1 00:00:03,270 --> 00:00:07,950 Speaker 1: Are Israelis going to fire Bibi Netanyahu for his failures 2 00:00:07,970 --> 00:00:13,490 Speaker 1: on October 7th? Or are Israelis going to rehire Netanyahu saying, OK, 3 00:00:13,530 --> 00:00:20,799 Speaker 1: that was bad, but look at all these successes. As 4 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: Israelis go to the polls on October 27th for our 5 00:00:24,380 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: first national elections in four years, are voters about to 6 00:00:27,780 --> 00:00:33,860 Speaker 1: say bye bye Bibi? Bibi Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu's nickname is Bibi. 7 00:00:34,540 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: And why are most of the polls showing that Netanyahu, 8 00:00:38,300 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 1: Bibi Netanyahu, and his political allies are in big, big 9 00:00:41,460 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: trouble and may soon be voted out of power? Who 10 00:00:44,900 --> 00:00:48,890 Speaker 1: is Gadi Eisenkot? And who is his Yashar party? Why 11 00:00:48,909 --> 00:00:53,110 Speaker 1: have they been surging all summer? Could Eisenkot become Israel's 12 00:00:53,170 --> 00:00:56,350 Speaker 1: next prime minister? What are the main issues and dynamics 13 00:00:56,430 --> 00:00:59,310 Speaker 1: at play in this election? And how should Christians be 14 00:00:59,370 --> 00:01:03,820 Speaker 1: praying as Israel's election day rapidly approaches? Hi, welcome to 15 00:01:04,420 --> 00:01:07,430 Speaker 1: Inside the Epicenter, a podcast of the Joshua Fund, a 16 00:01:07,470 --> 00:01:10,390 Speaker 1: ministry to bless Israel and her neighbors in the name 17 00:01:10,430 --> 00:01:14,130 Speaker 1: of Jesus. This is Joel Rosenberg, co-founder of the Joshua 18 00:01:14,150 --> 00:01:17,190 Speaker 1: Fund and your co-host with my dear and lovely wife, 19 00:01:17,390 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 1: Lynn Rosenberg. We are in Eilat right now, right on 20 00:01:21,220 --> 00:01:26,190 Speaker 1: the Red Sea. It's a beautiful little resort city in 21 00:01:26,290 --> 00:01:30,870 Speaker 1: Israel that from this vantage point, you can see Egypt, 22 00:01:31,209 --> 00:01:33,290 Speaker 1: you can see the kingdom of Jordan, and you can 23 00:01:33,330 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 1: see the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It's just a beautiful place. 24 00:01:36,459 --> 00:01:39,380 Speaker 1: We're here with some family and some ministry partners. But Lena, 25 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:41,580 Speaker 1: it's great to be with you. We're having fun in 26 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:46,180 Speaker 1: the sun, but Israelis are preparing for a big election day. 27 00:01:47,030 --> 00:01:52,450 Speaker 2: Yes, absolutely. And it's on the lips of every Israeli. 28 00:01:52,490 --> 00:01:55,420 Speaker 2: You can't talk for very long without people saying, so 29 00:01:55,450 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 2: what do you think is going to happen? What's it 30 00:01:56,940 --> 00:01:59,140 Speaker 2: going to be? And it's an amazing thing to think about. 31 00:01:59,180 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 2: Benjamin Netanyahu has been the prime minister, not consecutively, but 32 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:08,350 Speaker 2: all together for 19 years. That is quite a long time. 33 00:02:08,389 --> 00:02:11,690 Speaker 2: That is not the American two, four year terms. That 34 00:02:11,850 --> 00:02:15,090 Speaker 2: is a long time. So it's hard to, honestly, it's 35 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:19,169 Speaker 2: hard to imagine Israel being led by someone else. And 36 00:02:19,230 --> 00:02:23,110 Speaker 2: yet it seems that it's quite possible that's what we 37 00:02:23,150 --> 00:02:23,770 Speaker 2: could be looking at. 38 00:02:24,190 --> 00:02:28,750 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's true. When Netanyahu was first elected, it was 1996. 39 00:02:28,750 --> 00:02:34,290 Speaker 1: That's 30 years ago. Okay, now he was voted out 40 00:02:34,330 --> 00:02:37,210 Speaker 1: of power in 1999. So he only served about three years. 41 00:02:37,940 --> 00:02:41,399 Speaker 1: Then he was putting his comeback campaign team together in 2000. 42 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:44,590 Speaker 1: That's when I was briefly... hired just for a few months. 43 00:02:44,630 --> 00:02:46,510 Speaker 1: I didn't really play some major role or anything, but 44 00:02:46,530 --> 00:02:50,250 Speaker 1: I just want to say that I'm not close to Netanyahu. 45 00:02:50,669 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 1: We've met many times over the years. Lynn's met with Netanyahu. 46 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:58,260 Speaker 1: But I just want to be fully disclosing that I 47 00:02:58,300 --> 00:03:01,460 Speaker 1: did work for him once. But I've also been very, 48 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:05,550 Speaker 1: I think, open and honest both on this podcast and 49 00:03:05,590 --> 00:03:08,090 Speaker 1: on All Original News and the Rosenberg Report things I 50 00:03:08,290 --> 00:03:10,650 Speaker 1: agree with him on, things I disagree with him on. 51 00:03:10,910 --> 00:03:13,190 Speaker 1: The Joshua Fund is not a political organization. We're a 52 00:03:13,270 --> 00:03:19,210 Speaker 1: nonpartisan nonprofit and therefore nonpartisan organization. So we're not, this 53 00:03:19,250 --> 00:03:23,750 Speaker 1: podcast is not about supporting Netanyahu or being against him 54 00:03:23,780 --> 00:03:25,900 Speaker 1: or whatever, but it's trying to give you a sense 55 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:29,060 Speaker 1: as we get close, just two months away now to 56 00:03:29,100 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 1: these big elections. We want you as our audience and 57 00:03:32,540 --> 00:03:35,620 Speaker 1: Joshua Fund supporters and prayer partners just to know what 58 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 1: in the world is going on And how should we pray? Right. 59 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:42,100 Speaker 2: I mean, we can start with some facts. You know, growing, 60 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:45,020 Speaker 2: living in Washington all our married life until we moved 61 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:47,690 Speaker 2: to Israel 12 years ago. We're very familiar with elections 62 00:03:47,750 --> 00:03:49,110 Speaker 2: and politics and election cycles. 63 00:03:49,170 --> 00:03:51,210 Speaker 1: I helped a lot of people lose over the years. 64 00:03:51,250 --> 00:03:52,150 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, you did. 65 00:03:52,190 --> 00:03:54,590 Speaker 1: Apparently, including Netanyahu. 66 00:03:54,870 --> 00:03:57,340 Speaker 2: Many people have asked you to work for their enemies 67 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 2: so that you could continue that tradition. But you're always 68 00:04:00,820 --> 00:04:03,780 Speaker 2: looking at polls. People that are in politics, they want 69 00:04:03,810 --> 00:04:06,530 Speaker 2: to know what are the people thinking? If the election 70 00:04:06,550 --> 00:04:09,870 Speaker 2: was held today, what would happen? How would they vote? 71 00:04:09,910 --> 00:04:14,210 Speaker 2: And so there have been some polls lately. And we 72 00:04:14,270 --> 00:04:16,990 Speaker 2: have some of those details. Like, for instance, Israelis were 73 00:04:17,050 --> 00:04:19,650 Speaker 2: asked just this last week who they prefer to be 74 00:04:19,670 --> 00:04:22,730 Speaker 2: their next prime minister. Only 34% of them say Netanyahu. 75 00:04:22,730 --> 00:04:22,790 Speaker 1: 34%. 76 00:04:22,790 --> 00:04:30,170 Speaker 2: That's 6 in 10 Israelis saying no. To Netanyahu. 77 00:04:30,390 --> 00:04:33,350 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think American evangelicals, many of whom, not all, 78 00:04:33,410 --> 00:04:36,510 Speaker 1: but many of whom have a high respect for Netanyahu, 79 00:04:36,710 --> 00:04:41,350 Speaker 1: would be surprised to think that 60 percent, 58 technically, 80 00:04:41,350 --> 00:04:45,710 Speaker 1: 58 percent of Israelis say basically anybody but Netanyahu and 81 00:04:45,750 --> 00:04:48,710 Speaker 1: that only a third of the country wants him because 82 00:04:48,770 --> 00:04:53,630 Speaker 1: American evangelicals see him when he's usually at his big 83 00:04:53,690 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 1: picture strategic perspective. He's on American television. or he's speaking 84 00:04:58,900 --> 00:05:02,280 Speaker 1: to Congress, and he's giving the big picture. And we see, 85 00:05:02,380 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 1: you know, American evangelicals see Netanyahu's accomplishments. They don't see 86 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:10,140 Speaker 1: the sausage making of internal Israeli politics. And some of 87 00:05:10,180 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 1: the cross currents are reasons that Messianic Jews and Israeli 88 00:05:16,900 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: evangelicals don't, most, don't support Netanyahu. Well, we can talk 89 00:05:22,110 --> 00:05:25,169 Speaker 1: about that as we go through. But yeah, I think 90 00:05:25,330 --> 00:05:28,920 Speaker 1: Americans would be generally surprised, American evangelicals surprised that Netanyahu 91 00:05:28,980 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: is held in such low esteem right now. And in fact, 92 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:34,599 Speaker 1: the polls have been turning against him. Yeah. 93 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 2: So I think there's a couple of things to talk about. 