Transcript [00:03] Coming up on Jerusalem Dateline, eager [00:05] to strike a deal, President [music] [00:07] Trump puts military action on hold as [00:09] the diplomatic push for a breakthrough [00:11] with Iran continues. And the eighth [00:14] front, the war beyond the war, where [00:16] social media, public perception, and [00:19] global opinion are shaping the conflict. [00:22] Plus, always prepared, [music] inside [00:25] the extraordinary course helping Israeli [00:27] drivers survive terror attacks. All this [00:30] and more coming up on this edition of [00:32] Jerusalem Dateline. [00:35] Hello and welcome to this edition of [00:37] Jerusalem Dateline. I'm Chris Mitchell. [00:38] >> And I'm Paul Poteet. [00:40] >> On Saturday, President Trump called off [00:42] what he said would have been the biggest [00:44] bombing campaign since World War II. The [00:46] decision, yet again, shifts the focus [00:49] from military action to high-stakes [00:51] diplomacy. [00:52] >> But even as those negotiations continue, [00:54] Iran launched an overnight attack on a [00:56] US military base in Kuwait. Here's the [00:59] latest on the on-again, off-again war [01:01] with Iran. [01:05] >> On Air Force One, President Trump [01:07] explained why he called off the attack. [01:09] >> Uh I was asked to by Saudi Arabia, by [01:13] UAE, [01:14] and by Qatar, and by Iran. [01:17] Uh we were all set to go. It's about at [01:20] this time right now, and [01:22] uh it would have been a massive attack. [01:24] We're all set to go, but when the allies [01:28] asked to call it off, you got to sort of [01:31] say, "Well, let's see." And the reason [01:33] they asked is I think there's a deal. [01:35] >> On Truth Social, Trump said any [01:37] agreement must include two key elements: [01:40] the immediate, complete, and total [01:42] opening of the Hormuz Strait, and an end [01:44] to Iran's nuclear threat. Iran quickly [01:47] pushed back. Its military denied asking [01:50] President Trump to halt the strikes, and [01:53] insisted its forces remain on high [01:55] alert. And said talks with Oman are [01:58] focused on the future management of the [02:00] Strait of Hormuz. [02:02] Trump said negotiations will begin on [02:05] Monday. [02:06] Appearing on NBC News Meet the Press, [02:09] Republican Senator John Kennedy [02:11] cautioned the president. [02:13] >> He has to remember [02:15] that the Iranian government learned to [02:18] lie before they learned to talk. [02:21] And they're more than mildly insane. [02:24] Dealing with them is like dealing with [02:26] Son of Sam or Charles Manson. Whatever [02:30] he does, [02:31] do not release the sanctions stopping [02:35] their sale of oil or remove the blockade [02:39] until we see Iran take firm actions to [02:44] open the Strait. [02:45] >> Reports indicate Israel was expected to [02:47] play a role in the planned operation. [02:49] One official said if the strikes do not [02:52] significantly damage the regime or its [02:55] economic base, the attack would have [02:57] little strategic value. [02:59] Former IDF spokesman Jonathan Conricus [03:01] told CBN News one of the biggest [03:03] surprises has been the regime's [03:06] vulnerability. [03:07] >> How weak Iran is, how weak the Iranian [03:09] regime is, what a paper tiger they are. [03:13] Um I wasn't surprised by their cruelty [03:15] towards their own people. [03:17] Wasn't surprised by how they have lashed [03:19] out at other Arabs. I am surprised how [03:23] penetrable, how exposed uh the Iranian [03:27] regime is. [03:28] >> While analysts are debating the military [03:30] and political implications, some [03:32] Christian leaders believe an even deeper [03:34] spiritual struggle is taking place. [03:37] >> We are dealing with ancient spirits, as [03:40] you know, in the Middle East, the Prince [03:42] of Persia, that has controlled [03:44] geographic areas that are vast. And we [03:48] have to remember this is where it all [03:50] began. And so, the enemy does not want [03:54] to give up this territory and will [03:57] fight. [03:58] >> Cindy Jacobs of Generals International [04:00] said the key is regime change. [04:04] >> And the battle is over that. And I [04:07] believe that Iran is the linchpin. And [04:10] once it changes, the whole Middle East [04:13] will change. [04:14] >> Chris Mitchell, CBN News, Jerusalem. [04:20] >> Iran reportedly launched at least three [04:22] drones at a US military base in Kuwait [04:25] early Tuesday. Iranian officials insist [04:28] they will not accept a US-backed plan to [04:30] create an alternate shipping corridor [04:33] through the Strait. [04:36] >> We will by no means allow the second [04:37] quarter in the Strait of Hormuz. We [04:39] won't allow the second quarter to open. [04:41] Even if they deploy warships, we will [04:44] target them. [04:45] >> President Trump said Iran requested the [04:47] talks to avoid a massive US strike. [04:50] Later on Truth Social, he accused Iran's [04:53] leaders of being unbelievably [04:55] duplicitous. [04:56] >> Iran did not want to be hit. [04:59] And they said, "We want to talk. We want [05:01] to talk about the Strait, but more [05:03] importantly, from my standpoint, we want [05:06] to talk about the denuclearization [05:08] of Iran." Cuz