When others hesitated, they stood firm. When the world told them to stay silent, they spoke up. And when politics demanded compromise, they chose conviction.

On April 7, 2025, a remarkable gathering took place at the Friends of Zion Museum in Jerusalem. Titled “The Biblical Affirmation of Unity,” the event brought together South African parliamentarians, Christian pastors, rabbis, Israeli lawmakers, and diplomats—not for a photo op, not for diplomacy as usual, but for something much deeper: faith in action.

Organized by the Heartland Initiative, South African Friends of Israel (SAFI), and the Friends of Zion Museum, this event was the capstone of a week-long journey through Israel for South African leaders. These were not passive observers. They came to witness, to learn—but most importantly, to stand.

Faith, Not Fear

They knew the backlash would come. They knew they’d be criticized by political parties back home, targeted by media pundits, and pressured to disavow the trip.

But they came anyway.

Why? Because these were men and women who fear God more than man. They believe that Judeo-Christian values are under attack—not just in Israel, but around the world. And they know that silence, in the face of evil, is not neutrality. It’s surrender.

These were not politicians looking to score points. They were believers acting on conviction. And they do not believe they are in the minority. Quite the opposite—they believe the silent majority is waiting for leaders who are willing to lead by example.

Speakers Included:

• Gedaliah Blum – Director, Heartland Initiative

• Daniel Voiczek – CEO, Friends of Zion Museum

• MK Moshe Turpaz – Yesh Atid

• MK Simcha Rothman – Chair, Knesset Constitution Committee

• Pastor Pretorius – Senior South African Christian Leader

• Pastor Coetzee – South African Church Leader

• Belaynesh Zevadia – Senior Diplomat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• Dr. Juergen Bühler – President, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ)

• Danny Yackobi & Shaun Zagnoev – South African Friends of Israel (SAFI)

• Chief Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein – Chief Rabbi of South Africa (Keynote)

The Jerusalem Affirmation

(Signed by MPs, faith leaders, rabbis, and NGO heads)

We, the undersigned, having gathered in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people and the spiritual center of the world, come together in friendship and faith to affirm the following:

Biblical Bond:
We recognize that the connection between the peoples of South Africa and Israel is rooted in the Bible, which unites us in faith, morality, and purpose.

The Land of the Bible:
We affirm that the Land of Israel—including Jerusalem, Hebron, Shiloh, Bet El, Bethlehem, and the Galilee—is central to our shared heritage. This land is not merely a place of history but the spiritual home of the Bible. The presence of biblical figures—Abraham, David, the prophets, and Jesus himself—ties our faiths inseparably to this land.

Mutual Respect and Brotherhood:
We commit to strengthening ties between Christian and Jewish communities through mutual respect, shared values, and collaborative action.

Faith Over Politics:
Our gathering and this affirmation are not political statements but a spiritual declaration that transcends political divisions. We come together as believers, not as partisans.

Peace and Unity:
We support the SAFI Unity and Peace Initiative, which seeks to foster dialogue, faith-based cooperation, humanitarian outreach, and cultural exchange. We commit ourselves to promoting peace, reconciliation, and truth in our respective countries and beyond.

Hope and Cooperation:
This affirmation serves as a cornerstone for deeper cooperation between faith-based communities in South Africa and Israel. We recognize the responsibility to educate, advocate, and act in a manner that reflects our shared spiritual inheritance. We pledge to walk together toward a future of shared vision and mutual blessing.

Prophetic Recognition:
We recognize the Biblical prophecy: “I will bless those who bless you.” (Genesis 12:3). South Africa can rely on this assurance to bring prosperity to the nation.

Signed in Jerusalem, April 7, 2025

 

A Stand That Echoes

This wasn’t a PR stunt. This wasn’t about currying favor. It was about making a moral declaration: that the battle facing Israel is part of a larger war—a war against faith, against truth, and against the values that have upheld free nations for centuries.

In a time when truth is under attack, these leaders chose to speak it. In a time when faith is mocked, they affirmed it. In a time when standing with Israel is called controversial, they did it anyway.

Not because it was safe.
But because it was right.

And that’s what leadership looks like.