94 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 2: I think for our listeners would be interesting to know, 95 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:41,510 Speaker 2: first of all, why, why would that be? What are 96 00:05:41,570 --> 00:05:44,710 Speaker 2: the issues at play? I think there's several things, you know, we're, 97 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 2: We've had a very challenging period of time, not just 98 00:05:48,460 --> 00:05:51,840 Speaker 2: October 7th forward, but even prior to October 7th, the 99 00:05:51,900 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 2: country was extremely divided, as divided as it has ever been. 100 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,460 Speaker 2: In fact, people, some people, Israeli leaders were saying that 101 00:05:58,790 --> 00:06:01,390 Speaker 2: there could be civil war. Like there was this much. 102 00:06:01,410 --> 00:06:03,929 Speaker 1: That was actually on the void. I mean, Israeli President 103 00:06:04,010 --> 00:06:06,870 Speaker 1: Herzog that we met with, he had said publicly that 104 00:06:07,470 --> 00:06:09,230 Speaker 1: Israel was on the verge of civil war. This was 105 00:06:09,270 --> 00:06:12,550 Speaker 1: just five months before October 7th. Right. 106 00:06:12,630 --> 00:06:16,860 Speaker 2: And then of course, when October 7th happened, And after 107 00:06:16,900 --> 00:06:20,020 Speaker 2: the shock wore off, the instant reaction of all Israelis 108 00:06:20,060 --> 00:06:23,099 Speaker 2: was to come together to put down their protesting signs. 109 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:25,919 Speaker 2: I mean, literally prior to October 7th, there were protests 110 00:06:26,020 --> 00:06:29,920 Speaker 2: against Bibi for a lot of things, for judicial reform, 111 00:06:29,940 --> 00:06:32,990 Speaker 2: for everything. Just the way that he was handling various issues. 112 00:06:33,029 --> 00:06:34,450 Speaker 2: And we can get into that if you want, Joel. 113 00:06:34,470 --> 00:06:36,870 Speaker 2: But but basically, there were so many protests that they 114 00:06:36,910 --> 00:06:39,830 Speaker 2: were shutting down the highways of Israel. They were shutting 115 00:06:39,910 --> 00:06:43,630 Speaker 2: down Tel Aviv. They were blocking Netanyahu's wife in beauty 116 00:06:43,650 --> 00:06:46,450 Speaker 2: salons where she had to get extracted by people. 117 00:06:46,490 --> 00:06:49,690 Speaker 1: I mean, it was universities shut down, banks shut down 118 00:06:49,730 --> 00:06:53,390 Speaker 1: at its worst moment, at its lowest moment. The whole 119 00:06:53,430 --> 00:06:56,950 Speaker 1: country basically came to a screeching halt and a million Israelis, 120 00:06:57,330 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 1: a million Israelis were out on the streets protesting against Netanyahu. 121 00:07:01,660 --> 00:07:05,340 Speaker 1: The country is only 10 million and 2.6 million are children. 122 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 1: So if you think about a million out of, let's say, 123 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 1: 7 million, that's a staggering. It'd be like 50 million 124 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 1: Americans turning out under the streets to protest Trump or 125 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 1: protest Biden or whatever. 126 00:07:18,180 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 2: But when October 7th happened, Israelis really, for the most part, 127 00:07:22,300 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 2: I would say largely, put down their protest signs and 128 00:07:25,540 --> 00:07:29,850 Speaker 2: picked up their weapons, picked up their, just started to help, 129 00:07:29,950 --> 00:07:32,490 Speaker 2: started to organize to do things to support the country. 130 00:07:32,870 --> 00:07:35,930 Speaker 2: They were wanting the hostages to be freed. They were 131 00:07:35,970 --> 00:07:39,370 Speaker 2: trying to organize support groups for hostage families. I mean, 132 00:07:39,870 --> 00:07:42,950 Speaker 2: Israel's an amazing place when they're in a crisis, they 133 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 2: come together like a family, like a really healthy family should, 134 00:07:46,500 --> 00:07:51,090 Speaker 2: and it's amazing. The years have now worn on and 135 00:07:51,270 --> 00:07:54,690 Speaker 2: people are beginning to pick up their protest signs again. 136 00:07:54,710 --> 00:07:57,940 Speaker 2: And also because the election is coming close. And I 137 00:07:57,980 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 2: think part of it is all those issues that were 138 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:04,260 Speaker 2: there before. But also, October 7th is a huge issue. 139 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:06,970 Speaker 2: Why did it happen? Did Bibi allow it to happen? 140 00:08:07,310 --> 00:08:09,370 Speaker 2: And how has he handled it so far? What do 141 00:08:09,390 --> 00:08:11,350 Speaker 2: you want to start explaining these things, Joel? 142 00:08:12,150 --> 00:08:14,810 Speaker 1: It's a good question. Let's set up the sort of 143 00:08:14,850 --> 00:08:17,290 Speaker 1: the edges of the puzzle again, just for a moment. 144 00:08:17,550 --> 00:08:20,570 Speaker 1: We're talking about an election. So we're talking about Netanyahu 145 00:08:20,630 --> 00:08:23,500 Speaker 1: is the leader of a party called Likud. That's a 146 00:08:23,620 --> 00:08:25,620 Speaker 1: center right. So pretty much at this point, it's not 147 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 1: even center. I would say a right wing party. Right now, 148 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 1: as we sit here and we have this conversation, Lynn, right, 149 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:35,260 Speaker 1: the government led by Netanyahu, led by the Likud party 150 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:39,309 Speaker 1: with its other coalition partners. Likud has 32 seats. in 151 00:08:39,350 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 1: our parliament. The parliament is called the Knesset, basically the 152 00:08:43,390 --> 00:08:49,560 Speaker 1: gathering place. And so Likud has 32 seats of the 153 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:52,860 Speaker 1: 120 seats in the parliament. So basically one in four 154 00:08:52,900 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 1: seats is controlled by Netanyahu and his team. Okay, so 155 00:08:56,540 --> 00:08:59,500 Speaker 1: there you go. Now, polls are showing that if the 156 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:02,030 Speaker 1: elections were held right this moment, as you and I 157 00:09:02,050 --> 00:09:04,910 Speaker 1: record this, Likud would drop from 32 to 20 or so. 158 00:09:07,050 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: that's a collapse of one third of the support of 159 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:12,520 Speaker 1: Netanyahu and his party. So again, we'll get to the 160 00:09:12,700 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 1: specific reasons in a moment, but that just shows how 161 00:09:15,260 --> 00:09:20,140 Speaker 1: precarious Netanyahu's situation is. His coalition partners have also collapsed. 162 00:09:20,300 --> 00:09:24,830 Speaker 1: His finance minister, a man named Bezalel Smotrich, his party 163 00:09:25,490 --> 00:09:27,710 Speaker 1: looks like it's going to not even make it back 164 00:09:27,870 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: into the parliament unless this new deal merger that Smotrich 165 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:36,680 Speaker 1: made with another party might get it five seats, six seats. 166 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 1: But my point is, like a week ago, Smotrich was, 167 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:43,020 Speaker 1: his party had been, you know, hit by a tsunami 168 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 1: and was heading out to sea, you know. So two 169 00:09:47,179 --> 00:09:51,830 Speaker 1: senior partners of Netanyahu's party have just bolted and said, 170 00:09:52,190 --> 00:09:54,650 Speaker 1: we're done with Netanyahu. We are going to start our 171 00:09:54,710 --> 00:09:57,569 Speaker 1: own party. This is a former Speaker of the Parliament, 172 00:09:58,220 --> 00:10:02,170 Speaker 1: former Chairman of the Foreign Relations and Security Committee, committee 173 00:10:02,429 --> 00:10:06,790 Speaker 1: in the Knesset. And that's the same person, Yuli Edelstein. 174 00:10:07,429 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 1: And Gilad Erdan, who was Netanyahu's appointee to be the 175 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 1: Israeli ambassador to both to the UN and to the US. 176 00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:18,980 Speaker 1: Like these are not insignificant backbenchers. These were senior people. 177 00:10:19,020 --> 00:10:21,689 Speaker 1: And they're like, yeah, we're done with Bibi. Now, that 178 00:10:21,710 --> 00:10:24,950 Speaker 1: being said, who's the challenger? Again, just setting up the context. 179 00:10:25,790 --> 00:10:29,329 Speaker 1: Gadi Eisenkot. Now, Gadi Eisenkot is a very interesting figure. 