it's what it's all about. [05:10] This is why I'm doing this. [05:12] >> The president said the talks will [05:13] proceed in two stages. First, reopen the [05:16] Strait of Hormuz to normal shipping. [05:18] Second, negotiate the complete [05:21] denuclearization of Iran. [05:23] >> The denuclearization [05:25] of Iran has to happen. Has to happen. [05:27] And that'll be the second phase. [05:29] >> In Gaza, where there appeared to be [05:31] disagreement between Trump's board of [05:33] peace and Israeli Prime Minister [05:35] Benjamin Netanyahu, the latest statement [05:38] described the meeting between them as [05:40] constructive. The goal is clear and is [05:42] not in question. The complete [05:44] decommissioning of weapons in the strip [05:46] and the transition away from rule by the [05:49] gun to civilian governance. According to [05:52] media reports, Netanyahu told a board of [05:54] peace official that Israel won't hold [05:57] its fire in Gaza, and will not withdraw [05:59] to the yellow line due to the threat [06:02] posed by Hamas. At a recent conference, [06:05] Rabbi Tuly Weisz, founder of Israel 365, [06:08] told CBN News he believes Israel will [06:11] only win if it holds on to the land God [06:14] gave the Jewish people in the Bible. [06:16] >> The path to victory is to continue to [06:19] strengthen our military to be able to [06:23] support our soldiers. We absolutely need [06:26] to hold on to every inch that God gave [06:29] to us of Judea and Samaria, even Gaza, [06:33] even Gaza. [06:34] >> Julie Stahl, CBN News, Jerusalem. [06:37] >> [music] [06:38] >> Beyond the rockets and the headlines, [06:40] some Israelis believe the decisive [06:42] battle is for hearts and minds around [06:44] the world. [06:45] >> Recently, I spoke with Sa'eed Asulin, an [06:47] expert on Iran and a former Mossad [06:49] operative. He says this eighth front is [06:52] about strengthening support for Israel [06:54] and building relationships rooted in [06:56] shared Judeo-Christian values. Take a [06:59] look. [07:02] Sa'eed, what is the eighth front? [07:04] >> Eighth front, Israel fought in seven [07:07] kinetic fronts starting Iran all the way [07:10] to Gaza, Iraq, etc. The eighth front is [07:13] the front [07:15] uh of public perceptions of PR, [07:18] uh undermining not just Israel, not just [07:21] Zionism, but mainly and eventually [07:24] Western civilization, Western countries. [07:26] This is the eighth front. This is not an [07:28] an Israeli concept. This is an [07:31] international concept that is relevant [07:33] to America, to Europe, to any society [07:36] that seek freedom and peace. [07:39] >> The battle against Israel, you say is [07:41] one of the most sophisticated in [07:42] history? [07:44] >> Look, I do believe [07:46] that the enemies of Israel, of Judaism, [07:49] of Western civilization [07:51] understood many years ago, almost 20 [07:53] years ago, that they they cannot win [07:56] against Israel and America and Western [07:58] countries [07:59] only by kinetic force. So, maybe I I [08:02] think the most sophisticated campaign [08:04] that humankind ever seen was launched [08:08] years ago by social media, by [08:11] uh lawfare, [08:12] by by uh penetrating [08:14] uh education systems, [08:17] uh universities, colleges, etc., etc. [08:19] And what we see right now is the [08:21] uh is the outcome of this campaign that [08:24] we see worldwide. We see that it's not a [08:27] coincidence that this is the situation [08:29] in Europe. It's not a coincidence that [08:32] uh um we have an extremist mayor, [08:35] Islamic mayor, in New York. It's not a [08:37] coincidence. This is well-done campaign [08:40] that we see the outcome of that right [08:42] now. We are focusing here in Israel to [08:45] initiate and uh and formalize uh [08:48] alliance that will be based on [08:50] Judeo-Christian [08:52] values, [08:53] countries, people that will stand [08:55] together to defend You know, we are in a [08:58] war. [08:59] We are in a war against radical Islam, [09:02] against woke extremist organization, uh [09:05] ultra-progress organization, and [09:08] communism. If those three organizations [09:11] came together to fight [09:13] in a very effective way, we we must uh [09:17] uh agree, against Western civilization [09:20] and [09:21] as as uh as a matter of that, also [09:23] Israel, for surely Jews and Christians [09:25] can come together to one camp and to [09:28] fight back. So, that's the concept of [09:30] the the eighth front. [09:32] >> What was today's meeting about? [09:34] >> So, this is a very very exci- exciting [09:37] uh uh meeting because first time, really [09:39] the first time in the history in Israel. [09:41] This is not a [09:42] another foreign affairs ministry [09:45] meeting. This is not something I you [09:47] know, religious Christian event. This is [09:50] an association of the municipalities of [09:53] Israel, mayors grassroots, people from [09:56] all over Israel coming together to this [09:58] main event that taking place once a [10:00] year. We are targeting to the Israeli [10:03] people, to the Israelis the average [10:05] Israelis, not those that usually groups [10:09] that coming from our outside communicate [10:11] with. I think it's extremely important [10:13] that Israelis will understand [10:16] why Christian people care so much for [10:19] Israel. Why they we which values we [10:22] share together. Why you have so much [10:24] zeal and love to to to the land of [10:27] Israel, to the Torah of Israel, to the [10:29] people of Israel. And the only way to do [10:31] that is like that. [10:33] People to people, grassroots, [10:35] communicate, coming together, knowing [10:37] each other, to know each other. [10:38] >> What's the next step? What's the future? [10:41] >> We hope [10:42] in the next Feast of Tabernacle [10:44] that usually thousands of Christians are [10:46] marching in Jerusalem with the embassy. [10:49] We hope that in few months in the next [10:51] Feast of Tabernacle thousands of [10:54] Israelis will march with them. And that [10:56] a year from now we will have not you [10:59] know, that you've been there. The room [11:00] was packed. That it will be double and [11:03] triple, but mainly to be very effective [11:06] to the Israel grassroots level that they [11:09] will understand why and who you are and [11:12] what you represent. And this movement, [11:14] this concept will grow and grow. [11:16] >> Any final thoughts? [11:18] >> Those are [11:20] special and crucial crucial moments I [11:22] think for Western civilization. We [11:25] should wake up. We need to understand [11:28] that we are facing the same enemy. [11:30] And we should fight back together. [11:32] >> And yes, this is a time for God's people [11:34] to stay together. [11:35] >> Come together. [11:36] >> Amen. [11:37] >> Absolutely. [11:38] >> Amen. [11:38] >> Thanks again. [11:39] >> Thanks again. [11:41] >> The battle over Israel's image may be [11:43] one of the defining fronts of the most [11:45] recent conflicts. [11:47] >> While on reserve duty for the IDF, [11:49] Rachel Lester helped produce videos [11:51] documenting Hamas's October 7th attacks. [11:54] She explains to our Middle East [11:56] correspondent Julie Stahl why she [11:58] believes the digital battlefield matters [12:00] now more than ever. [12:04] >> Rachel Lester, welcome to Jerusalem [12:06] Dateline. [12:08] Uh you you've written a book called [12:10] Digital Warrior about your experience in [12:13] the IDF Spokesperson's Unit after [12:16] October 7th. How important do you think [12:19] the digital narrative is to the war? [12:23] >> It's so important. It's as important as [12:25] the war on the ground. I talk a lot [12:26] about in my book about what [12:29] public perception does to actual [12:31] tangible you know, abilities of Israel [12:33] to fight. We we only have legitimacy to [12:36] fight as long as our allies support us, [12:38] namely the US. [12:40] Um and what we're seeing is that more [12:42] and more [12:43] Gen Z and you know, the future [12:45] generations are being raised with this [12:48] brainwashed ideology that the Jews are [12:51] evil, Israel's evil, Israel's committing [12:53] genocide, which of course we know it's [12:55] not, but we're the message hasn't been [12:57] effectively communicated and then we [13:00] know, you go into [13:02] Congress all of a sudden and you see [13:04] that the younger people are pushing for [13:06] more anti-Israel bills and to stop [13:08] funding the Iron Dome and to [13:11] basically stop having relationships with [13:13] Israel at all and that's all because [13:16] they were brainwashed by the wrong [13:17] narrative and that's why it's so [13:18] important for us in the IDF and and you [13:21] know, you, your viewers, [13:23] Jews and Christians alike to fight for [13:25] Israel because it has real impact on [13:28] Israel's ability to continue fighting. [13:30] >> So tell me what what what's how can [13:33] Israel go forward from here? What's [13:35] what's the next step? [13:36] >> So I have a chapter in my book called [13:38] what can you do and I think that there's [13:41] a several things that we could do to [13:44] take the next step in improving Israel's [13:46] image. Um the first one is that we have [13:49] to start fighting with emotions. [13:51] Something I noticed after October 7th [13:53] and in this immediate days after is that [13:56] when Israelis went on the news to public [13:58] you know international news to state [14:00] their case and and showcase the [14:02] atrocities, they were very serious, they [14:04] were very um modest I would say, they [14:07] were very uh [14:08] resilient and the Palestinians went on [14:11] the news before Israel even responded, [14:12] they were crying and you know, they were [14:14] full of emotion and it's just it's it's [14:16] easy for the heart to go out to those [14:18] type of people. [14:20] Um so I would say that the number one [14:21] thing is that Israel needs to fight with [14:23] more emotion. Um showcase Israelis who [14:27] like so essentially when I was in the [14:29] spokesperson's unit in reserves that [14:30] after a few weeks of the war, they told [14:32] us that we have to stop using um [14:34] atrocities footage in our videos because [14:36] it was too traumatizing for Israeli [14:38] society to keep reliving the day after [14:40] over and over and I completely empathize [14:42] with that, but I would say that we [14:44] needed to continue showing the world [14:46] what