Christian support has been one of the few shining lights in these dark times for the State of Israel, said Tourism Minister Haim Katz this week in an address to the annual National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville.

“The massacre that was perpetrated on us on October 7 brought us back to dark days, days in which we rediscovered the resilience of the people living in Zion,” said Katz. “The support and messages of solidarity from the Christian community were a great light for us in the darkness.”

The NRB event is the largest of its kind for Christian media and ministry leaders. Katz urged them to beginning bringing groups again to Israel, to show their support not only in words, but also in actions, by personally showing up to encourage the people of Israel.

“Be our ambassadors in words and deeds,” said the Israeli minister. “The best way to support Israel is to visit Israel. Come again this year, to strengthen yourselves and to strengthen us.”

Katz stressed that the government is going to great lengths to ensure tourists are safe while visiting Israel, even as war continues to rage in Gaza, and tensions on the northern border increase.