The Rosenberg Report

Joel Rosenberg: Did Israel Miss Warning Signs? (Part 2) | The Rosenberg Report

December 11, 2025 | 27:33

In this episode, Joel Rosenberg continues his conversation with Yaakov Katz.

#News #Media #Israel #Government #Politics #War #Terrorism #Culture #Humaninterest #Elections #Author #Military #PersonalStory #JoelRosenberg #YaakovKatz

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The Rosenberg Report | Joel Rosenberg: Did Israel Miss Warning Signs? (Part 2) | The Rosenberg Report | December 11, 2025

Tonight on the rosenberg report,
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As we come to the end of 2025, what does the road ahead
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Look like for israel and for u.s.
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Israeli relations as we head into 2026?
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What, for example, will happen in israel's elections next year?
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Have the huge wartime victories?
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Bibi netanyahu has racked up over the past two years,
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Giving them enough momentum in the polls to secure a victory
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And earn yet another term as prime minister.
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Or was the colossal failure of israeli security on october
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7th going to cause israelis to say to netanyahu,
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Thank you for your service, but your time in office is done?
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What about the
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Growing international pressure, even from president trump,
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To create a sovereign, independent
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Palestinian state in gaza and the west bank?
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Will the world force on israel such a state,
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Even in the aftermath of the hamas invasion?
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And what about the saudis?
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Do they still want to make peace with israel?
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Is 2026 the year, or are the saudis
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Actually souring on the notion of joining the abraham accords?
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Tonight, joel sits down for part two of his conversation
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With yaakov katz,
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The former editor in chief of the jerusalem post
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And the author of a powerful and provocative new book,
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While israel slept
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How hamas surprised the most powerful military
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In the middle east.
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It's all straight ahead, right here, right now, on
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The rosenberg report.
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So now what?
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Where are we going as we enter a very eventful 2025?
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Where is israel
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And the palestinians and the saudis and president trump?
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Where are we all heading in 2026?
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Are things getting better or are things going to get crazier?
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Now, joining me to have this conversation is a friend,
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Orthodox jewish.
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He's the former editor in chief of the jerusalem post.
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His name is yaakov katz,
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And he happens to be the coauthor of this fantastic
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Must read book.
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I'm encouraging everybody
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In the month of december to pick up a copy of
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“while israel slept.”
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It's an amazing book about how hamas surprised
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The most powerful military in the entire middle east.
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We talked about this last week, how in the world
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That israel missed
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All the warning signs that were leading to october 7th.
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Now the question is, okay, we've won the war.
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There are still things to be done.
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It's not over, over.
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But it's a it's effectively over from what
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We from the intensity of the last two years.
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But where are we going now?
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We about to see a palestinian state get forced on israel.
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Are the saudis
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Going to make peace with israel or are they backing away?
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Just trump what is what does trump really want?
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And of course, elections are coming in israel.
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Yaakov katz not to cover as we end this year, head
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Into next year.
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Let's talk first about the political implications
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For prime minister netanyahu,
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His likud party, his his governing coalition.
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As we head into 26 elections are scheduled.
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I mean, they have to be held at least by october of next year.
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But they could be
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They could be called it pretty much any moment.
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Do you have a sense,
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First of all, instinct on or from your reporting
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When you think these elections are going to be
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And how do you think october 7th shapes that environment?
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Because basically,
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If they if netanyahu and everybody else waits,
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They're going to be running
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On the up to the third anniversary of october.
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So i don't think the ten year
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Wants israelis
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Going to the polls around the anniversary of october 7th.
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He wants to move away from october 7th.
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So if he can, he'll try to move it up slightly.
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If he wants to try to get the most out of this government
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Talk is may be in september.
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The date to look at shall is march by middle end of march.
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Oh, that's the budget.
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Israel needs to pass a budget if he passes a budget.
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Smooth sailing until the moment he decides
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To bring down the government, dissolve the knesset
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And go to an election.
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My guess would be
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Would happen around june,
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And then we would have an election in september.
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If we can't pass a budget
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And there's a good chance he won't be able to,
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Because if the ultra-orthodox don't agree
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And the right wing factions of his coalition don't agree,
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Or whatever the circumstance might be,
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Then we're going to be in an election already.