started this war, why we're [14:47] fighting to prevent that from ever [14:49] happening again. So um if Israel can you [14:52] know, meet young viewers where they're [14:55] at, you know, with emotions where it'll [14:57] go a long way. [14:59] >> Well, thank you very much Rachel. That's [15:01] very very very powerful. Thank you so [15:04] much for joining us. [15:05] >> Thank you. [15:09] >> You know Paula, it seems like Segue and [15:11] Rachel here are singing on the same song [15:13] sheet. Yeah. [15:15] >> Yeah, it is fascinating you know, what [15:16] we had digital warriors is a very good [15:18] name by the way because that is where [15:19] the battle is being fought right now. [15:21] You know, we talk about Gen Z, we're [15:22] talking about that they get their news [15:24] from Tik Tok. You know, they don't do [15:26] their homework, but she brought up a [15:27] very good point and that is the [15:28] emotional part of things. You know, it's [15:30] true, I think being here for what, about [15:33] a year now, first time in Israel just [15:35] about a year ago this month, that the [15:38] Jewish people, the Israelis are so [15:39] resilient, they don't show that emotion. [15:41] Meanwhile, you have the screaming [15:42] Palestinians that really skew things in [15:45] their favor. [15:46] >> Yeah, we saw that throughout the war in [15:47] Gaza, especially, you know, sometimes [15:49] the quote-unquote starving people. I [15:51] mean, they were it was very difficult [15:52] for the Palestinians there, but they [15:54] were actually using, you know, the [15:56] situation to manufacture, you know, some [15:59] of the things that just stirred people's [16:01] emotion. [16:02] >> Yeah, and they were staged. You know, [16:03] there was no holds barred here and I [16:05] recall also, I mean, it was it was just [16:07] about a year ago this month, maybe at [16:10] this exact time, but the New York Post [16:11] came out. I'm sorry, the New York Times [16:13] came out [16:14] with that photo of the starving child, [16:16] which of course was found to have a [16:18] medical condition. It became the poster [16:19] child for starvation everywhere and that [16:21] was used again and again and again. Even [16:23] almost to this day, we still hear the [16:25] genocide narrative. So, hats off, you [16:27] know, to people like Rachel who are [16:28] fighting the good fight so to speak. [16:30] >> Yeah, yeah. And the other thing that is [16:31] what you mentioned, it does have [16:32] real-world consequences. The vote in the [16:35] Congress right now actually trying to, [16:38] you know, defund the Iron Dome situation [16:41] and we see that there's a whole shift in [16:43] the Senate and the House about defunding [16:45] Israel and that so it has implications [16:48] in the real world. [16:49] >> Yeah, anti-Israel legislation is going [16:52] to be one of the platforms of the [16:54] Democratic Party, I believe, in 2026. [16:56] We'll have to watch that. I also go [16:58] ahead. [16:58] >> No, well, the other thing that's [16:59] happening is this growing alliance of [17:01] Jews and Christians. That's what Sagiv [17:03] is working on to try to have Jews and [17:05] Christians, first of all, wake up to the [17:07] dangers of radical Islam and this [17:09] red-green alliance with the left and and [17:12] to come together because he says the [17:14] stakes really are Western civilization. [17:17] >> It is And you know, the Muslim [17:18] Brotherhood has millions and millions [17:20] and millions of dollars. And we've had [17:22] uh Dr. Charles Asher Small on the [17:24] program and he talks about it, the [17:25] 100-year plan. They're at the 50-year [17:27] mark, and they're infiltrating uh as [17:29] Segiev talked about in education, [17:31] leadership, politics, journalism. [17:33] >> Yeah. [17:34] >> You know, this is a plan that's got to [17:35] be fought with voices that are loud, not [17:38] voices that capitulate, particularly [17:40] among the Christian among the Christians [17:42] out there who need to really understand [17:44] and and I keep hearing it. [17:45] >> Read your Old Testament. Get educated. [17:47] Do your own research. [17:48] >> And part of it, a companion to this is [17:50] called replacement theology, this idea [17:52] that the church has replaced Israel so [17:54] that Israel really doesn't have a a role [17:57] to play right now in in the world or in [17:59] the relationship to the church and into [18:02] the end times. [18:03] >> Yeah, and [18:04] because of that and because I go in and [18:07] out of the US and here, you don't hear [18:08] enough pastors talking about Israel, [18:11] talking about our relation, talking [18:12] about our roots. We're grafted in. You [18:14] don't replace. We're grafted. And and if [18:16] you don't get that right, it's a [18:18] slippery slope down to complete [18:19] confusion about who we are in Christ and [18:22] who we are as it relates to this land, [18:23] the whole thing. [18:24] >> Yeah, yeah. I've seen uh three three [18:26] events, I guess, earlier this year. [18:28] There was the [18:29] Judeo-Christian Zionist Congress that [18:31] brought Jews and Christians together. [18:33] They also had the Jerusalem Summit some [18:35] sponsored by the ICEJ talking