San Antonio fast food outlets/traffic | Music ~ Star Spangled Banner | 00:00 |
| TRACY BOWDEN: San Antonio, Texas. The lone star state's second largest city, with a population of more than a million people. | 00:28 |
Alamo chapel | It's perhaps best known as the home of the Alamo. | 00:40 |
Cornerstone Church signage | It's also on the southern edge of America's conservative bible belt. | 00:43 |
American flags wave/Church service | Music ~ Star Spangled Banner | 00:50 |
Woman with arms outstretched | TRACY BOWDEN: This is the suburban headquarters of the Cornerstone Church, led by TV evangelist Pastor John Hagee. PASTOR JOHN HAGEE: Pharaoh threatened | 01:05 |
Hagee delivering sermon | the Jewish people and he ended up fish food in the Red Sea. | 01:14 |
Congregation | TRACY BOWDEN: The mega-church boasts 18,000 members and tonight 5000 of the faithful have crowded into the auditorium for what's dubbed ‘A National Night to Honour Israel.' | 01:23 |
Hagee delivering sermon | PASTOR JOHN HAGEE: Send a message to America, send a message to the enemies of Israel, send a message to the people of Israel, Israel you are not alone, we are with you! | 01:36 |
Video camera record sermon | TRACY BOWDEN: Pastor Hagee is the founder of Christians United for Israel - which he hopes will become the Christian version of the powerful pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC - the American Israel Political Action Committee. PASTOR JOHN HAGEE: Listen up President of Iran, | 01:58 |
Hagee delivering sermon | don't threaten America, we are not afraid of you. Don't threaten the Christian Zionists of America, we are going to be your worst nightmare. | 02:14 |
Congregation and choir sing | Singing | 02:39 |
| TRACY BOWDEN: The Night to Honour Israel is quite a show there's singing, dancing, even an unlikely musical blend of Texas and Zion. | 02:46 |
| Music | 02:58 |
| TRACY BOWDEN: It's all part of the preacher's grand plan, | 03:16 |
| as he explains to me in his office inside the Cornerstone complex. | 03:20 |
Hagee. Super: | PASTOR JOHN HAGEE: Our purpose is not just to gather in various places and have what I call ‘happy clappy' events. We are going to go to Washington DC from every state in the union, from every congressional district in the union, and speak to our senators and congressmen about our concerns for Israel and our support for the state of Israel. | 03:24 |
| TRACY BOWDEN: Why is Israel such an important cause - there are many important causes, you clearly have a real focus on Israel - why ? | 03:49 |
| PASTOR JOHN HAGEE: Israel is important to bible believing Christians because Israel is the focus of the bible. Beginning from Genesis running through the entirety of the scripture. God says in Genesis 12, to bless the people of Israel, God says in Psalms 122 pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper that love you. | 03:56 |
Hagee in office looking at photo of Menachim | PASTOR JOHN HAGEE: And this is a personal signature of Prime Minister Menachem Begin: he was the first Prime Minister that I had the opportunity of meeting in Israel. I got to see him three times. TRACY BOWDEN: Pastor Hagee first visited Israel | 04:17 |
Hagee's office | in 1978, and has been back more than 20 times. On display in his office and adjoining library are records of his encounters with Middle Eastern leaders. | 04:34 |
Photo. Hagee and Ariel Sharon | PASTOR JOHN HAGEE: This is a picture of myself and Ariel Sharon, this is at a very critical time in his life. TRACY BOWDEN: He also has political contacts | 04:45 |
Photo. Hagee and George W Bush | closer to home. TRACY BOWDEN: What about this one? PASTOR JOHN HAGEE: This is a photo of the President and myself | 04:55 |
Hagee looks at photo | at the President's father's birthday in Houston Texas at the Minute stadium. It was a wonderful night attended by a few thousand of his closest friends. TRACY BOWDEN: And the President supports what you are doing? PASTOR JOHN HAGEE: Yes, the President is very supportive of Israel. TRACY BOWDEN: Pastor Hagee may be | 04:59 |
Photo. Hagee and George W Bush | happy to talk endlessly about his support for Israel, but when it comes to US policy in the Middle East, | 05:17 |
Hagee. Super: | he's tired of talking. PASTOR JOHN HAGEE: There is not going to be a peace plan in the Middle East until the terrorist organisations Hamas and Hezbollah, that are funded by Iran and militarily supplied by Iran, until those organisations come up with a new constitution that calls for peace with Israel. | 05:24 |
