A national Christian group founded to support Israel held an event in that nation's honor Sunday night in Madison, drawing protesters who argue the group is taking advantage of Jewish people and aims to hasten the apocalypse.

But David Brog, executive director of Christians United for Israel, who came to speak Sunday at "An Evening to Honor Israel," said he is surprised by the level of misunderstanding his organization generates, especially in places such as Madison and Berkeley, Calif.

"There is mistrust of conservative Christians, especially in places where there are a lot of liberal activists who jump to conclusions and don't have open minds," he said.

About 50 people, including many members of Madison's chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, met Sunday evening outside the Overture Center with signs and fliers protesting the event and the theology of Christian Zionism, which supports the return of Jewish people to the so-called Holy Land.

Haley Pollack of Madison's Jewish Voice for Peace, a national group that advocates a U.S. Middle East policy based on democracy and human rights, said its members are concerned CUI is trying to hasten the Armageddon prophesied in the Bible by restoring Jewish people to Israel. She said CUI members believe that would lead to the second coming of Christ.

"I think that's an exploitation of the Jewish community," Pollack said, adding her group is worried because CUI "has real holds in government and foreign policy. They're dragging the United States government into never-ending violence."

Lenny Kanter said Christian Zionists have taken advantage of the Jewish people to further a "bizarre fantasy" of the apocalypse. "That's no support for Jewish people," he said.

Brog called those allegations "inaccurate, a complete fantasy." But he notes that John Hagee, the Texas pastor who founded the fast-growing group about a year ago, believes historical and political justifications, in addition to the "land deed from God," bolster Israel's claims on the Holy Land.

Another complaint about CUI is that it dismisses the potential for peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. This troubles Bonnie Block, whose sign advocated for peace in both Israel and Iraq. As a Christian, Block said she finds it easy to unite with Jewish people, but was worried about CUI making "extreme" religious connections and claims.

"It is religious fundamentalists of any religion that are a problem," she said.

But Brog said CUI "sees no point in trading land for peace, when the Palestinians say Israel has no right to exist."

"It is true that we are interested in the end-times prophesies in the Bible," Brog said. "We do expect a great conflagration, a great war. But it doesn't affect our political activity. We want peace."

One reason CUI is holding meetings to support Israel in cities nationwide is to mobilize pressure on Congress and the Bush administration in matters pertaining to Israel.

Joel Kitsemble, pastor of Spirit of Faith Church in Madison and director of Wisconsin's CUI, helped coordinate bringing CUI to Madison. Kitsemble said the event - which included prayer, music, fundraising and speakers including Brog, Barukh Binah, consul general of Israel to the Midwest, and Billye Brim, who has studied Biblical prophecy - was held to "break down walls of separation between Christians and Jews."