about [18:37] replacement theology. And then this [18:39] thing with Segiev, the Eighth Front, [18:40] bringing Jews and Christians together to [18:43] fight what could be, you know, the big [18:45] end time battle. [18:46] >> Yeah, I'm looking forward to the Feast [18:47] of Tabernacles coming up here in the [18:49] fall because [18:50] as we know in the word, you know, what [18:52] the enemy means for harm, what does God [18:54] do? He turns it around for good. So, to [18:55] see even in the midst of everything that [18:57] we're talking about right now, [19:00] people coming together to stand for [19:01] Israel, [19:02] it could be groundbreaking. [19:03] >> Yeah. And that's something that's had [19:05] been They've been doing that for nearly [19:07] 40 years now, back from 1980. But you [19:09] see thousands of Christians in the [19:11] streets. So, Gabe's whole right now is [19:13] that Israelis will find out that there [19:16] are millions of Christians that stand [19:18] with them and and they march in the [19:19] streets here. Thousands here in the [19:21] streets, but millions around the world. [19:23] >> And now is the time you have to choose. [19:24] You almost have to. Which side are you [19:26] on? [19:27] >> Yeah, exactly. [19:29] >> War and the trauma of living under [19:31] missile fire take a toll on the spirit. [19:34] As a former war correspondent and [19:35] embedded reporter, I can vouch for the [19:37] fact that war changes you. But it [19:40] doesn't have to be forever. CBN Israel [19:42] helps Israelis in need every day with [19:45] trauma counseling, food, shelter, and [19:48] more. [19:49] >> After I was wounded in a terror attack [19:51] 22 years ago with my 3-year-old son, [19:54] we went through a lot of trauma. It [19:57] wasn't just the physical wounds. We saw [20:00] this trauma play out through the years [20:03] with my entire family. I had a vision of [20:06] somehow blending education with therapy [20:09] to turn the pain of terrorism into [20:11] miracles. [20:14] >> Sometimes a child has a very hard time [20:18] saying what is wrong or what he is [20:20] feeling because he just doesn't know the [20:22] words to describe it. And through art, [20:25] he can express what he feels inside [20:27] without having to give it a name. [20:29] >> So, we created a team of mobile [20:31] therapists that would go out and and go [20:34] out and meet the families and and do [20:37] what we call whole family therapy. [20:39] Thousands of families [20:42] have been uprooted, have been torn [20:44] apart, and it's our task to put them [20:46] back together. Take darkness and turn it [20:48] into light and take bitterness and turn [20:50] it into sweetness. [20:52] >> If you want to be a part of what CBN is [20:53] doing in Israel, go to cbnisrael.org. [21:00] >> In the US, new drivers are taught [21:02] defensive driving techniques in order to [21:04] prevent traffic accidents. [21:06] >> The class here in Israel goes much [21:07] further with a new course aimed at [21:09] helping drivers in Judea and Samaria [21:11] avoid terror attacks. Our colleague [21:14] Julie Stahl brings us that story. [21:18] >> Israeli drivers in Judea and Samaria [21:21] often share main roads with Palestinian [21:23] neighbors. This mix of traffic can [21:25] sometimes allow terrorists to launch [21:27] attacks along the highway. [21:29] >> I represent David Stern. He's a former [21:32] Marines guy that was driving in Itamar [21:36] and was hit by a terrorist. Because he [21:39] was well trained, he was able to hit [21:41] back. He pulled his gun, he shot the [21:44] terrorist, he took care of his wounds, [21:47] and he survived the attack. [21:49] >> How drivers react can often determine [21:52] the difference between life and death. [21:54] >> At the same time, I represent the family [21:57] of Rabbi Dee, [21:59] the mother and the two girls that also [22:02] were shot by Hamas people driving in the [22:04] Jordan Valley, but they lost control [22:07] over the car, and they were shot in zero [22:11] distance and died. [22:14] >> This potential danger led Shurat HaDin [22:17] Law Center to offer a course training [22:19] residents of Judea and Samaria on how to [22:22] respond in case of a terror attack on [22:24] the road. [22:26] >> When they throw stones at you, when they [22:28] shoot the car, when they throw a Molotov [22:31] cocktail [22:32] on you, and we bring experienced and [22:35] professional trainers [22:37] to teach the residents [22:39] >> Law Center founder, attorney Nitsana [22:41] Darshan-Leitner, [22:43] tells CBN News students bring their own [22:46] cars. Drivers in groups of 25 are [22:49] trained to face real threats and take [22:52] action to survive. [22:55] >> How conscious you have to be, how [22:58] quickly you have to think, and how to [23:00] save your kids that are sitting in the [23:03] car seat behind you. [23:06] We hear that over the time people really [23:09] use this training, use these skills, and [23:13] get off from terror attacks. [23:14] >> The most important lesson learned is not [23:17] panicking because drivers know how to [23:19] respond. [23:20] >> It teaches you to drive fully [23:23] consciously what can happen. It's scary, [23:26] right? Because one time when you drive [23:28] you want to enjoy the road, you want to [23:30] enjoy and today in some area are [23:31] beautiful. And yet you have to be [23:34] cautious, you have to be careful, and if [23:37] you get into a roadblock from stone or [23:40] rocks, don't lose control, know exactly [23:43] what you need to do. [23:45] And perhaps this way you can survive. [23:48] >> She says their goal is to save lives as [23:50] is taught by Jewish sages. [23:52] >> One who save one soul from the Jewish [23:56] people has saved an entire world. [23:59] If we able to save one soul, we did our [24:02] job. [24:03] >> Julie Stahl, CBN News, Bnei Brak, [24:06] Israel. [24:08] >> For our YouTube viewers today, we have [24:09] an interview with Bruce Pearl, a former [24:11] American college basketball coach who [24:14] brought the following message to the [24:15] first Judeo-Christian Zionist Congress [24:18] that was held earlier this year. [24:20] Coach Pearl, great to be with you. [24:21] >> Great to be with you, Chris. [24:22] >> So, tell us the message you were [24:24] bringing here to the first [24:26] Judeo-Christian Zionist Congress. [24:29] >> I start off by saying you got all these [24:30] incredible leaders, pastors, rabbis, [24:34] scholars. [24:35] What do you need a loudmouth Jewish [24:37] basketball coach for, right? [24:39] Um [24:40] but I told them the reason why I agreed [24:42] to do it is first I love my country and [24:44] I'm grateful for the opportunities. [24:47] Second is I love my ancestral Jewish [24:49] homeland. [24:50] And third I I wanted to say thank you to [24:53] the Jewish leaders who have been [24:55] passionate, [24:56] um who have been generous, who have been [24:59] part of the diaspora in standing with [25:01] Israel. And then I wanted to thank my [25:02] Christian brothers and sisters for [25:04] embracing the Jewish roots of their [25:06] Christian faith. [25:07] >> Yeah. Is this Is this a particularly [25:09] important time for an alliance for Jews [25:13] and Christians? [25:14] >> I think it's it is an important time for [25:16] that alliance. Um, [25:19] and but I think it's always been [25:22] an important time. I I'm a coach. So, by [25:25] nature, I'm just trying to bring people [25:26] together. I'm trying to find common [25:28] ground. And so, I talk about Jesus [25:31] living his life as a Jew, being a rabbi. [25:35] When Mary Magdalene saw him, what did [25:36] she say? [25:37] Rabbi. [25:39] 12 Jewish men die a horrific death [25:42] bringing Christianity to the world. [25:45] I just think these things connect us. I [25:47] do. Instead of [25:49] the things that may divide us because [25:53] we're waiting for Messiah to come. And [25:55] my Christian brothers and sisters are [25:56] waiting for him to come back. But he's [25:57] coming back to Jerusalem when he comes. [26:00] >> Mhm. [26:00] >> Whether it's the first time or the [26:01] second time, it doesn't matter. We're [26:02] waiting for the same things. So, these [26:04] are the things that I like to teach and [26:05] preach cuz I think together we can do so [26:08] much more [26:09] than we can apart. [26:11] >> Mhm. You mentioned a story in in your [26:14] message here about Eitan Alexander. And [26:17] you really spoke out for him. He was a [26:18] last living hostage there in Gaza. [26:22] >> Well, Chris, I was I just We had just [26:24] gotten done beating Creighton in the [26:26] Sweet 16 [26:27] and we're on the road to the Final Four. [26:29] We got to go to Atlanta to maybe play [26:31] Michigan or play Michigan State. That [26:34] Creighton win was a big win. And I was [26:36] walking down the hall with my players [26:37] getting ready to go to a press [26:38] conference. [26:39] And, uh, [26:41] I was thanking God for the blessing and [26:42] really, quite frankly, not ask [26:44] God, why? [26:46] You know, [26:48] I'm just not deserving, but so grateful. [26:51] And like, this is very Jewish now. In [26:53] our great joy, [26:55] God oftentimes reminds us of somebody [26:56] else that's not in such a good spot. [26:59] It's why we shatter the glass at a [27:00] wedding. [27:01] Cuz life can be really fragile, and [27:03] while we're celebrating a wedding, there [27:04] are others that aren't in such a good [27:05] spot. And Eitan Alexander's name comes [27:07] into my heart and into my head. So, I [27:09] asked the guys, I said, "Hey guys, you [27:11] guys know there's still one American [27:13] American held hostage and alive in the [27:15] dungeons of Gaza." [27:17] I said, "Would you mind terribly if I [27:18] start off this press conference cuz [27:19] millions of people are going to want to [27:21] hear about the game and what we're going [27:23] to do next week with Michigan, [27:25] and I want to say an American boy's name [27:28] whose father and family are waiting for [27:29] him. [27:30] Not sure if he's ever going to be alive, [27:32] if he'll ever play basketball again as a [27:33] kid." [27:35] And my guys said, "Coach, do it. 100% do [27:37] it." [27:38] And we did. [27:40] >> Changed his life and changed uh [27:43] his family's life. [27:44] Yeah. [27:45] What do you bring as a coach to this [27:48] congress? [27:50] This uh Zionist congress. [27:53] >> To me, again, Jerusalem can divide us [27:57] like