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JERUSALEM (AP) — Thousands of evangelical Christians from more than 80 countries are in Jerusalem this week to show their support for the Jewish state.
The annual weeklong summit is billed as the Feast of Tabernacles, the Christian term for the weeklong Jewish holiday of Sukkot (soo-KOHT'), which in biblical times was marked by a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.
This year's gathering has included rock concert prayer rallies in which believers sang Hebrew songs and an annual flag-waving parade through the streets of Jerusalem.
Evangelicals say their affinity for Israel stems from Christianity's Jewish roots and an anticipated Messianic age when all nations of the earth will flock to Jerusalem. Jews and Christians both believe in a future Messianic age, though Jews do not accept the Christian belief that Jesus is the Messiah.
Many Israelis are wary of Christian Zionism, but the annual gathering provides needed support at a time when the country is increasingly isolated internationally.
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