180 00:10:29,350 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 1: Right now, Well, when the year began, when 2026 began, 181 00:10:34,220 --> 00:10:38,420 Speaker 1: Gadi Eisen has a party called Yashar, which basically means straight, 182 00:10:38,900 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 1: but it can also be sort of interpreted as true 183 00:10:41,100 --> 00:10:43,339 Speaker 1: or honest. But Yashar, straight. 184 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:46,660 Speaker 2: Right. Like I'm dealing straight with you. I'm speaking straight 185 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 2: to you. 186 00:10:47,100 --> 00:10:47,340 Speaker 1: Right. 187 00:10:47,420 --> 00:10:49,199 Speaker 2: I'm not sugarcoating it. 188 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 1: Exactly. But even when, you know, when you're driving along 189 00:10:52,340 --> 00:10:55,370 Speaker 1: and you've got your Waze GPS system, you'll come up 190 00:10:55,420 --> 00:10:58,490 Speaker 1: to a traffic circle and it'll say Yashar. It just 191 00:10:58,500 --> 00:11:01,290 Speaker 1: means go straight. Okay. So that's the, That's what Gadi 192 00:11:01,309 --> 00:11:05,990 Speaker 1: Aizenkot's party is called. So Aizenkot's party was at 10 193 00:11:05,990 --> 00:11:11,290 Speaker 1: seats in January. By summer, he was at 20 seats. 194 00:11:11,630 --> 00:11:14,439 Speaker 1: And now we're in the fall. Several polls have him 195 00:11:14,500 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 1: at 26 seats. He and his party are now ahead 196 00:11:19,580 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 1: of Netanyahu. So it's basically Bibi versus Gadi. And so 197 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:27,600 Speaker 1: that's interesting. Now, we're in the city of Anglat. We're 198 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:30,980 Speaker 1: not here for this reason. but Gadi Eizenkot is an Elati. 199 00:11:31,140 --> 00:11:33,880 Speaker 1: He's somebody from the city. This is a, it's a 200 00:11:33,940 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 1: tourist town, but it's also a very blue collar town. 201 00:11:36,580 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 1: It's an immigrant town. It's a, it's a town sort of, 202 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:43,990 Speaker 1: it's not the polished Tel Aviv suburbs that are sort 203 00:11:44,010 --> 00:11:45,410 Speaker 1: of bougie, you know. 204 00:11:45,450 --> 00:11:48,390 Speaker 2: It's what Israelis would call the periphery. So, you know, 205 00:11:48,429 --> 00:11:51,350 Speaker 2: it's not the Tel Aviv to Jerusalem corridor, that center, 206 00:11:51,390 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 2: the Merkaz, that's the center of Israel. The periphery are 207 00:11:54,460 --> 00:11:56,830 Speaker 2: these anything that's far out on the edges and you 208 00:11:56,850 --> 00:11:59,370 Speaker 2: can't really get farther out on the edges than Eilat. There's, 209 00:11:59,650 --> 00:12:03,790 Speaker 2: there's an entire desert in between Jerusalem and Eilat. So it's, 210 00:12:03,970 --> 00:12:04,170 Speaker 2: it's a. 211 00:12:04,150 --> 00:12:05,990 Speaker 1: Four hour drive from Jerusalem here. 212 00:12:06,170 --> 00:12:09,439 Speaker 2: So he grew up here in a place far from politics, 213 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:13,160 Speaker 2: far from, yeah, far from the Polish and the educational elite. 214 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 1: Right. And there's, there's basically two different dynamics in this 215 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:23,390 Speaker 1: campaign right now. The first dynamic is, policy, yes, ideas 216 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 1: and positions and history, like what you've done or what 217 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:29,380 Speaker 1: you've not done. There's also personality and style. And I 218 00:12:29,420 --> 00:12:32,440 Speaker 1: want to start with the personality and style and do 219 00:12:32,460 --> 00:12:38,230 Speaker 1: the contrast. So Netanyahu is basically from Israeli royalty. Okay, 220 00:12:38,250 --> 00:12:40,490 Speaker 1: we don't really have a king here. You have to 221 00:12:40,530 --> 00:12:42,670 Speaker 1: go back to King David and King Solomon and all that. 222 00:12:43,350 --> 00:12:46,290 Speaker 1: But he has been in the ruling elite for and 223 00:12:46,450 --> 00:12:49,750 Speaker 1: the intellectual elite of the country. His father was a 224 00:12:50,030 --> 00:12:54,490 Speaker 1: major intellectual here in the country. And this goes back decades. Netanyahu, 225 00:12:54,550 --> 00:12:57,210 Speaker 1: as you mentioned, has been prime minister on and off 226 00:12:57,270 --> 00:13:01,310 Speaker 1: for 19 years. So he's considered sort of political royalty. 227 00:13:01,730 --> 00:13:05,290 Speaker 1: Gadi Agincourt is new to politics. He served in the 228 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:10,060 Speaker 1: Israeli military for about 36 years, rising from a basic 229 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 1: commando officer to all the way up to the IDF 230 00:13:12,860 --> 00:13:15,500 Speaker 1: chief of staff. That's the equivalent of the joint chiefs 231 00:13:15,540 --> 00:13:17,679 Speaker 1: of staff, the chairman of the joint chief staff. So 232 00:13:17,980 --> 00:13:20,660 Speaker 1: like super high. And who appointed Gadi Eisenkot to be 233 00:13:20,700 --> 00:13:23,939 Speaker 1: the IDF chief of staff? Well, that was Bibi Netanyahu. 234 00:13:24,300 --> 00:13:27,199 Speaker 1: So they've worked closely in the past, but obviously they've 235 00:13:27,220 --> 00:13:31,240 Speaker 1: had a huge break. So that's one difference. Netanyahu did 236 00:13:31,300 --> 00:13:34,260 Speaker 1: serve in the military, but basically of the political elite, 237 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:38,300 Speaker 1: Gadi Eisenkot spent his entire career in the military until 238 00:13:38,340 --> 00:13:42,490 Speaker 1: he retired and then entered politics. Also, another difference, Netanyahu 239 00:13:42,550 --> 00:13:47,450 Speaker 1: is from a European Jewish ancestry, which is known as Ashkenazi. 240 00:13:48,170 --> 00:13:52,310 Speaker 1: That's most Israelis. But a significant portion of the country 241 00:13:52,429 --> 00:13:57,210 Speaker 1: is known as Sephardic or technically that means Spanish. But 242 00:13:57,350 --> 00:14:00,590 Speaker 1: what it really means is another term is Mizrahi, which 243 00:14:00,670 --> 00:14:04,530 Speaker 1: is Eastern, meaning you're Jews that you were born or 244 00:14:04,550 --> 00:14:07,290 Speaker 1: your parents were born in an Arab country and then 245 00:14:07,370 --> 00:14:10,390 Speaker 1: had to flee the Arab world to get to Israel. 246 00:14:10,900 --> 00:14:15,240 Speaker 1: after 1948, when the Arabs kicked out almost 900,000 Jews. 247 00:14:15,380 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: So Netanyahu comes from the Ashkenazi. Again, that's the intellectual 248 00:14:19,990 --> 00:14:22,989 Speaker 1: elite of the country. Gadi Azenkot is from sort of 249 00:14:23,030 --> 00:14:27,790 Speaker 1: the blue collar Arab Jewish background. His family is from Morocco. 250 00:14:28,330 --> 00:14:31,450 Speaker 1: And there's never been a prime minister in Israel from 251 00:14:31,890 --> 00:14:35,890 Speaker 1: the Sephardic or Mizrahi roots. And so the other thing is, 252 00:14:36,690 --> 00:14:38,890 Speaker 1: and I'm not sure this is fair, but it is true. 253 00:14:39,750 --> 00:14:42,310 Speaker 1: So a lot of people are talking here, well, Netanyahu, 254 00:14:42,670 --> 00:14:45,170 Speaker 1: first of all, he did a terrible job and allowed 255 00:14:45,290 --> 00:14:47,990 Speaker 1: October 7th to happen. But then once it happened and 256 00:14:48,170 --> 00:14:49,970 Speaker 1: all of our sons got called up into the army 257 00:14:50,030 --> 00:14:56,550 Speaker 1: and daughters, Netanyahu's oldest, Yair, went to Miami and sort 258 00:14:56,590 --> 00:15:01,170 Speaker 1: of camped out for the dangers of the war, not 259 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:04,540 Speaker 1: serving in the military. But where Gadi Eizenkot's only son 260 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:08,500 Speaker 1: served in the military and was killed. in combat in 261 00:15:08,560 --> 00:15:14,030 Speaker 1: Gaza fighting Hamas. And then two of Agadi Eisenkot's nephews 262 00:15:14,590 --> 00:15:17,770 Speaker 1: were also killed in combat in the idea of fighting 263 00:15:17,830 --> 00:15:22,250 Speaker 1: against Hamas in Gaza. So tragic. And it's not entirely 264 00:15:22,340 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 1: fair to say that there are differences. Being the prime 265 00:15:24,540 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 1: minister's son, are you going to send the prime minister's 266 00:15:25,940 --> 00:15:29,860 Speaker 1: son into Gaza to fight? But why wasn't he in intelligence? 267 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:32,750 Speaker 1: Why wasn't he in logistics? Why wasn't he serving? I 268 00:15:32,770 --> 00:15:35,910 Speaker 1: don't actually honestly know the answer, but many Israelis who 269 00:15:35,950 --> 00:15:39,590 Speaker 1: are already inclined to be against Netanyahu say, look, Ghanaias 270 00:15:39,630 --> 00:15:43,080 Speaker 1: understands us. He's gone through it. He's paid the price. 271 00:15:43,150 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 1: He and his whole family, whereas Bibi made good or 272 00:15:47,020 --> 00:15:50,300 Speaker 1: bad decisions based on how you see it. And his 273 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 1: oldest son didn't even serve. So those are some of 274 00:15:54,140 --> 00:15:57,370 Speaker 1: the stylistic differences. Also, Bibi is just incredibly fluent in 275 00:15:57,420 --> 00:16:00,670 Speaker 1: English and polished as a speaker. And I've met him. 276 00:16:00,730 --> 00:16:03,910 Speaker 1: I know both. I've spent time with Eisenkot. He's a 277 00:16:04,030 --> 00:16:06,490 Speaker 1: very interesting guy. He's very warm, but he comes off 278 00:16:06,550 --> 00:16:09,630 Speaker 1: as just a little more gruff. His English isn't perfect. 