some would want or can unite us. [28:00] It's the birthplace of all faiths, [28:01] Abraham, father of all nations. [28:04] And so, um [28:07] Chris, when I went to Jerusalem [28:09] the first time, [28:11] I was at [28:12] the gate to the uh [28:15] uh [28:16] um [28:18] Garden of Gethsemane. Uh Garden of [28:20] Gethsemane. [28:21] There happened to be in the spring and [28:23] there were red poppies flowers in the [28:25] grass. [28:27] And I just cried. [28:29] Wept. [28:30] And I wouldn't go in. [28:32] I just wouldn't take I wouldn't go in. [28:34] For these eyes [28:36] to be so blessed to be able to witness [28:37] that. [28:40] Seeing it is enough. It's enough. [28:42] This is where Jesus walked. This is [28:44] where he was ministered. This is where [28:45] he was betrayed. [28:47] And so, [28:48] um [28:49] you know, [28:51] I think Christians should be Zionists. [28:54] I just do. [28:56] It's the birthplace of their savior. [28:58] It's where he grew up. It's where he [29:00] learned. It's where he performed mir- [29:02] miracles, right? [29:03] >> Mhm. [29:05] >> And so, why wouldn't a Christian say, [29:07] "I'm going to stand on that wall?" [29:09] Jeremiah 62. [29:12] You'd be on that wall, Chris, wouldn't [29:13] you? [29:15] I'm going to try to get on that wall [29:17] and stand [29:19] and wait. [29:21] But while I'm waiting, I'm going to live [29:22] my life. [29:23] And I'm going to take advantage of the [29:24] blessings God's given us and and live it [29:26] to the fullest. [29:28] And uh it's worth the fight, and that's [29:29] why I'm here. I'm here to fight. [29:33] >> And how are you fighting? [29:35] >> One way is with my own success, my [29:37] family's success. [29:39] Um [29:40] by being generous, by being kind, [29:43] by giving back, [29:44] >> Mhm. [29:45] >> um by educating and teaching and [29:46] coaching. [29:48] This is what I'm doing. People say, [29:49] "Coach, [29:51] you're at the prime of your coaching [29:52] career, got a big contract, you've just [29:55] been to two Final Fours in the last five [29:58] Why in the world would you leave [29:59] coaching?" [30:01] I said, "Partly the pressure, pres- [30:03] partly, you know, whatever. I also [30:04] wanted to be able to give it to my son [30:05] and that staff, and there were a lot of [30:07] other reasons." But I said, "You know [30:08] what? I was waking up every morning not [30:10] worrying about beating Kentucky [30:11] in basketball, [30:13] was [30:14] waking up every morning and worrying [30:15] about my grandkids would be able to go [30:16] to synagogue and worship freely in this [30:19] country, or whether or not the lies and [30:21] the propaganda being told about Israel. [30:24] How on October 8th, the day after 1,200 [30:27] were murdered, raped, killed, [30:29] annihilated, and we saw the video, [30:32] how can these college campuses be uh [30:35] run around with kids talking about [30:36] freeing Palestine? [30:38] They don't even know what free Palestine [30:39] is. I'm I'm for free stuff. I mean, I'm [30:42] for freedom. For sure. [30:43] But what free Palestine is is free [30:45] Palestine of the Jews. [30:47] Like to kill them. [30:49] Or to kick them out of the land. [30:52] Do you think they know that? [30:54] Do you think they've been educated that? [30:55] And where where are our universities? [30:57] Our institutions want to stay neutral. [31:01] Has there been a a ray a rise in Middle [31:03] Eastern studies or Judaic studies or any [31:05] any any colleges campuses teaching [31:07] anything any differently right now but [31:08] this conflict? Any answer is no. Why no? [31:11] Because they don't want to call out [31:12] extreme Islamic extremism. Why? Because [31:15] it might bring protests. It might bring [31:18] some complaints from some people in the [31:19] faculty that we're taking sides. [31:23] Yeah. [31:25] We're taking sides. [31:26] We're on the side of God and the Bible. [31:28] We're on the side of good versus evil. [31:30] The Jewish people want to live [31:32] in peace with their Arab neighbors. [31:34] As you know from living in Jerusalem, [31:37] there are millions of Israeli Arabs [31:39] living their best lives [31:41] as Muslims or Christians. [31:45] You don't hear about it. [31:47] You don't. [31:48] And so um [31:50] it upsets me. [31:52] And it [31:54] it it it drives me. And and that's why I [31:56] want to coach [31:58] the truth. [32:01] Judeo-Christian values. [32:04] I want to I want to I want to coach [32:06] young Christian men [32:08] to work hard. [32:11] I want to coach them to put America [32:13] first but not America only. [32:16] It's not just white only. It's not just [32:18] men only. It's not just the church only. [32:23] The combination of patriotism [32:26] and love of God is very powerful. And [32:28] it's being it's being used right now to [32:30] attack our young Christian men into [32:32] thinking [32:35] that they can't embrace other aspects of [32:37] the Bible that are just true. [32:40] And uh [32:42] that's why I'm here. [32:43] >> You mentioned the danger there in your [32:44] message about replacement theology. [32:47] How dangerous is it? [32:49] >> Replacement theology is dangerous and [32:50] what I ask my Christian brothers and [32:52] sisters