Warwick students hold event to ‘strengthen Christian-Jewish Zionist relations’

An organisation that trains Israel advocates on campus helped launch a new initiative at Warwick University to “strengthen Christian-Jewish Zionist relations”.

StandWithUs UK this week supported the one-day conference at Warwick for 50 Jewish and Christian students “to build mutual understanding between the two communities”.

It was jointly organised by the university’s Jewish-Israel Society, West Midlands Friends of Israel and local Christian supporters of Israel, at the end of an academic year in which there were 15 pro-Israel events on campus.

Speakers at the one-day event included Steven Jaffe, who founded Northern Ireland Friends of Israel, Reuben Gardner from Prayer for Israel, and Jonathan Farrell, director for student affairs for StandWithUs UK.

Angus Taylor, President of University of Warwick-Jewish Israel Society said: “We are delighted to host our friends from West Midland Friends of Israel this afternoon. It is very exciting to have the first ever conference between a University Jewish Society and an external Friends of Israel organisation at Warwick. This is a fantastic opportunity to bring Jewish and Christian supporters of Israel together and to engage in standing up against the constant attempts to delegitimise Israel. This afternoon’s conference is a testament to our growing relationship with WMFOI and the invaluable support we receive from StandWithUs UK and we look forward to continuing this over the next year and beyond”

Mike Parsons, Committee member of West Midlands Friends of Israel added: “It was a rare opportunity to listen to Jewish Students personal accounts of antisemitism on campus. For our part, WMFI were able to expose the false doctrine of supersessionism. It was an open and honest exchange of views and we’re glad to be able to work with the Warwick Jewish Israel Society and StandWithUs UK to achieve these important goals”.