WASHINGTON (JTA.org) -- Pro-Israel U.S. Christians are e-mailing the White House every several seconds urging President Obama to "end the crisis" with Israel.
Christians United for Israel sent an action alert on Tuesday to its membership urging them to ask Obama to roll back criticism of Israel after last week's controversy, when Israel announced approval of a plan to build 1,600 apartments in a fervently Orthodox eastern Jerusalem neighborhood during a visit by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. U.S. officials condemned the announcement as an "insult" and an "affront."
The CUFI action alert asks the president to "end this unnecessary crisis, return to a more productive approach, and stand with our ally Israel."
As of Tuesday evening, CUFI said more than 11,000 emails had been sent -- a rate of one every one or two seconds.
"The strong response of the Christian Zionist community on this issue reflects their steadfast commitment to standing with Israel," Ari Morgenstern, a CUFI spokesman, told JTA. "Christian friends of Israel are capable of distinguishing between temporary disputes between friends, and the deeper ties that bind our two countries.”
CUFI held one of its signature "Nights to Honor Israel" in Jerusalem last week. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the event, attended by over one thousand CUFI activists. The CUFI leadership also met with other Israeli leaders, including President Shimon Peres and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