and our pastors and our leaders [32:54] to to talk about it, to teach it. Um it [32:57] doesn't have to be the focus. [32:59] The focus can be [33:01] you know, whatever the church fathers [33:03] want it to be. [33:05] But we can't deny [33:08] where Christianity started [33:11] and [33:12] what its beginnings were, how much we [33:15] how much [33:16] the Old Testament matters to the New [33:17] Testament. You're a scholar of both. [33:20] How much better of a Christian and how [33:22] much more do you understand the New [33:24] Testament [33:26] having studied the Old? [33:28] It just [33:29] So, listen. [33:31] I tell my friends, come visit. [33:34] Don't have to listen to me. Don't take [33:35] my word for it. You just come visit [33:38] Israel. Get off the plane. Go to the [33:39] beaches of Tel Aviv. [33:41] Let your eyes just wander [33:45] and see all the diversity. [33:46] See all the beauty. [33:48] You're going to see Jewish families and [33:49] Arab families [33:51] and kids in strollers side by side just [33:53] trying to live in peace. I know the [33:54] world wants to divide us. It's not [33:57] happening, Chris. It's not. [34:00] >> You're also on the board of a [34:02] organization called the US [34:04] >> Israel [34:05] >> Israel education [34:06] association. Tell us about that. [34:09] >> So, I would say if you would ask me what [34:10] my work is now, it's to take people to [34:14] Israel. [34:15] USIA [34:17] is [34:18] been around since 2011. [34:22] We took the first congressional [34:24] delegation over to meet with the prime [34:25] minister and got Iron Dome declassified. [34:28] In fact, Eric Cantor was on that visit [34:30] and they tripled the budget for Iron [34:33] Dome. Later that year, Iron Dome became [34:35] operational. [34:36] And Iron Dome has obviously saved [34:39] >> millions. [34:39] >> millions, and prevented what would have [34:42] been World War III. [34:44] Um and since then, USIA has been [34:47] educating congressional leaders and [34:49] taking congressional leaders to Israel, [34:50] not just [34:52] not just Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. We take [34:54] them to Judea and Samaria. [34:55] >> Mhm. [34:56] >> We take them to mid- visit with the [34:57] sheiks of Hebron [34:59] to go to see the Cave of the Patriarchs [35:03] where Abraham buried Sarah [35:06] and Isaac and Jacob and Leah. [35:09] And so, [35:10] that land is supposed to be disputed? [35:16] Genesis [35:19] Joshua talks about [35:21] when his father [35:22] put his hand on his thigh, [35:24] he said, "Take me back to the land where [35:25] our father was buried." [35:28] In other words, "Don't bury me here in [35:30] Egypt. [35:30] >> Mhm. [35:31] >> Take me back to Hebron." [35:32] >> Mhm. [35:33] >> There's nothing disputed about that [35:34] land. [35:36] I don't know how any Jewish person [35:39] could be willing [35:40] to give that up. [35:42] It's a part of Israel. [35:45] Um [35:46] and [35:47] it doesn't have to be part of Israel at [35:49] the expense of the Palestinians that are [35:51] living there. [35:53] In fact, local [35:55] Arab autonomy in Judea and Samaria would [35:58] be terrific. It'd be great. [36:01] But enjoy [36:03] and benefit from the enormous resources [36:06] of the State of Israel [36:08] by [36:10] coming together. [36:10] >> Mhm. [36:11] >> Who would Who would the leaders of Judea [36:14] The Arab leaders of Judea and Samaria [36:16] rather do business with, [36:19] help govern, educate, [36:21] teach, provide hospital care? The [36:24] Palestinian Authority [36:27] or governing body in the state of [36:28] Israel. [36:30] Palestinian Authority are corrupt. [36:33] They've stolen [36:34] billions from their people. [36:36] And just left them as refugees. [36:39] The government of Israel is willing to [36:42] accept [36:45] bring those Arabs in Judea and Samaria [36:47] into the fold. [36:49] It'd be really difficult to have them be [36:50] part of a federal election because all [36:52] of a sudden the numbers would outnumber [36:55] the Jewish state. [36:57] But they could govern themselves. [36:59] And they can they can re- Make Judea and [37:01] Samaria great again. [37:03] >> [laughter] [37:04] >> That would be great. Any final thoughts, [37:06] coach? [37:07] >> No, just just just know that I'm [37:09] grateful that that that I feel like um [37:12] I'm just um [37:15] so grateful for my Christian brothers [37:16] and sisters for loving and standing with [37:18] Israel. [37:19] And um [37:20] and I I know that uh God's with us. [37:23] And so hineni, here I am, Lord. [37:26] >> Amen. Thanks, coach. [37:28] >> Okay, thanks. [37:28] >> Well, that's all for this edition of [37:30] Jerusalem Dateline. Thanks for joining [37:31] us. [37:31] >> Yeah, appreciate you being here. And [37:33] remember to follow uh Jerusalem Dateline [37:35] on social media. And please keep praying [37:37] for wisdom for our leaders, President [37:39] Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu. [37:41] >> And pray also for the protection of [37:43] Israel and for the peace of Jerusalem. [37:45] I'm Chris Mitchell. And for all of us [37:47] here at the Jerusalem Bureau, we'll see [37:49] you next Friday on Jerusalem Dateline. [37:53] >> [music] [37:59] [music]
