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While other Christian denominations pursue B.D.S., the NRB - Nat'l Religious (Christian) Broadcasters Assoc advocates FOR Israel

Israeli Folk Dancers entertained Nat'l Christian Broadcasters Assoc. in 2014

The National Religious Broadcasters Association ("N.R.B.") is comprised of primarily of Christian radio and television broadcasters and program providers. The annual N.R.B. conventions we have attended over the past dozen years typically include Israel - whether as a current events topic in lecture sessions, or at expo booths from the Israeli Ministry of Tourism that feature travel and tour operators. From time to time, the Association will issue a public statement regarding Israel, such as in 2016, when the Association, under President Dr.

Jerry Johnson, urged President Barack Obama and Members of Congress to make it clear to the world that the United States is and will remain Israel’s tried and true friend.

"When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington, DC, next week, I urge President Barack Obama and Members of Congress to make it clear to the world that the United States is and will remain Israel’s tried and true friend.”In the wake of recent oppression and violence in the Middle East, Johnson further commented, “The democratic principles upheld by Israel offer Christians and other persecuted groups in the region a hope for peace and liberty. We cannot allow that beacon of freedom to be darkened.”

 

In 2018, ten major U.S. Christian denominations Went a step beyond statements of affirmation, i.e,

they are now materially participating, to some degree, in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (B.D.S.) movement, which aims to hold Israel "accountable to international law." These are the Alliance of Baptists, Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Mennonite Church USA, Presbyterian Church (USA), Roman Catholic Church, Unitarian Universalist Association, United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, as well as the World Communion of Reformed Churches (a confederation that overlaps some of the above).

Since some Christian denominations do advocate B.D.S. towards Israel, at the N.R.B.'s Proclaim Convention in Anaheim March 2019, we asked N.R.B. spokesman, James A. Smith about the N.R.B. publicly reiterating its support for Israel and praising the Trump Administration's moves to rectify the political isolation of Israel.

"The NRB Board of Directors at their annual meeting this year adopted another resolution unanimously supporting the right of Israel to exist, commending the Trump administration for moving the embassy to Jerusalem, for commending the Trump administration for declaring Jerusalem the capital of Israel and many other aspects of this matter the fifth resolution of this kind in five years that demonstrates there is no lessening of support for Israel within NRB. Israel remains a core concern and conviction for many NRB members that hasn't changed that's not going to change and it's a very important issue for our members."

"It would be probably be safe to say that evangelical Christians dominate religious broadcasting because evangelicals dominate the religious landscape in America in many different ways. But it is true that there are many other kinds of broadcasters in America - some of which are not Evangelical - some of which are not even Christian, let alone Evangelical. But Evangelical broadcasting is very strong in the United States, as represented in the strength of N.R.B.

At NRB's Israel's 70th Independence tribute luncheon, we asked Gordon Robertson why CBN produces pro-Israel news and documentaries- and why their's have consistently been the most reliably objective - - not distorted by anti-Zionist leftist propagandists, an endemic problem among mainstream international news reporters and outlets. 

JooTube asked Mr. Robertson, "How is it that the mainstream (Associated Press, Reuters and the international broadcasters) don't seem to get what your Jerusalem Bureau-Chief, Chris Mitchell, can see so plainly?

Mr. Robertson replied, "Well, I think a lot of it has to do with if you want access within the Palestinian Authority then essentially you have to play it from their point of view. So if you want to have those interviews in Ramallah, they will hold it against you if you report things accurately from an Israeli point of view. So that's, I think, the main reason you see it - and it's nothing new in covering the Middle East. We saw it with Saddam Hussein before he was overthrown in Iraq - that if you wanted to get an interview with him there were certain requirements. So we like our independent voice, we like that we're Christian, and we just want to report accurately on what's happening in Israel!