« Who are the settlers here? » It sounds rhetorically one evening with Christians for Israel

« Here in Europe you go the same direction as we are: you will be eradicated and kidnapped, » warns Shadi Khalloul on Wednesday evening in the Celebration Church in Hilversum. Khalloul is an Aramese Christian who, at the invitation of Christians for Israel (CVI), tells for three days at different locations about his projects in Israel. To combat ‘verislamization’, he sets up educational projects to teach young people about ‘peace and light’. « You have let in the Muslims to help them, because you are people with a good heart. You can’t send them back, at least I would not know how to get it done. But education them in your Christian, democratic values. If you don’t do that, then you will happen to the same thing that happened to us in Lebanon and in Israel. »

In the room of the Celebration Church, where about forty people are, largely sixty plus, some people make a sigh of recognition. In his lecture, Khalloul had pointed to the dangers of the arrival of the ‘Arabs’ who, he says, once tried to occupy Europe through Spain. « They have taken the areas of the Christians in the Middle East. I ask you: who are the settlers here? » In the penultimate row in the Hilversum room, they know for sure: « She », it sounds soft.

Christians for Israel, an Orthodox-Protestant organization that was founded in 1980, is not undisputed. In 2019 there was a warning from the Ministry of Economic Affairs because CVI sold products that came from illegal settlements – on the occupied West Bank and the Syrian Golan Heights – without indicating that on the label. This spring Investico,,  » ANGRYIt Nederlands Dagblad and De Groene Amsterdammer research to CVI donations. This showed that CVI had « contributed to the construction of a new neighborhood in an illegal Israeli settlement on the occupied West Bank. » In addition, they discovered that with the donations, weapons for settlers are financed.

The organization itself claims not to be political – but « Christians in the Netherlands want to make the meaning of the Jewish people in God’s acts with this world. (…) We call for solidarity and reject anti -Semitism, » the site said.

But at various meetings, another, indeed political, sounds sound. In videos on the site and in the monthly newspaper Israel (Edition almost eighty thousand) The news is brought from an Israeli perspective. Israel in the Junin number questions the famine In Gaza: « Two months before the blockade, 338,676 tons of food was introduced. This amount of food can feed the population of the two million Gazanen for five to six months according to the UN World Food Program (…) So there is currently enough food in Gaza ».

In both Barneveld and Kampen, demonstrations against CVI ran out on violence, after groups gathered that again turned against the demonstrators.

Generation

Not all Christian organizations are equally happy with the actions of CVI. When applying for a press card for the Pentecost Festival Opwekking 2025, at the end of May, to be able to experience the CVI meeting at the Festival site in Biddinghuizen, a publicity employee of the festival calls with NRC. They like it « not » to be affiliated with CVI and ask NRC not to come.

At Opwekking 2025, CVI had a well-attended position where people could visit an ‘Israel-Experience’, or send a card with a laughing girl in traditional costume on the front. ‘Shalom’ is above it to encourage a ‘resident of Israel’. On Friday evening, May 30, Jacques Brunt, who has a Bible Education company and is one of the faces of CVI, about Israel as « the personal, precious possession of God. » Prior to his lecture, it was briefly regretted that « the subject even led to polarization among Christians. »

Near the CVI stand was that of the ChristenUnie. A few CVI board members are members of the ChristenUnie, and Sara van Oordt, Head of Media and Communicatie of CVI, was eligible for the Lower House for the party in 2023 (number 40 on the electoral list). Party leader Mirjam Bikker spoke at the end of May Out of the « shocking intimidation » that visitors to the CVI meetings underwent.

Perseverance

In Nijkerk, CVI has a large office with an exhibition space – with an interactive story about a boy who survived the Holocaust. There is also a store where food, olive oil, body lotion and wine are sold, all Made in Israel. It is pretty busy on a weekday afternoon. A woman who has just settled stands still at a wall with photos of Israeli hostages. It’s all « terrible, » she says, points to the photos. She doesn’t want to answer questions.

In Hilversum, at the Celebration Church, it is no different. There too, visitors would rather not talk about what attracts them to CVI. Questions to Khalloul are asked via a QR code, after which the host presents them to him. Many questions are about his perseverance, the Aramean language or how Europe « should keep herself against Muslims. » One through the app through NRC Submitted question about Khalloul’s vision of Gaza is not discussed.

Demonstrators

These are the questions that CVI would rather not go into, Abdoellah knows. In Hilversum he is the spokesperson for the Pro-Palestine protesters who stand outside at the church, and does not want his last name in the newspaper. « In Zeewolde we were once invited to hear the story. We asked the question: » How does Jesus’ message relate to the murder of children?  » There was no answer and then we were no longer welcome. « 

When the evening in Hilversum is over, the visitors are warned: « Demonstrants have been added, they will take photos and try to press something in your hands. It is best to immediately turn right right and disappear into the street scene. »

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