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Because a failure to, pass a budget by march 31st.
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Knesset, the government falls.
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Exactly. it's automatic.
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So, which would mean the elections would be when.
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They would probably be in june, three months later, three
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And a half months later,
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They have to start to find
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The right tuesday elections always on tuesday.
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But it would be somewhere in the beginning of the summer.
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Okay.
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Now, on the dramatic day,
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When, i think was october 13th,
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When all the israeli hostages live, hostages come out of gaza
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And president trump flies air force one in.
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It's pretty dramatic.
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He heads to the knesset, he gives a fantastic speech.
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He gets a huge, you know, multiple standing ovations.
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We covered all of it.
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And he basically bear hugs bibi netanyahu.
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And he basically i mean,
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If netanyahu wasn't getting this big endorsement
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From trump, he would have been furious.
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Why are you interfering with israeli politics?
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But trump basically says,
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I don't know why you would get rid of this guy.
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You know, okay, it was october 7th,
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But look at all the great stuff that we've done.
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And says to the president of israel, isaac herzog,
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Give this guy a pardon, right. because netanyahu
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Has this corruption trial that's concerning.
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Pardon? bougie did not see that coming.
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And that was.
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And so you saw an amazing bear hug from trump.
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You saw that trump gave probably.
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And you've worked in politics before,
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Probably one of the greatest political endorsements
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That any politician could ever dream.
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Of on live television for the whole country,
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The whole nation is watching of celebration.
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This wasn't a hey, someday our plans are going to work
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And we're going to we're going to make israel better.
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We're going to make israel great again.
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It's going to be fantastic.
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Yeah, i think that was the days that we all thought
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Might not be able to happen.
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The miracle of all these live hostages coming out.
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So trump was at the top and he gave a bear hug.
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So the polling immediately following in the weeks
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That followed by and likud, his his governing
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Partner, his own personal party, likud,
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You know, shot up in a way that they've been underwater,
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For the last two years, since october 7th and and naftali
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Bennett and his as of yet unnamed, right wing party,
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Naftali bennett has been the leader
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In all the polling
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That he could, that he was much more likely
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To put together a government than bibi.
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That that sort of shifted.
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Yeah, but now it seems to be shifting back.
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So how do you read?
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Where are we right now?
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As we come to the end of 26,
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The polls will be, you know, will be
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A range of different polls.
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But what's your instinct as we as we head into 26?
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Is bibi still riding the high
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Of that bear hug and the successes or
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Is the balloon coming back down to earth?
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What is what is happening? israelis
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Look at at the end of the day, how do they vote?
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They vote over security.
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They vote over their
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Welfare and how they feel as a people.
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They look at the lot.
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They look at october 7th, obviously a disaster
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If where buck stops by benjamin netanyahu.
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But the last two years and by the time
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We go to elections, it'll be two and a half or maybe three.
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The middle east has changed,
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And it is a safer and more secure
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Middle east for the state of israel.
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That's undeniable.
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That is the reality.
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And that is thanks to the decisions
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That benjamin netanyahu has made as israel's prime minister.
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Including, i would add, you know,
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I don't agree with bibi on everything,
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But i see
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Why evangelicals have loved him so much over the years,
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Also because as american evangelicals, canadian
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Evangelist, they don't see the sauces
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Getting made locally or behind the scenes, but still,
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When netanyahu says, what would have happened
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If i had said yes to joe biden in may of 24?
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Netanyahu calls it surrender.
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By whole region for him to stop fighting.
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And sinwar was still alive.
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Muhammad deif, i think, was still alive.
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Nasrallah was still alive, and the iran nuclear.
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And assad still in power. assad was and still in power.
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So i think netanyahu makes a pretty powerful case
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That by resisting the american president, which is hard to do
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And he was under tremendous pressure
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To just just get the hostages out and give up.
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So you have that that's data point one.
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Data point two.
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Donald trump has basically said to the israeli people,
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As you mentioned, this is my guy, right.
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And israelis want to see a leader
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Who can work with their most powerful ally,
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Which is the united states.
00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:38.407
But data point three is, as you said, the polls.
