Josh: Absolutely; we formed the International Israel Allies Caucus Foundation and we have 21 sister Caucuses in governments around the world. The largest being the congressional Israel Allies Caucus in Washington DC. These are Caucuses made up of men and women of faith who mobilise support for Israel based on their joint Judeo Christian values.

Paul: What is the goal of the Caucus?

Josh: The goal of the Caucus is to mobilise political support for Israel based on those values. The reason that Israel is a nation is because God promised this land to us. God fulfilled that promise in establishing the modern State of Israel and people need to understand this. People of faith are working very hard to promote Israel and to help Israel, politically and spiritually.

Paul: Are Christians supporting Israel? And why are they?

Josh: We see a lot of support from Christians around the world; specifically Bible believing Christians. The reason they are doing it is because after over 2000 years God has fulfilled his prophecy; he's established Israel as a State and he's done the ingathering of the Jewish people from the east, west, north and south. On the wings of eagles he brought them back; or aeroplanes as we call them today. He made the deserts bloom and he made the city of Jerusalem a blessing once again where children play in the streets of Jerusalem. He made the dry bones that we read about in Ezekiel become a nation and flesh. In one day all these things have come to pass and people of faith understand that this is God's hand. It's a very exiting time to be alive if you believe in the Bible and the God of Israel.

Paul: So you really see God in the hand of everything that you are doing today?

Josh: Absolutely, I mean the reason the Jewish people are back in their land in Israel is because God has done this. This is a promise that he made to the people of Israel over 2000 years ago and he is fulfilling it. You can't deny it; there is no mathematical explanation that would say that the Jewish people would survive every major nation that tried to destroy it and come back to Israel in exactly the same way as it is explained in the Bible.

Paul: Do you see the existence of Israel as a miracle? When you look at 1948, they had so much against them, yet they still survived.

Josh: Absolutely. I think David Ben-Gurion said, 'At best those who don't believe in miracles in the land of miracles aren't realistic'. We see miracles every day here, like the wars that we have won. We haven't won all these wars against seven invading armies because Jews are great athletes; these are the blessings of God. Also, the miracle that we can grow produce in incredible numbers and quality in the sand; its like God said, the desert would bloom. We are in the middle of the Middle East and we were able to create a paradise here; really a beacon of freedom and democracy and an innovative place. We're the fastest growing western economy in the 21st Century; I mean it's really a miracle what we have been able to do in just 64 years.

Paul: Has there been a shift and a greater understanding of Christians coming to support Israel?