| TRACY BOWDEN: Are you in favour of conflict in the Middle East? | 05:48 |
| PASTOR JOHN HAGEE: We are encouraging Israel to have the opportunity to defend itself, the United States of America went to arms against Hitler because he was a madman whose purpose was the extermination of democracy. And the people around Israel have covenants that call for Israel's death and destruction, therefore Israel must have the military opportunity of defending itself. | 05:51 |
Synagogue. Bowden and Rabbi walk | TRACY BOWDEN: While a vocal section of America may agree with Pastor Hagee, and the Jewish lobby group AIPAC welcomes his support, the preacher also has his detractors. RABBI BLOCK: I think that Pastor Hagee is a person with an agenda that | 06:21 |
| overall is not good for Jewish life in America or for Israel. | 06:36 |
Rabbi Block. Super: | Pastor Hagee presses a domestic agenda that is in my view hostile to Jewish life in America. For example, we prosper on the basis of freedom of religion, separation of church and state, these are not values that Pastor Hagee holds or supports. | 06:41 |
| TRACY BOWDEN: Rabbi Barry Block is head of the Liberal Reform Jewish community in San Antonio and his temple is not far from the Cornerstone Church. | 07:03 |
| RABBI BLOCK: Well, Pastor Hagee argues against the establishment of a Palestinian state, argues against Israeli disengagement from any occupied territory, and that is not Israeli policy, and that is not what is best for Israel. | 07:13 |
| What Christians United for Israel proposes not only wouldn't lead for peace it is not what is best for Israel. | 07:33 |
Funfair | Music | 07:39 |
| TRACY BOWDEN: But for Pastor Hagee's followers, the crusade for Israel is a family friendly affair. A three-day carnival in the sunshine. And merchandising for Israel, too. | 07:52 |
Merchandising stand | We'd hoped to speak to some of those here about their support for the cause but the pastor's people instructed us we could only interview church officials. | 08:11 |
Christians United for Israel video |
| 08:22 |
Broadcast control room | Also on the site is an impressive communications set-up, broadcasting Pastor Hagee across America and around the world. | 08:30 |
Ext. Media Centre | According to his website he's seen weekly in an astonishing 99 million homes. | 08:39 |
Hagee broadcast | PASTOR JOHN HAGEE: Why are we having this briefing ? Because America and the Western world are facing the greatest crisis in our history and many people are not aware that the crisis has even begun. | 08:47 |
| TRACY BOWDEN: Pastor Hagee is also the author of ten best sellers, most recently ‘The Jerusalem Countdown.' | 09:00 |
| Some view his seeming enthusiasm for military action in the Middle East as an attempt to hasten Armageddon, or the end of days. | 09:07 |
| PASTOR JOHN HAGEE: That's an absolutely false concept, because God is sovereign, | 09:16 |
Hagee. Super: | God is going to do what God wants to do when he wants to do it, if he wants to do it, like he wants to do it when he wants to do it . What I do or what other people do is not going to influence him at all. | 09:23 |
Hagee addresses summit | PASTOR JOHN HAGEE: Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the second annual Washington-Israel summit of Christians United for Israel. | 09:40 |
Flag waving | Cheering | 09:46 |
| TRACY BOWDEN: Since Christians United for Israel was formed in February 2006, there have been 60 National Nights to Honour Israel across North America. Now Pastor Hagee has brought the show to Washington DC, rallying his troops - more than 3000 of them - for an assault on Capitol Hill. | 09:51 |
Hagee addresses summit | PASTOR JOHN HAGEE: We are going to Capitol Hill to visit the offices of every senator and congressman, saying that for the first time in America's history Christians and Jews are united, we are silent no more. TRACY BOWDEN: And what is the message | 10:12 |
Hagee | you want them to get? PASTOR JOHN HAGEE: The message we want them to get is that there is an enormous Christian coalition in the United States of America consisting of all denominations, but now for the first time in our nations completely organised and focused on one issue and that issue is Israel and that we want our government to be very, very protective of this singular democracy in the Middle East so that it has every opportunity to survive. | 10:30 |
Gingrich at summit | TRACY BOWDEN: Some high-profile political figures come along to show their support. | 11:06 |