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The polls don't take them to the bank.
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They do show us trends.
00:08:43.646 --> 00:08:45.081
They show us maybe the sentiment
00:08:45.081 --> 00:08:46.716
Of israelis on a given day, but they're too close to call.
00:08:46.716 --> 00:08:50.753
And if i had to,
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If i was a betting man, which i'm thankfully not,
00:08:52.054 --> 00:08:54.690
I would not be able to tell you
00:08:54.690 --> 00:08:56.092
Who's going to be the next prime minister,
00:08:56.092 --> 00:08:57.293
Because i think that netanyahu, despite all the claims
00:08:57.293 --> 00:09:00.329
That his time is over and and bennett is taking over,
00:09:00.329 --> 00:09:04.133
He has a good chance at winning if israelis go to elections
00:09:04.133 --> 00:09:07.269
And when they go to an election. yeah.
00:09:07.269 --> 00:09:08.904
All right. hold that thought.
00:09:08.904 --> 00:09:09.972
We've got much more to talk about with yaakov katz
00:09:09.972 --> 00:09:13.075
As we try to figure out what does 26 look like?
00:09:13.075 --> 00:09:16.345
In the aftermath
00:09:16.746 --> 00:09:17.947
Of the intensity of the war in gaza, lebanon and iran.
00:09:17.947 --> 00:09:21.984
Don't go away.
00:09:21.984 --> 00:09:22.952
We'll be right back on the rosenberg report.
00:09:22.952 --> 00:09:25.921
Coming up next on the rosenberg report.
00:09:26.689 --> 00:09:28.958
What should we make of the growing
00:09:28.958 --> 00:09:30.626
International pressure on israel,
00:09:30.626 --> 00:09:32.695
Even from president trump, to create a sovereign,
00:09:32.695 --> 00:09:35.931
Independent palestinian state in gaza and the west bank?
00:09:35.931 --> 00:09:39.835
Will the world really force israelis
00:09:39.835 --> 00:09:41.871
To agree to such a state, even in the aftermath of the hamas
00:09:41.871 --> 00:09:45.608
Invasion on october 7th and iran attacking us from all sides?
00:09:45.608 --> 00:09:49.879
And what about the saudis?
00:09:49.879 --> 00:09:51.747
Do they still want to make peace with israel?
00:09:51.747 --> 00:09:54.984
Is 2026 the year, or are the saudis
00:09:54.984 --> 00:09:59.055
Actually souring on the notion of joining the abraham accords?
00:09:59.055 --> 00:10:02.758
Find out when the rosenberg report continues on tbn
00:10:02.758 --> 00:10:06.429
Right after the break.
00:10:06.429 --> 00:10:09.004
Right after the break.
00:10:09.004 --> 00:10:12.468
Welcome back to the rosenberg report.
00:10:13.269 --> 00:10:15.071
Again, i want to encourage you, if you're
00:10:15.071 --> 00:10:17.640
Looking for a christmas present, this is the book.
00:10:17.640 --> 00:10:20.209
In addition to eli sharabi█s. this book “while israel slept.”
00:10:20.209 --> 00:10:25.047
It's a painful book.
00:10:25.047 --> 00:10:26.248
I will concede that, but it's super.
00:10:26.248 --> 00:10:28.050
Well reported and it's super important
00:10:28.050 --> 00:10:31.454
Because we're trying to figure out, as evangelical christians
00:10:31.454 --> 00:10:34.657
And as others who love israel, jews, and obviously others.
00:10:34.657 --> 00:10:37.860
Well, how did hamas surprise, the most powerful military
00:10:37.860 --> 00:10:41.597
In the middle east? how did they surprise israel?
00:10:41.597 --> 00:10:43.232
And where where are we going?
00:10:43.232 --> 00:10:44.633
Israel has done a great job.
00:10:44.633 --> 00:10:46.969
You know,
00:10:46.969 --> 00:10:48.237
Assassinating a lot of bad guys
00:10:48.237 --> 00:10:51.507
And destroying a lot of infrastructure of the bad guys.
00:10:51.507 --> 00:10:54.643
But where are we going now?