279 00:16:09,670 --> 00:16:12,450 Speaker 1: It's good, but it's not perfect. He's more blue collar 280 00:16:12,930 --> 00:16:17,590 Speaker 1: and to use sort of an American term and Bebe's 281 00:16:17,630 --> 00:16:18,570 Speaker 1: definitely white collar. 282 00:16:19,070 --> 00:16:24,390 Speaker 2: Yeah, I heard someone describe Eisenkot as a walking epitome 283 00:16:24,580 --> 00:16:27,180 Speaker 2: of the nation. In the sense that he has suffered. 284 00:16:27,260 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 2: He has suffered and he has served and he has suffered. 285 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 2: He's carrying the sorrow of October 7th with him personally 286 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:36,020 Speaker 2: in the way that the nation has done. And so 287 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 2: I think that's part of why people are responding to him, 288 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 2: even though he hasn't done a lot to put out 289 00:16:41,460 --> 00:16:44,380 Speaker 2: what his positions are on various things. But one more 290 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:46,640 Speaker 2: thing I just want to make sure that we understand, too, 291 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 2: about Bibi. You said Bibi was intellectual. He comes from this, 292 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:53,140 Speaker 2: you know, sort of noble background. You know, elite and everything. 293 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:57,730 Speaker 2: But he did serve. He served his country admirably, honorably. 294 00:16:57,950 --> 00:17:01,970 Speaker 2: He lost his brother, of course, who was an amazing leader, 295 00:17:02,010 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 2: an amazing hero, a hero of Israel who was part 296 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:09,100 Speaker 2: of the raid, rescuing the hostages, the Israeli and other 297 00:17:09,140 --> 00:17:13,149 Speaker 2: hostages that were held in Entebbe. back in 76. And so, uh, 298 00:17:13,930 --> 00:17:15,770 Speaker 2: you know, he's the only Israeli that was killed. He 299 00:17:15,830 --> 00:17:18,850 Speaker 2: led that operation. And so Bibi has felt Bibi is 300 00:17:19,210 --> 00:17:21,710 Speaker 2: also a walking epitome of Israel. There's no way to 301 00:17:21,790 --> 00:17:24,110 Speaker 2: say that he's out of touch or he's, he's not 302 00:17:24,150 --> 00:17:26,429 Speaker 2: a man who's carried the sorrow of his people and 303 00:17:26,470 --> 00:17:29,970 Speaker 2: the responsibility. We we've said many times that he has 304 00:17:30,010 --> 00:17:32,629 Speaker 2: said many times that he feels he was called, he 305 00:17:32,650 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 2: was born to protect Israel from the Iranian nuclear threat. 306 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:39,440 Speaker 2: And he has been so effective in making that case 307 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 2: to America, in making that case to the world, and 308 00:17:41,980 --> 00:17:44,159 Speaker 2: then in taking the steps to do something about it. 309 00:17:44,220 --> 00:17:46,859 Speaker 2: And so we're not by any means trying to say 310 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:51,530 Speaker 2: one is more an epitome of Israel than the other. 311 00:17:51,810 --> 00:17:54,679 Speaker 2: They certainly are both amazing men. We're just trying to 312 00:17:54,790 --> 00:17:58,390 Speaker 2: tell you the differences and how Israelis are talking about 313 00:17:58,430 --> 00:18:00,030 Speaker 2: the two in contrast. 314 00:18:00,170 --> 00:18:02,930 Speaker 1: Right. The 60% of Israelis who are like, we're done 315 00:18:02,950 --> 00:18:06,109 Speaker 1: with Bibi. Like even the most charitable of those who 316 00:18:06,150 --> 00:18:08,659 Speaker 1: are against him, Again, just to be clear, there's a 317 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:11,260 Speaker 1: difference because he, you know, he does have a third 318 00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:13,419 Speaker 1: of the country with him. And he, you know, if 319 00:18:13,460 --> 00:18:14,900 Speaker 1: a third of the country voted for him right now, 320 00:18:14,980 --> 00:18:19,530 Speaker 1: he'd have the same number of votes. But some people 321 00:18:19,550 --> 00:18:21,330 Speaker 1: are saying they're with him, but they're not going to. 322 00:18:21,550 --> 00:18:24,129 Speaker 1: I mean, they they appreciate him and they support him, 323 00:18:24,170 --> 00:18:25,970 Speaker 1: but they're not going to vote for him and his party. 324 00:18:26,330 --> 00:18:29,010 Speaker 1: So there's a there's a distinction there. It would be 325 00:18:29,030 --> 00:18:31,030 Speaker 1: a little bit like maybe. I mean, I think it's 326 00:18:31,330 --> 00:18:35,390 Speaker 1: just analytically like Winston Churchill won World War Two for 327 00:18:35,430 --> 00:18:40,310 Speaker 1: the British. Like. understood the Nazi threat before anybody else. 328 00:18:40,770 --> 00:18:43,170 Speaker 1: And then once he was given power, he worked with 329 00:18:43,770 --> 00:18:46,470 Speaker 1: the president of the United States, FDR, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 330 00:18:46,510 --> 00:18:49,590 Speaker 1: and they won, right? But what happened at the end 331 00:18:49,609 --> 00:18:52,670 Speaker 1: of that war? The British people were like, thank you, Mr. Churchill, 332 00:18:53,490 --> 00:18:57,800 Speaker 1: but goodbye. You were the great wartime president or prime 333 00:18:57,820 --> 00:19:00,460 Speaker 1: minister of Great Britain, but now we're going to turn 334 00:19:00,500 --> 00:19:02,900 Speaker 1: towards somebody who can lead us into a new era, 335 00:19:02,940 --> 00:19:07,359 Speaker 1: a fresh era, a domestic policy, economic growth era. And 336 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:09,880 Speaker 1: that was a big change. And I think that even 337 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:12,820 Speaker 1: people who like, look, I like Bibi. I trust Bibi. 338 00:19:13,260 --> 00:19:16,500 Speaker 1: I'm disappointed by some of the mistakes, but I think 339 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:19,379 Speaker 1: that maybe we need a change. So we're not sharing 340 00:19:19,420 --> 00:19:21,740 Speaker 1: with you our personal opinions. What we're sharing with you 341 00:19:21,940 --> 00:19:25,310 Speaker 1: is what is the dynamic here? And there are big 342 00:19:25,690 --> 00:19:28,350 Speaker 1: policy differences and there are big decisions that have been 343 00:19:28,369 --> 00:19:32,250 Speaker 1: made that both Netanyahu and Eisenhower were part of. We 344 00:19:32,270 --> 00:19:35,140 Speaker 1: want to share those with you. To better understand what's 345 00:19:35,180 --> 00:19:37,530 Speaker 1: happening and how to pray. That's the big question is, 346 00:19:37,850 --> 00:19:40,949 Speaker 1: as Israel goes forward, the God of Israel doesn't slumber 347 00:19:40,970 --> 00:19:43,090 Speaker 1: or sleep. He's going to be with us forever. But 348 00:19:43,190 --> 00:19:45,909 Speaker 1: he does, as we read in Daniel chapter two, he 349 00:19:45,950 --> 00:19:49,370 Speaker 1: raises up kings and he removes kings, or in this case, 350 00:19:49,490 --> 00:19:51,830 Speaker 1: prime minister. So we're going to get it back to 351 00:19:51,869 --> 00:19:54,270 Speaker 1: this in just a moment. Don't go away. We've got 352 00:19:54,350 --> 00:19:57,119 Speaker 1: more right here on Inside the Epicenter. 353 00:20:04,470 --> 00:20:07,460 Speaker 2: Our verses for today come from Daniel chapter two, verses 354 00:20:07,460 --> 00:20:12,080 Speaker 2: 20 through 22. Daniel answered and said, blessed be the 355 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 2: name of God forever and ever to whom belongs wisdom 356 00:20:16,380 --> 00:20:21,540 Speaker 2: and might. He changes times and seasons. He removes Kings 357 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:25,000 Speaker 2: and sets up Kings. He gives wisdom to the wise 358 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:28,820 Speaker 2: and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep 359 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:31,700 Speaker 2: and hidden things. He knows what is in the darkness. 360 00:20:32,250 --> 00:20:36,189 Speaker 2: and the light dwells with him. Will you join us 361 00:20:36,260 --> 00:20:39,640 Speaker 2: in praying for Israel at this time of great change, 362 00:20:39,660 --> 00:20:43,120 Speaker 2: this time of great questioning? Who should lead us? Would 363 00:20:43,140 --> 00:20:46,179 Speaker 2: you pray that the Israelis would turn their hearts to 364 00:20:46,220 --> 00:20:48,830 Speaker 2: the Lord and say, the Lord should lead us? This 365 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:51,070 Speaker 2: is the most important thing you could be praying for Israel, 366 00:20:51,109 --> 00:20:53,190 Speaker 2: that they would be calling out to God as their 367 00:20:53,250 --> 00:20:56,350 Speaker 2: father and as their leader and as their protector. But 368 00:20:56,430 --> 00:20:59,590 Speaker 2: in addition, pray for this election. Pray that we know 369 00:20:59,770 --> 00:21:03,230 Speaker 2: that God's will will be done. We pray that people 370 00:21:03,770 --> 00:21:06,560 Speaker 2: are elected and put into place that will be wise, 371 00:21:06,619 --> 00:21:09,420 Speaker 2: that will do God's will, and that will also be 372 00:21:09,780 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 2: kind to the Christians here in this land and kind 373 00:21:13,580 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 2: to the neighbors, that they would have God's heart to 374 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:17,980 Speaker 2: be a light to the nations. This is our prayer 375 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:18,659 Speaker 2: for Israel. 