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US House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and Congressman Tom Lantos were honored by the Stand for Israel coalition at its first annual "Friend of Israel" Awards Banquet held last week in Washington, DC. 400 people participated in the event. Stand for Israel is a project of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. "Both Majority Leader Tom DeLay and Congressman Tom Lantos are dedicated supporters of the defense of the Jewish people and the State of Israel," said Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, chairman of Stand for Israel and founder and president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. "It is important for Jews and Christians to recognize these courageous leaders." Delay and Lantos were honored for their role in the passage of House Resolution 392 in April 2002, which expressed solidarity with Israel and pledged that the Congress is "committed to Israel's right to self- defense and supports additional US assistance to help Israel defend itself." Speakers included former NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Israeli Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Ambassador Daniel Ayalon, Undersecretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, Dr. Jerry Falwell, and Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention. The banquet was preceded by a foreign policy briefing featuring workshops and addresses by some of the nation's leading figures to a gathering of respected pastors, grassroots leaders and community activists in support of Israel. "Against the backdrop of acts of terror against innocent Israeli civilians, it is important to show that the American people stand with Israel," said Ralph Reed, co-chairman of Stand for Israel. "Majority Leader DeLay and Tom Lantos are courageous leaders who represent our nation's commitment to Israel's right to exist and defend itself. We are looking forward to presenting them with this prestigious award."
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