Nobody took offense at his opening statement that you quote. Here's the transcript.
Good evening. Today we are gathered at a time of extraordinary challenge. Tonight we are all united in defense of Christians [applause]. Tonight, we are all united in defense of Jews [applause]. Tonight we are all united in defense of people of good faith who are standing together against those who would persecute and murder those who would dare disagree with their religious beliefs.
This is the section you quoted, and only applause is reported to this point. The transcript continues.
Religious bigotry is a cancer with many manifestations. ISIS, al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas [applause], and their state sponsors like Syria and Iran [applause], are all engage in a vicious genocidal campaign to destroy religious minorities in the Middle East. Sometimes we are told not to loop these groups together, that we have to understand their so-called nuances and differences. But we shouldn’t try to parse different manifestations of evil that are on a murderous rampage throughout the region. hate is hate. And murder is murder.
Again, nothing but applause to this point.
Our purpose here tonight is to highlight a terrible injustice. A humanitarian crisis. Christians, are being systematically exterminated. In 1948, Jews throughout the Middle East faced murder and extermination and fled to the nation of Israel. And today, Christians have no greater ally than the Jewish state. [mixed applause, boos, “come on”]
Here is where the boos broke out. People A has been in conflict with people B for 65 years. An outside stands up in front of a group of people B and tells them that they're confused, people A is really their greatest ally. Would you (or Cruz, presumably) expect anything other than a strong negative reaction?
Let me say this, those who hate Israel, hates America. And those who hate Jews, hate Christians.
Well, no, since some of the Arab Christians in the audience appear to hate Jews, probably in some cases with good reason, and they certainly don't hate themseles or their fellow Christians.
And if this room will not recognize that, then my heart weeps, that the men and women here will not stand in solidarity with Jews and Christians alike who are persecuted by radicals [applause] who seek to — [applause]. If you hate the Jewish people you are not reflecting the teachings of Christ [applause]. And the very same people who persecute and murder Christians right now, who crucify Christians and behead Children are the very same people who target and murder Jews for their faith for the very same reason. [applause, murmering, objections]. I will say this. I am saddened [shouting].
Sorry, but Cruz doesn't make a great deal of sense here, however good his intentions. The Arabs and Muslims have a good many reasons to hate and dislike Israelis other than their faith. Such as having lost several wars to them over 70 years. Arab Muslims have NO other reason than their faith to hate and slaughter Arab Christians.
What Cruz did here was put forward the proposition that no Christian can legitimately oppose Israel. IOW, he was telling the audience that their dislike/hate/opposition to a nation their own had been at war with for decades was illegitimate, and that they must quietly line up and instead become supporters of Israel.
I don't necessarily disagree with TC, but this was a very poorly chosen venue to bring it up.
Support for, or opposition to, Israel has very little to do, one way or the other, with the slaughter of Christians going on in the Middle East. Cruz was saying we can't talk about that slaughter unless you also agree to "stand in solidarity with Israel."