376 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:24,760 Speaker 1: Amen. Thank you, Lynn. I also want us to pray 377 00:21:24,780 --> 00:21:28,770 Speaker 1: for safety. for all of the candidates. We're in a time, obviously, 378 00:21:28,790 --> 00:21:31,870 Speaker 1: in the United States, there's been multiple assassination attempts against 379 00:21:32,470 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 1: President Trump. Actually, I just mentioned Yair Netanyahu, the oldest son. 380 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:41,879 Speaker 1: The Netanyahu's have two sons, but I'm just mentioning this 381 00:21:41,980 --> 00:21:47,200 Speaker 1: one right now. There was apparently, reportedly, an assassination attempt 382 00:21:47,270 --> 00:21:51,889 Speaker 1: by Iran or a plot that was discovered by U.S. 383 00:21:51,950 --> 00:21:56,480 Speaker 1: and Israeli intelligence, and the Israelis whisked Yair Netanyahu Netanyahu 384 00:21:56,619 --> 00:21:59,649 Speaker 1: out of Miami and got him back to Israel because 385 00:21:59,690 --> 00:22:02,629 Speaker 1: of this apparent threat. So this is very real. The 386 00:22:02,650 --> 00:22:05,810 Speaker 1: Iranians have already fired a drone several years ago at 387 00:22:05,869 --> 00:22:10,109 Speaker 1: Netanyahu's private beach home in Caesarea. There's been efforts to 388 00:22:10,210 --> 00:22:12,510 Speaker 1: try to kill Netanyahu and his family. We need to 389 00:22:12,550 --> 00:22:16,669 Speaker 1: be praying for him. Gadi Eisenkot says that they are 390 00:22:16,710 --> 00:22:19,870 Speaker 1: getting more and more death threats. And so the Israeli 391 00:22:20,350 --> 00:22:23,530 Speaker 1: security services have just assigned a detail to him. So 392 00:22:24,380 --> 00:22:27,370 Speaker 1: some challenges. So let's be praying. Before we get more 393 00:22:27,410 --> 00:22:30,050 Speaker 1: into this, Lynn, I just want to, again, thank everybody 394 00:22:30,570 --> 00:22:32,669 Speaker 1: for being part of this podcast. And I want to 395 00:22:32,750 --> 00:22:36,270 Speaker 1: encourage you in two areas. One, we are going to, well, 396 00:22:36,290 --> 00:22:39,590 Speaker 1: we're in Israel. We are inviting you to come to Israel, right? 397 00:22:39,630 --> 00:22:41,590 Speaker 1: We always say we want you to learn and pray 398 00:22:41,609 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 1: and give and go. Yes, we want you to go. 399 00:22:44,340 --> 00:22:48,120 Speaker 1: We want you to go with us on our newest 400 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:51,719 Speaker 1: Joshua Fund prayer and vision tour of Israel. It'll be 401 00:22:51,780 --> 00:22:56,119 Speaker 1: next March, starting on March 29th. and it goes to 402 00:22:56,400 --> 00:23:00,440 Speaker 1: April 9th, and it includes the Epicenter Summit, a one-day 403 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:05,160 Speaker 1: summit with President Herzog, Ambassador Mike Huckabee, and Anne Graham Lotz, 404 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:10,440 Speaker 1: and Jack Graham of Preston Baptist in Dallas. We've also 405 00:23:10,460 --> 00:23:14,820 Speaker 1: got Skip Heitzig, a pastor out of a wonderful megachurch 406 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:22,050 Speaker 1: in New Mexico, in Albuquerque, and... Myself and others. So 407 00:23:22,270 --> 00:23:24,730 Speaker 1: we would really love to have you with us. We 408 00:23:25,130 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 1: haven't had a Joshua Fund tour of Israel. since before COVID, right? 409 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:32,800 Speaker 1: Not just before the war, but before COVID. And so 410 00:23:32,820 --> 00:23:35,340 Speaker 1: we would love for you to come. Two of our 411 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:37,740 Speaker 1: four buses that we're planning to take are already full 412 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:40,080 Speaker 1: and we're already starting to fill up that third. So 413 00:23:40,140 --> 00:23:44,890 Speaker 1: if you're interested, you, your family, some of your Bible study, 414 00:23:45,190 --> 00:23:47,290 Speaker 1: or if you're a pastor and maybe you're like, I'm 415 00:23:47,310 --> 00:23:49,330 Speaker 1: not ready to take a whole tour, but my wife 416 00:23:49,369 --> 00:23:52,030 Speaker 1: and I, and maybe our missions pastor or some of 417 00:23:52,070 --> 00:23:59,010 Speaker 1: our elders, we'd like to come please go to joshuafund.com. Again, joshuafund.com. 418 00:23:59,700 --> 00:24:02,310 Speaker 1: And you'll see all the information right up top. You 419 00:24:02,330 --> 00:24:04,310 Speaker 1: can click on it and get all the details. We 420 00:24:04,330 --> 00:24:06,210 Speaker 1: would love for you to come, but we want to 421 00:24:06,230 --> 00:24:09,250 Speaker 1: make sure that you register and don't miss a seat. 422 00:24:09,670 --> 00:24:11,380 Speaker 1: The other thing I would just say is we would 423 00:24:11,390 --> 00:24:13,699 Speaker 1: love to have your financial support as well as your 424 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:17,899 Speaker 1: prayer support. And you can go to joshuafund.com. You'll see 425 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:20,119 Speaker 1: the big donate button, the yellow donate button up at 426 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:22,400 Speaker 1: the top right. You click on that. When you click 427 00:24:22,460 --> 00:24:25,100 Speaker 1: on it, you're not donating yet. You're just learning what 428 00:24:25,140 --> 00:24:26,980 Speaker 1: you would do. And, of course, you can mail in 429 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:30,679 Speaker 1: a check. But you can also give securely online. And 430 00:24:30,740 --> 00:24:35,070 Speaker 1: if you became a monthly donor, an Epicenter ally, $ 50, 431 00:24:34,690 --> 00:24:37,629 Speaker 1: $ 60 a month or more, $ 75, whatever, and become a 432 00:24:37,730 --> 00:24:40,590 Speaker 1: monthly donor, that would be ideal because then we know 433 00:24:40,609 --> 00:24:42,910 Speaker 1: you're with us for a longer haul. We can help 434 00:24:43,090 --> 00:24:45,460 Speaker 1: plan and budget for that. So anyway, I just want 435 00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:48,020 Speaker 1: to encourage you in those two areas. All right, Lynn, 436 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:51,020 Speaker 1: let's pick up with this conversation on, are Israelis about 437 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 1: to say bye-bye Bibi, or are they saying hello to 438 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:55,260 Speaker 1: Gadi Eisenkota? What's going on here? 439 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:58,980 Speaker 2: Yeah, so let's talk about the topics. What do people 440 00:24:59,020 --> 00:25:02,140 Speaker 2: care about right now? One of the topics is security, 441 00:25:02,369 --> 00:25:05,869 Speaker 2: of course, and how did October 7th happen? You know, 442 00:25:05,890 --> 00:25:11,220 Speaker 2: we talk often, we enjoyed Bibi's political ads, you know, 443 00:25:11,510 --> 00:25:15,930 Speaker 2: in recent years where he was called the babysitter and 444 00:25:16,050 --> 00:25:19,250 Speaker 2: there was a family who, you know, were getting ready 445 00:25:19,290 --> 00:25:21,230 Speaker 2: to go out for the night and this commercial and 446 00:25:21,330 --> 00:25:24,590 Speaker 2: suddenly the doorbell rings and there's BB and they say, Oh, Mr. 447 00:25:24,630 --> 00:25:26,230 Speaker 2: Prime minister, what are you doing here? And he says, 448 00:25:26,390 --> 00:25:29,730 Speaker 2: I'm the babysitter. The idea was, I'm going to keep 449 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:31,860 Speaker 2: you so safe. You don't have to worry. I will 450 00:25:31,900 --> 00:25:35,199 Speaker 2: protect your children. I will keep your children safe. Now 451 00:25:35,220 --> 00:25:38,480 Speaker 2: on October 7th, our children were not safe. And on 452 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:41,810 Speaker 2: October 8th, they were not safe in the north when 453 00:25:41,850 --> 00:25:45,389 Speaker 2: Hezbollah joined in what Hamas started in the south, in 454 00:25:45,430 --> 00:25:48,649 Speaker 2: the Gaza border areas. And then going on, we've had 455 00:25:48,750 --> 00:25:52,879 Speaker 2: three years of war where we have seen thousands and 456 00:25:52,930 --> 00:25:55,659 Speaker 2: thousands and thousands of our young people called up as 457 00:25:55,720 --> 00:26:01,180 Speaker 2: reservists and serving in dangerous places and killed in Gaza, 458 00:26:01,220 --> 00:26:02,020 Speaker 2: in Lebanon. 20,000 wounded. 