00:10:54.643 --> 00:10:57.113
And joining me, back in the studio here is yaakov katz,
00:10:57.113 --> 00:11:00.483
Coauthor of this book. yaakov.
00:11:00.483 --> 00:11:03.252
I want to talk specifically, we talked about the
00:11:04.253 --> 00:11:06.422
The internal israeli political ramifications of, october 7th.
00:11:06.422 --> 00:11:10.893
And, you know, does bibi have a shot at winning again,
00:11:10.893 --> 00:11:14.296
So forth?
00:11:14.296 --> 00:11:15.397
And american evangelicals care about this because
00:11:15.397 --> 00:11:18.868
Netanyahu's almost the only name they know, right?
00:11:18.868 --> 00:11:21.804
And they
00:11:21.804 --> 00:11:23.005
There's been a lot of trust built over three plus decades.
00:11:23.005 --> 00:11:26.041
Okay.
00:11:26.275 --> 00:11:27.376
But another name they know well is president trump.
00:11:27.376 --> 00:11:28.978
President trump has been super helpful to israel,
00:11:28.978 --> 00:11:31.814
But he has now enshrined his 20 point peace plan at the u.n.
00:11:31.814 --> 00:11:36.452
Security council.
00:11:36.452 --> 00:11:37.653
Now, i like a lot of this plan, but there is at least one,
00:11:37.653 --> 00:11:41.190
If not several, ticking time bombs from an israeli
00:11:41.190 --> 00:11:44.860
Right center right perspective.
00:11:44.860 --> 00:11:47.930
And maybe the biggest
00:11:47.930 --> 00:11:49.365
Ticking time bomb in that is that this plan, now
00:11:49.365 --> 00:11:52.935
Ratified and enshrined in international law by the u.n.
00:11:52.935 --> 00:11:56.705
Security council.
00:11:56.705 --> 00:11:57.773
Is this going to create a pathway to a sovereign,
00:11:57.773 --> 00:12:01.443
Independent palestinian state right now?
00:12:01.443 --> 00:12:04.547
Trump supported this in 2020, in his deal of the century plan.
00:12:04.547 --> 00:12:09.385
But, bibi didn't take it that seriously.
00:12:10.219 --> 00:12:12.621
I didn't take it that seriously.
00:12:12.621 --> 00:12:13.689
And i think you took it
00:12:13.689 --> 00:12:14.924
That seriously, that it was sort of a sop to the arab world.
00:12:14.924 --> 00:12:18.260
Now, in a post october 7th environment, how do you
00:12:18.260 --> 00:12:21.831
What's your assessment?
00:12:21.831 --> 00:12:23.632
Where is trump heading and how does bibi
00:12:23.632 --> 00:12:26.235
And and israel as a nation, how do we navigate with
00:12:26.235 --> 00:12:30.139
Because trump is driving
00:12:30.139 --> 00:12:32.041
The ship at this point, not netanyahu.
00:12:32.041 --> 00:12:34.210
You're 100% right that this this was a surprise to israelis.
00:12:34.210 --> 00:12:37.546
Israelis thought that definitely post october 7th.
00:12:37.546 --> 00:12:40.983
In this reality, what is the lesson
00:12:40.983 --> 00:12:43.152
We've learned? we can't concede territory.
00:12:43.152 --> 00:12:45.855
We can't allow terrorist groups to be in charge of places
00:12:45.855 --> 00:12:49.625
Like gaza,
00:12:49.625 --> 00:12:50.526
Because that will become the launchpad
00:12:50.526 --> 00:12:52.094
For the greatest massacres that humankind can even imagine
00:12:52.094 --> 00:12:56.365
Are possible.
00:12:56.365 --> 00:12:57.399
How could we ever agree to such a situation?
00:12:57.399 --> 00:12:59.969
I think the pathway.
00:12:59.969 --> 00:13:01.070
And i would just add, and i just want to
00:13:01.070 --> 00:13:02.538
Note this to my audience.
00:13:02.538 --> 00:13:04.173
I did a youtube exclusive the other day
00:13:04.173 --> 00:13:06.642
Looking at this whole issue of, is the world going to force,
00:13:06.642 --> 00:13:09.545
A palestinian state on israel and do so successfully?