| TRACY BOWDEN: Republican firebrand and possible presidential contender, Newt Gingrich takes the opportunity to criticise the current US administration. | 11:14 |
Gingrich addresses summit Super: Newt Gingrich | NEWT GINGRICH: I don't remember any time in at least the last 27 years since Ronald Reagan was elected, that we have seen the level of timidity, cowardice, intellectual dishonesty and determination to avoid the truth that currently dominates Capitol Hill. | 11:24 |
McCain takes stage | TRACY BOWDEN: Presidential hopeful, Republican Senator John McCain, whose continued backing of the Iraq war has cost him significant support, is happy to be amongst friends. McCAIN: Thank you. Thank you very much. | 11:48 |
McCain addresses summit. Super: John McCain | The President of Iran has gone to the United Nations, to the United Nations and stated his nation's unalterable commitment to removing the state of Israel from the map, that is unacceptable behaviour. We must confront Iran... [applause] | 12:01 |
| McCAIN: And the Iranians cannot, as our President has stated time after time, as our President who I am proud of, has stated time after time he has said, we will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. And that is, that is the end of the day, my friends. | 12:27 |
Hagee walking into Capitol building | TRACY BOWDEN: As it happens, the Christians United for Israel Washington Summit coincides with efforts by President George W Bush to revive the Middle East peace process. | 12:47 |
President Bush | PRESIDENT BUSH: More than five years ago I became the first American President to call for the creation of a Palestinian state. In the Rose Garden, I said that Palestinians should not have to live in poverty and occupation. | 13:00 |
| TRACY BOWDEN: The President announces aid to the Palestinian government and calls for an international peace conference. | 13:12 |
| PRESIDENT BUSH: With the proper foundation we can soon begin serious negotiations toward the creation of a Palestinian state. | 13:18 |
Hagee makes announcement | TRACY BOWDEN: Pastor Hagee quickly voices his dismay. | 13:25 |
| PASTOR JOHN HAGEE: It is unfortunate that the President used the word ‘occupation' a term that is often used by Israel's enemies. While many people of good will have hoped that trading land for peace might work, every concession by Israel has only led to advanced terrorism. | 13:29 |
Safieh | TRACY BOWDEN: In Washington, Palestine's Ambassador to the US has little time for Pastor Hagee. | 13:56 |
Super: Afif Safieh | AFIF SAFIEH: As a Palestinian diplomat, but mainly as a Palestinian Christian, all this phenomenon of right wing Christianity which is unconditionally supportive of Israel, whatever its appetite, territorial or otherwise, has been a major source of embarrassment for us, the Christians of the Holy Land. | 14:02 |
West bank file footage | TRACY BOWDEN: About 50,000 Christians live on the West Bank - mostly Greek Orthodox, Catholics and Protestants. They can't understand the American Christians who seem to deny them legitimacy. | 14:19 |
| AFIF SAFIEH: Those Christian pastors of that school of thought, totally | 14:43 |
Safieh. Super: Afif Safieh | insensitive to our ordeal and supportive of our oppressor, how can they face the mirror when they are shaving in the morning and how will they face God their creator when and if they will meet him? | 14:46 |
Hagee delivering sermon | PASTOR JOHN HAGEE: When 50 million evangelical bible believing Christians unite with five million American Jews standing together on behalf of Israel, it is a match made in heaven. | 15:00 |
Members of congregation dancing | Music | 15:15 |
| TRACY BOWDEN: Pastor Hagee and his followers may feel an urgent need to use their numbers and their voting power to influence US policy, but the fact is there is already strong bipartisan support for Israel in America. Nonetheless, the man is on a mission, and no-one can deny that this polarising figure sure knows how to fire up a crowd. | 15:25 |
Hagee addressing congregation | PASTOR JOHN HAGEE: When Hezbollah terrorists threaten to wipe out the state of Israel we will not be silent, we will shout from every roof-top in this nation, ‘never again, not on our watch'. | 15:51 |
| In the future, when the US State Department presents a brain dead plan to divide Jerusalem, our response will be ‘never again, not on our watch.' God bless Israel, God bless America and God bless each of you. | 16:04 |
Credits: | Reporter: Tracy Bowden Camera: Tim Bates Editor: Bryan Milliss | 16:30 |