Paul Calvert caught up with Lord Reading, the head of diplomatic relations for Christians United for Israel.



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Paul: You had the opportunity to lay a wreath this morning at the Haifa port. What was that experience like?

Lord Reading: It was a privilege to be able to do that. It was a very solemn, sombre moment, when one realised that 3,000 Jews had perished at the hands of the British in the sea outside Haifa when they were being turned back. It was a very solemn, really rather sad moment.

The British Mandate For Palestine

Paul: You are part of Christians United for Israel. What is that organisation?

Lord Reading: In the US it was started in 2006 and now we have 2 million members. These are 2 million members who are quite active both in support of CUFI, but also active in lobbying in Capital Hill. It's pretty remarkable in nine years to get from 0 to 2 million members. Yet hopefully we are going to grow, not probably that rate in the UK, but we are looking forward to expanding the ministry in the UK and Europe.

Paul: Are you able to lobby within the UK and the British Government at Westminster.

Lord Reading: Not really, because I lost my seat. Tony Blair kicked me out in 99 (laughing) and basically there are only a few inherited peers left. I still know a number and one can still do a bit behind the scenes.

Paul: Is there good support for Israel in the British Government?

Lord Reading: No. At the moment there is a big rise in anti-Semitism. There are very few politicians that I have come across who are prepared to stand alongside Israel. We at CUFI stand alongside Israel and I think it is very important that we do so. I would like to see more politicians doing that.

Paul: What do you think is the root of anti-Semitism?

Lord Reading: Funny enough I think it is probably spiritual more than anything else. There is an anti-Semitic spiritual root and it's festered over a long period of time. I think I am right in saying that it started with the High Church with "Christ killers". The interesting thing is that if you look at Lloyd George, he and nearly all his cabinet were Low Church. They were the ones who befriended Israel, with Foreign Secretary Balfour with the Balfour Declaration. It is interesting how the High Church tends to be anti-Israel and the Low Church seems to be pro-Israel. If you look at the US for example, a lot of the Low Church in the Bible belt support Israel. CR

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