00:13:10.546 --> 00:13:13.582
And i look at a lot of the most recent
00:13:13.582 --> 00:13:15.885
Polling data of israelis and palestinians.
00:13:15.885 --> 00:13:18.254
More than half of palestinians are against
00:13:18.254 --> 00:13:22.057
A two state solution.
00:13:22.057 --> 00:13:24.193
And in fact, 69% of west bank palestinians are against it.
00:13:24.193 --> 00:13:29.164
So and i think maybe 20% of israeli jews at this point
00:13:29.164 --> 00:13:34.069
Say that they support a two state solution.
00:13:34.069 --> 00:13:36.105
So you got the world saying
00:13:36.105 --> 00:13:37.473
You have to have it when palestinians don't want it.
00:13:37.473 --> 00:13:39.775
And the thousands
00:13:39.775 --> 00:13:40.843
That would live in the the bulk of a sovereign state,
00:13:40.843 --> 00:13:44.680
They definitely don't want almost seven and ten
00:13:44.680 --> 00:13:47.283
And israelis don't want it. so who wants it? well.
00:13:47.283 --> 00:13:49.652
You know, on that point, though, joe, i will say the reason
00:13:49.652 --> 00:13:53.589
I think the world,
00:13:53.589 --> 00:13:54.823
Including donald trump, for that matter,
00:13:54.823 --> 00:13:56.525
Keep going back to a two state solution
00:13:56.525 --> 00:13:58.827
Is because we,
00:13:58.827 --> 00:13:59.862
The people here are not presenting an alternative.
00:13:59.862 --> 00:14:02.932
Okay, there's no vision for something else.
00:14:02.932 --> 00:14:05.234
It's just let's manage the situation.
00:14:05.234 --> 00:14:08.137
We don't know
00:14:08.137 --> 00:14:09.338
Where we're going in the world and definitely in the west.
00:14:09.338 --> 00:14:12.007
It's a weakness and a strength,
00:14:12.007 --> 00:14:13.442
But it's they want to see solutions.
00:14:13.442 --> 00:14:15.611
They want to see conflicts that are solvable.
00:14:15.611 --> 00:14:18.714
The pathway to a palestinian state.
00:14:18.714 --> 00:14:20.716
I look at it as a pathway.
00:14:20.716 --> 00:14:22.184
It could take a year,
00:14:22.184 --> 00:14:23.152
But it can also take ten, 15 and 20 or 25.
00:14:23.152 --> 00:14:25.788
So it's a long path.
00:14:25.788 --> 00:14:27.222
I think that
00:14:27.222 --> 00:14:27.823
What trump wants to see
00:14:27.823 --> 00:14:29.491
Is israel embark on the beginning of that journey.
00:14:29.491 --> 00:14:32.695
But you are right, that is not something
00:14:32.695 --> 00:14:35.097
That is easily digested by the israeli public today,
00:14:35.097 --> 00:14:38.400
Or specifically by netanyahu and his coalition. now,
00:14:38.400 --> 00:14:42.037
I'm not i want to be clear, i'm not being critical of trump
00:14:43.205 --> 00:14:45.841
On this because he's
00:14:45.841 --> 00:14:47.142
Been consistent to his original vision
00:14:47.142 --> 00:14:49.712
Of the future of the middle east.
00:14:49.712 --> 00:14:51.080
Pre abraham accords, even, however,
00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:54.116
And i would also add that that,
00:14:54.116 --> 00:14:57.653
It's pretty astonishing that this u.n.
00:14:58.420 --> 00:15:00.322
Security council has passed this 20 point plan,
00:15:00.322 --> 00:15:02.825
Because one of the things it does is
00:15:02.825 --> 00:15:06.128
Takes gaza out of
00:15:06.128 --> 00:15:09.598
The governing responsibility of the palestinian authority
00:15:09.598 --> 00:15:12.468
For the foreseeable future and puts it in donald trump's hands.
00:15:12.468 --> 00:15:15.404
He's the he's the governor of gaza.
00:15:15.404 --> 00:15:19.308
Right. and we're going to make it great again.
00:15:19.308 --> 00:15:21.410
Yeah, it's gonna be fantastic.