459 00:26:03,410 --> 00:26:05,650 Speaker 1: More than 20,000 Israelis wounded in this. 460 00:26:06,010 --> 00:26:08,210 Speaker 2: And that's just the physical wounding. We've talked on this 461 00:26:08,250 --> 00:26:12,210 Speaker 2: podcast about the mental wounding that's been happening, the trauma 462 00:26:12,230 --> 00:26:14,260 Speaker 2: that people have been through. And not just the soldiers 463 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:18,119 Speaker 2: and reservists, but the wives of those people and the 464 00:26:18,220 --> 00:26:21,300 Speaker 2: children of those people. And then, of course, everyone who's 465 00:26:21,359 --> 00:26:24,119 Speaker 2: lived up on the northern border and around the Gaza 466 00:26:24,140 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 2: borders who've been enduring this. missile strikes and running to 467 00:26:28,380 --> 00:26:31,850 Speaker 2: bomb shelters or being evacuated for a year out of 468 00:26:31,890 --> 00:26:34,690 Speaker 2: their homes and living in hotels. And so the whole 469 00:26:34,750 --> 00:26:38,650 Speaker 2: country has not felt safe, has not felt peaceful, for sure. 470 00:26:39,210 --> 00:26:42,040 Speaker 2: And so this is one of the biggest issues, as always. 471 00:26:42,359 --> 00:26:46,500 Speaker 2: But at this moment, Bibi's, you know, sort of ace 472 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:48,639 Speaker 2: in the, you know, in the card game, which is 473 00:26:48,660 --> 00:26:53,060 Speaker 2: I am the Mr. Security. is not feeling to some 474 00:26:53,100 --> 00:26:55,480 Speaker 2: people as a true strength of his anymore. 475 00:26:55,600 --> 00:26:58,560 Speaker 1: That's right. And I think American evangelicals will say, yeah, okay, 476 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:03,340 Speaker 1: but what about, didn't he work with President Trump to 477 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:06,780 Speaker 1: destroy the Iranian nuclear program? Yes, Netanyahu absolutely did that. 478 00:27:07,180 --> 00:27:11,700 Speaker 1: And to destroy most of the Iranian ballistic missile program? Yes, 479 00:27:11,790 --> 00:27:14,710 Speaker 1: Netanyahu absolutely did that. And what about destroying all of 480 00:27:14,790 --> 00:27:18,300 Speaker 1: Iran's Navy and all of Iran's Air Force and And 481 00:27:19,080 --> 00:27:22,460 Speaker 1: doesn't Netanyahu get credit for that? And our answer would 482 00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:25,790 Speaker 1: be he should. He does. Didn't he take out the 483 00:27:25,850 --> 00:27:30,480 Speaker 1: entire leadership of the Hezbollah terror movement and destroy most 484 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:35,470 Speaker 1: of the ballistic missiles and missiles? terror forces in Lebanon? Yes, 485 00:27:35,950 --> 00:27:38,600 Speaker 1: Netanyahu did that. And what about most, I mean, okay, 486 00:27:38,619 --> 00:27:41,910 Speaker 1: the top leadership of Hamas, weren't they already assassinated? Yes. 487 00:27:42,450 --> 00:27:48,060 Speaker 1: And doesn't Israel control 60% of Gaza right now and 488 00:27:48,140 --> 00:27:51,700 Speaker 1: all the missiles pretty much are destroyed? Also true. Didn't 489 00:27:51,740 --> 00:27:55,000 Speaker 1: Netanyahu just go to Gaza? He was literally in Gaza 490 00:27:55,580 --> 00:27:57,880 Speaker 1: a couple of days ago. Yes, that's true. And so 491 00:27:58,540 --> 00:28:01,060 Speaker 1: the question that our American evangelical friends often ask is, 492 00:28:01,630 --> 00:28:05,020 Speaker 1: So why isn't he getting credit for that? My answer, Lynn, 493 00:28:05,060 --> 00:28:06,940 Speaker 1: you might have a different answer, but my answer would 494 00:28:06,980 --> 00:28:12,359 Speaker 1: be among those who think that while flawed, Netanyahu is 495 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:15,440 Speaker 1: the best leader still for Israel, he's getting a lot 496 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:19,440 Speaker 1: of credit. But there are people who, even in the 497 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:22,659 Speaker 1: Likud party, even in Netanyahu's own party, who say, I 498 00:28:22,700 --> 00:28:27,650 Speaker 1: appreciate all that, but the failure of October 7th was 499 00:28:27,890 --> 00:28:32,310 Speaker 1: so great that I can't forgive that politically. They may 500 00:28:32,350 --> 00:28:36,790 Speaker 1: not forgive it spiritually or whatever personally, but that was 501 00:28:36,810 --> 00:28:39,890 Speaker 1: the greatest slaughter of Jews on a single day since 502 00:28:39,930 --> 00:28:44,170 Speaker 1: the Holocaust. So thank God that Netanyahu was able to 503 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:51,040 Speaker 1: make all these successes and other successes, persuading President Trump 504 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:54,760 Speaker 1: to bring the American embassy to Jerusalem or the Abraham 505 00:28:54,780 --> 00:28:57,950 Speaker 1: Accords all true. So that's the test. And I think 506 00:28:58,130 --> 00:29:01,290 Speaker 1: one of the questions is this. Are Israelis going to 507 00:29:01,870 --> 00:29:06,630 Speaker 1: fire Bibi Netanyahu for his failures on October 7th? Or 508 00:29:07,370 --> 00:29:11,160 Speaker 1: are Israelis going to rehire Netanyahu saying, OK, that was bad, 509 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:14,920 Speaker 1: but look at all these successes. So this security issue 510 00:29:14,940 --> 00:29:18,540 Speaker 1: is a big deal. The challenge that Bibi faces is Gadi. 511 00:29:18,980 --> 00:29:22,280 Speaker 1: Gadi is a former IDF chief of staff. Gadi has 512 00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:25,400 Speaker 1: been in the war room. Bibi himself chose Gadi Eizenkot 513 00:29:25,420 --> 00:29:27,600 Speaker 1: to be the IDF chief of staff. So Netanyahu is 514 00:29:27,620 --> 00:29:32,660 Speaker 1: going to have a hard time pinning Gadi Eizenkot as soft, 515 00:29:33,570 --> 00:29:39,830 Speaker 1: as weak, as inexperienced, as unable to defend Israel, right? 516 00:29:40,080 --> 00:29:44,940 Speaker 1: And Eisenkot wasn't responsible for October 7th. So this is 517 00:29:44,980 --> 00:29:48,120 Speaker 1: where Netanyahu's political calculus gets difficult. 518 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:49,640 Speaker 2: Absolutely. 519 00:29:49,900 --> 00:29:50,320 Speaker 1: Absolutely. 520 00:29:50,420 --> 00:29:52,979 Speaker 2: And so, okay, so that's one topic, the security and 521 00:29:53,340 --> 00:29:56,540 Speaker 2: the overall, but also the handling of the war and 522 00:29:56,980 --> 00:30:02,670 Speaker 2: October 7th. Then economically, The Israelis are suffering. I mean, 523 00:30:03,130 --> 00:30:06,390 Speaker 2: when people have been in reserve duty for years, I mean, altogether, 524 00:30:06,430 --> 00:30:07,520 Speaker 2: if you put all the days together. 525 00:30:07,540 --> 00:30:08,140 Speaker 1: Three years now. Right. 526 00:30:08,460 --> 00:30:11,240 Speaker 2: They've been out of work. How many hotels? Did you 527 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:11,660 Speaker 2: say 90? 528 00:30:11,660 --> 00:30:14,580 Speaker 1: 90 hotels have gone completely out of business. The tourism 529 00:30:14,620 --> 00:30:16,420 Speaker 1: industry is a wreckage. It's one of the reasons we 530 00:30:16,460 --> 00:30:19,020 Speaker 1: want people to come back to Israel with us and 531 00:30:19,080 --> 00:30:21,700 Speaker 1: come on a tour so we can help show the 532 00:30:21,720 --> 00:30:24,020 Speaker 1: Israeli people that Christians are starting to come back. But 533 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:26,940 Speaker 1: so far, there's almost no tourists. Right. 534 00:30:27,260 --> 00:30:30,660 Speaker 2: Now, another huge issue, I would say, is the ultra-Orthodox, 535 00:30:30,680 --> 00:30:34,640 Speaker 2: the religious people in Israel. The ultra-Orthodox. We're not talking 536 00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:38,160 Speaker 2: about Jewish people who are traditional, who celebrate the holidays. 537 00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:42,100 Speaker 2: We're talking about ultra-Orthodox. These are otherwise called Haredi people. 538 00:30:42,820 --> 00:30:47,340 Speaker 2: These are people who do not serve in the military, 539 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:50,220 Speaker 2: refuse to serve in the military. They also do not 540 00:30:50,280 --> 00:30:55,170 Speaker 2: pay taxes. They, in fact... do not work. They live, 541 00:30:55,730 --> 00:30:59,770 Speaker 2: the men do not work. They live on welfare because 542 00:30:59,870 --> 00:31:03,850 Speaker 2: they believe that their duty to Israel and to the 543 00:31:03,910 --> 00:31:06,790 Speaker 2: world maybe, but they would say to Israel, to the 544 00:31:06,830 --> 00:31:10,890 Speaker 2: Jewish people is to study the Torah, to study the Talmud, 545 00:31:10,930 --> 00:31:13,630 Speaker 2: to study the rabbinic writings and to discuss them and 546 00:31:13,650 --> 00:31:16,990 Speaker 2: to pray during all day. And they won't serve. And 547 00:31:17,030 --> 00:31:21,110 Speaker 2: this population is growing because the more children that you have, 548 00:31:21,310 --> 00:31:24,660 Speaker 2: the more welfare that you get. And they have, huge families. 549 00:31:24,900 --> 00:31:28,080 Speaker 1: They also believe in be fruitful and multiply, but there 550 00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:29,760 Speaker 1: is a benefit when you don't get much money, you 551 00:31:29,800 --> 00:31:32,500 Speaker 1: get welfare. You get more if you have more children, 552 00:31:32,580 --> 00:31:38,930 Speaker 1: which reinforces that they're growing while other people are having maybe, well, 553 00:31:39,050 --> 00:31:41,270 Speaker 1: technically 2.2, 2.4 children. 