FROM ISREAL TODAY

Israeli minister: Christians and Jews 'in the same boat'

Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Moshe Ya'alon on Saturday declared that Evangelical Christians and Israeli Jews are "in the same boat" and need to work more closely together to overcome their shared obstacles and enemies.

Ya'alon was speaking at the 2010 Epicenter conference in Philadelphia. Epicenter is an annual Evangelical gathering focusing on Israel, the Middle East and the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. It is hosted on by best-selling author Joel Rosenberg.

CBN reported that Ya'alon was by far the most anticipated speaker at the conference, which was attended by 1,500, and watched via satellite by another 20,000.

Ya'alon is one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's most trusted ministers, and has, like Netanyahu, long been an advocate of strengthening Israel's relations with its Bible-believing Christian allies around the world.

Ya'alon previously served as the chief of staff of Israel's army. He was prematurely ousted in 2005 when he used his position to publicly oppose the uprooting of 10,000 Jews from their homes in the Gaza Strip.