554 00:31:41,730 --> 00:31:44,290 Speaker 2: Well, Israel does have one of the highest birth rates 555 00:31:44,490 --> 00:31:48,370 Speaker 2: in the world, which is wonderful. But a large part 556 00:31:48,390 --> 00:31:51,010 Speaker 2: of that is coming out of this population. And so 557 00:31:51,030 --> 00:31:54,239 Speaker 2: they're growing and their power is growing. And they are 558 00:31:54,300 --> 00:31:57,560 Speaker 2: part of Benjamin Netanyahu. They're a key, a linchpin to 559 00:31:57,800 --> 00:31:59,840 Speaker 2: his political party. Now, I want to be really careful 560 00:31:59,880 --> 00:32:03,340 Speaker 2: to say we love all the people of Israel. We 561 00:32:03,380 --> 00:32:06,740 Speaker 2: love even the difficult people. I'm glad that God loves 562 00:32:06,800 --> 00:32:10,550 Speaker 2: difficult people because I'm sometimes a difficult person. And so 563 00:32:10,570 --> 00:32:13,710 Speaker 2: is my lovely husband here. No, but the Lord is 564 00:32:13,750 --> 00:32:16,540 Speaker 2: the God of love. And so We are not absolutely 565 00:32:16,740 --> 00:32:19,740 Speaker 2: not saying that these are bad people in any worse 566 00:32:19,770 --> 00:32:22,850 Speaker 2: than any other bad people. However, what we do want 567 00:32:22,870 --> 00:32:27,230 Speaker 2: to describe is this great animosity between this division in 568 00:32:27,370 --> 00:32:30,650 Speaker 2: Israeli society that is very much felt. It's also important 569 00:32:30,670 --> 00:32:34,160 Speaker 2: to say that, you know, ultra-Orthodox religious people are not, 570 00:32:34,780 --> 00:32:36,380 Speaker 2: all of them are not working. There are still, there 571 00:32:36,420 --> 00:32:38,420 Speaker 2: are some people who work. There are some people who 572 00:32:38,540 --> 00:32:39,400 Speaker 2: serve in the military. 573 00:32:40,180 --> 00:32:43,720 Speaker 1: But that gulf is the difference between the vast majority 574 00:32:43,740 --> 00:32:46,690 Speaker 1: of the population whose kids are serving the military. Our 575 00:32:46,730 --> 00:32:50,410 Speaker 1: own youngest is serving now in a combat unit and 576 00:32:50,470 --> 00:32:53,710 Speaker 1: two others have served in combat units. The Messianic community 577 00:32:53,930 --> 00:32:56,180 Speaker 1: does send their kids to the army and proudly serve. 578 00:32:57,000 --> 00:32:59,650 Speaker 1: but the whole country is like, wait, we've been in 579 00:32:59,690 --> 00:33:02,550 Speaker 1: a war for three years. Our kids are serving. We're serving. 580 00:33:03,350 --> 00:33:08,030 Speaker 1: We're working hard. We, to make ends meet, we're paying taxes. 581 00:33:08,430 --> 00:33:12,380 Speaker 1: Why does this whole swath of the country say, we're 582 00:33:12,390 --> 00:33:14,480 Speaker 1: not doing any of that. And you, you have to 583 00:33:14,520 --> 00:33:19,040 Speaker 1: pay us. And why is Netanyahu supporting that? Why? And 584 00:33:19,640 --> 00:33:23,500 Speaker 1: because Gotti Eisenhower has taken the position. No, that's, we're 585 00:33:23,520 --> 00:33:25,220 Speaker 1: done with that. If I become the prime minister and 586 00:33:25,260 --> 00:33:30,300 Speaker 1: I build a coalition with, We're making the ultra-Orthodox send 587 00:33:30,320 --> 00:33:32,880 Speaker 1: their sons to the army, and we're going to start 588 00:33:32,900 --> 00:33:38,160 Speaker 1: to make economic reforms and start reducing subsidies. He's positioned 589 00:33:38,200 --> 00:33:41,160 Speaker 1: himself as a military leader who says, our army can't 590 00:33:41,220 --> 00:33:43,960 Speaker 1: survive if everybody doesn't do their share. 591 00:33:44,980 --> 00:33:49,770 Speaker 2: Absolutely. And really, wouldn't you say that Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition... 592 00:33:49,970 --> 00:33:54,140 Speaker 2: obviously it's tricky for Americans. I'm still under learning as 593 00:33:54,200 --> 00:33:58,180 Speaker 2: an American and Israeli, this whole parliamentary system, which is 594 00:33:58,240 --> 00:34:01,180 Speaker 2: what the Knesset is, you know, modeled after the British system, 595 00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:04,440 Speaker 2: but you have to make a coalition. You're not, you 596 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:07,150 Speaker 2: don't just win. Your party is not just in charge. 597 00:34:07,610 --> 00:34:10,230 Speaker 2: You have to be the one that gets the most seats, 598 00:34:10,330 --> 00:34:13,990 Speaker 2: but nobody gets a majority of the seats, actual literal majority. 599 00:34:14,010 --> 00:34:16,370 Speaker 2: And then you have to build this coalition. So a 600 00:34:16,410 --> 00:34:19,799 Speaker 2: big part of the problem is, with Benjamin Netanyahu is 601 00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:24,100 Speaker 2: who he has brought into his coalition. And if he 602 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:27,860 Speaker 2: loses them, then it falls apart. And so some of 603 00:34:27,880 --> 00:34:29,440 Speaker 2: those people are very problematic. 604 00:34:30,660 --> 00:34:32,680 Speaker 1: Exactly. I mean, they're very unpopular by the rest of 605 00:34:32,700 --> 00:34:37,100 Speaker 1: the country. And Eisenkot, relatively new to the political world 606 00:34:37,140 --> 00:34:40,259 Speaker 1: and like only been in a member of the Knesset 607 00:34:40,280 --> 00:34:43,110 Speaker 1: for the last four or five years, he's seizing advantage 608 00:34:43,150 --> 00:34:46,390 Speaker 1: of that. And so that's a, we talked in the 609 00:34:46,430 --> 00:34:48,900 Speaker 1: first session part of the podcast about the sort of 610 00:34:48,940 --> 00:34:53,980 Speaker 1: the stylistic and personality and history differences. But there are 611 00:34:54,000 --> 00:35:00,689 Speaker 1: these differences in terms of actual policy and Netanyahu. So 612 00:35:00,750 --> 00:35:03,330 Speaker 1: going back to that question, why isn't Netanyahu getting more 613 00:35:03,430 --> 00:35:07,290 Speaker 1: credit for all these massive successes, historic successes? He said 614 00:35:07,310 --> 00:35:09,550 Speaker 1: he'd take out the Iranian nuclear program. And my gosh, 615 00:35:09,570 --> 00:35:12,489 Speaker 1: he did it. Why doesn't he get credit? Because it's 616 00:35:12,530 --> 00:35:17,070 Speaker 1: getting undercut by how angry Netanyahu Many Israelis, not all, 617 00:35:17,590 --> 00:35:23,570 Speaker 1: but most really, are angry about Netanyahu's support and alliance 618 00:35:23,890 --> 00:35:26,930 Speaker 1: with the ultra-Orthodox. There's one other thing. I want to 619 00:35:26,969 --> 00:35:29,970 Speaker 1: flip it back to the other side, a policy difference 620 00:35:30,030 --> 00:35:34,430 Speaker 1: between Netanyahu and Eisenhower as we wrap. And I think 621 00:35:34,590 --> 00:35:36,230 Speaker 1: this is going to become a big issue in the 622 00:35:36,310 --> 00:35:39,029 Speaker 1: final weeks and days of the campaign. And that is this. 623 00:35:39,770 --> 00:35:46,500 Speaker 1: In the spring of 2024, May, June of 2024, President Biden, 624 00:35:46,580 --> 00:35:48,540 Speaker 1: who was, of course, in power at that time, President 625 00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:51,480 Speaker 1: Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were putting a lot 626 00:35:51,500 --> 00:35:54,339 Speaker 1: of pressure on Netanyahu to say, look, we can make 627 00:35:54,380 --> 00:35:58,210 Speaker 1: a final deal with Hamas, get all the hostages out, 628 00:35:58,350 --> 00:36:01,110 Speaker 1: or almost all of them. We'll not just do a ceasefire, 629 00:36:01,130 --> 00:36:03,549 Speaker 1: but we'll say there's a total end to the war. 630 00:36:04,010 --> 00:36:08,370 Speaker 1: Israel will withdraw from Gaza entirely, but you'll have all 631 00:36:08,390 --> 00:36:12,270 Speaker 1: your hostages back. We'll end the war. And as a sweetener, 632 00:36:12,750 --> 00:36:16,430 Speaker 1: we'll convince Saudi Arabia to make a deal with you, Israel, 633 00:36:16,760 --> 00:36:20,750 Speaker 1: and bring peace between Saudi Arabia and Israel. That looks 634 00:36:20,770 --> 00:36:25,830 Speaker 1: like a grand bargain and a very attractive offer. Now, 635 00:36:26,030 --> 00:36:28,489 Speaker 1: in the war room, and I just interviewed one of 636 00:36:28,510 --> 00:36:31,250 Speaker 1: the reporters who just wrote a wonderful book. We'll talk 637 00:36:31,290 --> 00:36:33,589 Speaker 1: about that in a future episode called In the War Room, 638 00:36:34,320 --> 00:36:36,340 Speaker 1: the real inside story of what has been happening over 639 00:36:36,360 --> 00:36:40,860 Speaker 1: the last few years behind closed doors, inside the epicenter 640 00:36:40,980 --> 00:36:45,140 Speaker 1: of it, as it were. But in that war room, 641 00:36:45,780 --> 00:36:48,660 Speaker 1: Gadi Eisenkot was one of the members of the war cabinet. 642 00:36:49,640 --> 00:36:53,640 Speaker 1: And his position, along with some of his colleagues, Benny Gantz, 643 00:36:53,680 --> 00:36:57,890 Speaker 1: the former defense minister, and then defense minister Yoav Galant, 644 00:36:58,340 --> 00:37:02,100 Speaker 1: Eisenkot's position was, let's take the deal. Biden is our 645 00:37:02,140 --> 00:37:04,880 Speaker 1: best friend, meaning not as a partisan, but America is 646 00:37:04,920 --> 00:37:07,600 Speaker 1: our best friend. This is the president. He stands with us. 647 00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:10,779 Speaker 1: Many Democrats don't. He can get our hostages out, at 648 00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:13,259 Speaker 1: least most of them. We'll end the war. We'll take 649 00:37:13,280 --> 00:37:15,060 Speaker 1: the deal with the Saudis. Let's do it. And he 650 00:37:15,100 --> 00:37:19,339 Speaker 1: was pushing hard on Netanyahu to say yes. Netanyahu said no. 651 00:37:20,360 --> 00:37:22,780 Speaker 1: And a lot of the country at that moment, 70% 652 00:37:22,780 --> 00:37:27,040 Speaker 1: of Israelis at that moment were with Eisenhower and Gallant 653 00:37:27,280 --> 00:37:30,259 Speaker 1: and Gantz saying, for crying out loud, give us our hostages. 654 00:37:30,340 --> 00:37:33,739 Speaker 1: Let's be done with this. Netanyahu's position was, whoa, whoa, 655 00:37:33,780 --> 00:37:36,520 Speaker 1: wait a minute. We have destroyed almost all of Hamas, 656 00:37:37,020 --> 00:37:41,040 Speaker 1: but the final brigades of Hamas are in the southern 657 00:37:41,100 --> 00:37:44,210 Speaker 1: city of Gaza called Rafah, right on the Egyptian border. 658 00:37:44,850 --> 00:37:49,750 Speaker 1: We can't leave four or five standing divisions of Hamas. 659 00:37:49,770 --> 00:37:52,469 Speaker 1: We have to go into Rafah. We have to move 660 00:37:52,510 --> 00:37:54,850 Speaker 1: the Palestinian civilians out. Then we have to send the 661 00:37:54,930 --> 00:38:00,100 Speaker 1: IDF in and destroy what's left of Hamas. And by 662 00:38:00,120 --> 00:38:03,530 Speaker 1: the way, Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas, is still 663 00:38:03,590 --> 00:38:06,470 Speaker 1: on the loose. Mohamed Def, the military chief of Hamas 664 00:38:06,630 --> 00:38:11,130 Speaker 1: in Gaza, still alive. Sheikh Nasrallah, the head of Hezbollah 665 00:38:11,610 --> 00:38:14,730 Speaker 1: in Lebanon, still alive. All the missiles that are facing 666 00:38:14,790 --> 00:38:18,050 Speaker 1: us from Hezbollah in Lebanon, still there. And the Iranian 667 00:38:18,070 --> 00:38:22,410 Speaker 1: leadership and all their missiles, still there. We can't surrender. Now, 668 00:38:22,630 --> 00:38:27,029 Speaker 1: both had a very powerful argument. In the end, Netanyahu said, 669 00:38:27,790 --> 00:38:31,830 Speaker 1: was the prime minister. So he prevailed. And so Eisenkot 670 00:38:31,890 --> 00:38:35,410 Speaker 1: and Gantz, they resigned in June of 24. Now, why 671 00:38:35,450 --> 00:38:37,820 Speaker 1: will that come up? You could say at the time 672 00:38:37,860 --> 00:38:42,080 Speaker 1: that was a fair and interesting debate. Well, what's happened since? Well, 673 00:38:42,780 --> 00:38:45,960 Speaker 1: Netanyahu did move and the IDF did move all the 674 00:38:46,000 --> 00:38:50,020 Speaker 1: Palestinians out of Rafah. They went in, they destroyed most, 675 00:38:50,100 --> 00:38:54,430 Speaker 1: not all of Hamas. And they got the Ayatollah Khomeini, 676 00:38:54,469 --> 00:38:57,069 Speaker 1: they got Sheikh Nasrallah, they got Yahya As-Sinwar, they got 677 00:38:57,110 --> 00:39:01,880 Speaker 1: Mohamed Def. And Netanyahu's argument in the final days of 678 00:39:01,920 --> 00:39:04,460 Speaker 1: this campaign is going to be like, you would have surrendered. 679 00:39:05,400 --> 00:39:08,439 Speaker 1: That's why you should not be the prime minister. And 680 00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:11,180 Speaker 1: that's going to be a strong argument. And it's going 681 00:39:11,200 --> 00:39:13,779 Speaker 1: to be interesting to see how Eisenhower parries that. I 682 00:39:13,800 --> 00:39:15,819 Speaker 1: think his main thing is going to be like, yeah, 683 00:39:15,840 --> 00:39:18,820 Speaker 1: you got things, but is Hamas done? You said we 684 00:39:18,840 --> 00:39:20,710 Speaker 1: were going to get total victory. Hamas is still in 685 00:39:20,730 --> 00:39:24,839 Speaker 1: power and they're not disarmed. Is Hezbollah done? No, they're 686 00:39:24,860 --> 00:39:28,230 Speaker 1: not done. Is the Iranian regime completely not a threat 687 00:39:28,250 --> 00:39:31,469 Speaker 1: to us? No. You said you'd have total victory. You 688 00:39:31,489 --> 00:39:33,380 Speaker 1: didn't get it. So why are you telling me that 689 00:39:33,489 --> 00:39:36,540 Speaker 1: I wouldn't have gotten total victory? It's a very interesting debate. 690 00:39:37,280 --> 00:39:38,640 Speaker 1: But the point is, we're just trying to give you 691 00:39:38,680 --> 00:39:42,060 Speaker 1: a sense of the high stakes and the sharp elbows 692 00:39:42,100 --> 00:39:44,580 Speaker 1: that are coming in these final days of the campaign. Lynn, 693 00:39:44,600 --> 00:39:45,660 Speaker 1: I'll give you the last word. 694 00:39:46,200 --> 00:39:49,540 Speaker 2: Well, only to say that, you know, the thing is that... 695 00:39:49,960 --> 00:39:52,799 Speaker 2: These two men, yes. Actually, if it was just these 696 00:39:52,860 --> 00:39:54,440 Speaker 2: two men and they were the only people that you 697 00:39:54,460 --> 00:39:57,080 Speaker 2: could vote for, the whole country was just voting on 698 00:39:57,120 --> 00:40:00,060 Speaker 2: these two men alone and not the other dozen parties 699 00:40:00,120 --> 00:40:01,900 Speaker 2: or however many it is that are going to be 700 00:40:01,980 --> 00:40:05,390 Speaker 2: on the ballot. They would be actually very close. It's 701 00:40:05,450 --> 00:40:06,310 Speaker 2: not a huge. 702 00:40:06,330 --> 00:40:10,310 Speaker 1: The polls say Gotti-Eisenhower right now is at 41 and 703 00:40:10,390 --> 00:40:14,830 Speaker 1: Bibi is at 34. In a head-to-head sort of theoretical matchup, 704 00:40:15,010 --> 00:40:18,290 Speaker 1: if it was like a presidential election, Gotti-Eisenhower would win. 705 00:40:18,989 --> 00:40:21,739 Speaker 1: buy six, seven points, but that could shift in those 706 00:40:21,780 --> 00:40:22,259 Speaker 1: final days. 707 00:40:22,520 --> 00:40:25,620 Speaker 2: Right. But that's not the case. That's not the case. 708 00:40:25,700 --> 00:40:28,040 Speaker 2: The case is that it's really going to be who 709 00:40:28,080 --> 00:40:30,799 Speaker 2: can get the largest number of seats and who can 710 00:40:30,840 --> 00:40:33,800 Speaker 2: put together the largest team to be given that opportunity 711 00:40:33,820 --> 00:40:37,200 Speaker 2: to lead the government. So it's very complicated. But the 712 00:40:37,239 --> 00:40:40,140 Speaker 2: beautiful thing is that it's not complicated to the Lord. 713 00:40:40,180 --> 00:40:42,640 Speaker 2: And I think, you know, we can wrap by just 714 00:40:42,700 --> 00:40:45,300 Speaker 2: reminding ourselves, you know, out of the Proverbs, a wonderful 715 00:40:45,360 --> 00:40:49,050 Speaker 2: book of God's wisdom that Proverbs 19, 21 says, many, 716 00:40:49,330 --> 00:40:51,730 Speaker 2: many are the plans in the mind of a man, 717 00:40:52,210 --> 00:40:54,630 Speaker 2: but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. 718 00:40:55,070 --> 00:40:57,270 Speaker 2: And we can count on that, that God's purposes are 719 00:40:57,290 --> 00:41:00,090 Speaker 2: going to be accomplished, that we need to stay focused 720 00:41:00,350 --> 00:41:03,910 Speaker 2: on being the peacemakers in this world, being the ones 721 00:41:04,050 --> 00:41:07,759 Speaker 2: that work to bring peace between God and man and 722 00:41:07,780 --> 00:41:10,460 Speaker 2: between man and one another. This is our role as 723 00:41:10,520 --> 00:41:13,040 Speaker 2: followers of Jesus. And so be praying for the church 724 00:41:13,100 --> 00:41:16,160 Speaker 2: in Israel that, yes, we'd love to see whoever's in 725 00:41:16,219 --> 00:41:21,370 Speaker 2: charge be more friendly toward the Christians, the Messianics in particular, 726 00:41:21,890 --> 00:41:26,600 Speaker 2: you know, these very strong ultra religious parties really hate 727 00:41:26,640 --> 00:41:29,960 Speaker 2: the Christians. And so they're given places of power when 728 00:41:29,980 --> 00:41:33,640 Speaker 2: it comes to education, sometimes visas and things like that, immigration. 729 00:41:33,680 --> 00:41:37,200 Speaker 2: And so they make it very difficult for Jewish people 730 00:41:37,260 --> 00:41:41,400 Speaker 2: who believe in Jesus to operate well. So we need 731 00:41:41,440 --> 00:41:44,299 Speaker 2: to pray for these things. There's lots to trust the 732 00:41:44,340 --> 00:41:47,830 Speaker 2: Lord for, but this is just a taste of this 733 00:41:48,010 --> 00:41:53,310 Speaker 2: very interesting and complicated world of Israeli politics. So we 734 00:41:53,330 --> 00:41:55,910 Speaker 2: encourage you to pray and keep on learning and keep 735 00:41:55,989 --> 00:41:56,410 Speaker 2: on praying. 736 00:41:57,050 --> 00:41:57,370 Speaker 1: Amen. 737 00:41:57,450 --> 00:41:58,210 Speaker 2: Well, let's close. 738 00:41:58,250 --> 00:42:03,029 Speaker 1: Thanks again for listening. Please go to joshuafund.com. Learn more 739 00:42:03,090 --> 00:42:07,240 Speaker 1: about the Joshua Fund Prayer and Vision Tour next spring, 740 00:42:07,920 --> 00:42:11,459 Speaker 1: March into early April, and the Epicenter Summit. We want 741 00:42:11,500 --> 00:42:13,060 Speaker 1: you to be there. We want you to step into 742 00:42:13,080 --> 00:42:16,120 Speaker 1: the story And Lynn and I will be leading that tour, 743 00:42:16,140 --> 00:42:18,560 Speaker 1: and we would just love to have you. And you 744 00:42:18,600 --> 00:42:22,800 Speaker 1: can also give at joshuafund.com. Become an Epicenter ally. Become 745 00:42:22,820 --> 00:42:26,130 Speaker 1: a monthly donor. Thank you. These would be great blessings 746 00:42:26,170 --> 00:42:28,330 Speaker 1: to us, to the team, and, of course, to all 747 00:42:28,370 --> 00:42:30,730 Speaker 1: the ministries that we invest in. Most of all, we 748 00:42:30,770 --> 00:42:34,390 Speaker 1: need your prayers, and we appreciate your encouragement. Thank you 749 00:42:34,430 --> 00:42:36,670 Speaker 1: so much for listening. We've got much more ahead as 750 00:42:36,890 --> 00:42:40,739 Speaker 1: we head into this fall. It's a very exciting, challenging fall. 751 00:42:41,180 --> 00:42:44,480 Speaker 1: And we're so grateful that you choose to be part 752 00:42:44,500 --> 00:42:46,719 Speaker 1: of this podcast. Share it with your friends. Tell other 753 00:42:46,760 --> 00:42:49,759 Speaker 1: people about it. And let them come inside the epicenter 754 00:42:49,860 --> 00:42:53,140 Speaker 1: as well. From Eilat, the southern city of Israel, this 755 00:42:53,219 --> 00:42:55,950 Speaker 1: is Joel. And Lynn. And we're so grateful for you. 756 00:42:55,969 --> 00:43:04,290 Speaker 1: God bless you. Shalom from Israel. Shalom, shalom. Thank you.