00:15:21.410 --> 00:15:23.278
You will never you're going to be vacationing in gaza soon.
00:15:23.278 --> 00:15:27.816
So it's a good impression.
00:15:28.384 --> 00:15:29.618
Well, you know, i, i'm not sure if it is, but i
00:15:29.618 --> 00:15:33.055
But the fact that trump has taken ownership
00:15:33.055 --> 00:15:35.057
Of this problem and said, look, i'm going to work
00:15:35.057 --> 00:15:37.226
With the rest of the world, israel, the arab world,
00:15:37.226 --> 00:15:39.962
The europeans, whomever.
00:15:39.962 --> 00:15:41.563
But i'm going to run this process.
00:15:41.563 --> 00:15:43.832
I actually think that's leadership.
00:15:43.832 --> 00:15:45.768
It requires trusting him.
00:15:46.335 --> 00:15:48.771
But i have more trust in president trump's,
00:15:48.771 --> 00:15:51.340
Love and support
00:15:51.340 --> 00:15:52.508
For israel than any american president in history. so.
00:15:52.508 --> 00:15:55.611
But that's not that doesn't mean i have total trust.
00:15:55.611 --> 00:15:57.646
And so i'm trying to figure out
00:15:57.646 --> 00:15:59.148
What does what is gaza look like?
00:15:59.148 --> 00:16:01.617
I mean, right now, he doesn't even want israel to disarm
00:16:01.617 --> 00:16:05.087
A group of about 100 hamas they don't want
00:16:05.087 --> 00:16:07.656
He doesn't want us to kill.
00:16:07.656 --> 00:16:08.924
Well, he's there or sorry, i 100 terrorists in a tunnel.
00:16:08.924 --> 00:16:13.796
Donald trump doesn't want the war to resume.
00:16:13.796 --> 00:16:15.597
Donald trump wants the war to stay over.
00:16:15.597 --> 00:16:17.766
He wants us to stay at this lower intensity conflict
00:16:17.766 --> 00:16:20.769
And not the high intensity that it was until that
00:16:20.769 --> 00:16:23.439
When he came to jerusalem and gave that speech.
00:16:23.439 --> 00:16:25.507
And the hostages came back on october 13th.
00:16:25.507 --> 00:16:28.610
But for that to happen,
00:16:28.610 --> 00:16:30.512
We do need to see a change in gaza, which we've yet to see.
00:16:30.512 --> 00:16:33.549
We need to see hamas disarm.
00:16:33.549 --> 00:16:35.317
Doesn't disarmament also have to include
00:16:35.317 --> 00:16:37.352
The destruction of the remaining tunnels?
00:16:37.352 --> 00:16:39.088
And when i see that it has to, who's going to do that?
00:16:39.088 --> 00:16:42.324
It's not going to be the qataris or the turks, or the egyptians
00:16:42.324 --> 00:16:46.095
Or the french or some other multinational
00:16:46.095 --> 00:16:48.263
Force that comes into gaza.
00:16:48.263 --> 00:16:50.265
It's either israel or it's not going to happen.
00:16:50.265 --> 00:16:52.434
And and israel will not be able to stand by and watch as hamas
00:16:52.434 --> 00:16:57.172
In the 50% of gaza, they still hold on to
00:16:57.172 --> 00:17:00.175
What is now outside the yellow line
00:17:00.175 --> 00:17:02.211
That hamas is going to rebuild, reassert control
00:17:02.211 --> 00:17:05.547
And represent itself as a potential threat.
00:17:05.547 --> 00:17:08.884
Like it was on the eve of october 7th.
00:17:08.884 --> 00:17:11.386
That's unacceptable.
00:17:11.386 --> 00:17:12.654
I think it's unacceptable
00:17:12.654 --> 00:17:13.555
To us, obviously to the israeli public,
00:17:13.555 --> 00:17:15.958
And i think also to donald trump.
00:17:15.958 --> 00:17:17.426
He will understand and he probably does understand,
00:17:17.426 --> 00:17:19.995
But he wants to try to see if he can get this off the ground.
00:17:19.995 --> 00:17:23.065
And if, together with the arab
00:17:23.065 --> 00:17:24.466
Countries can put that pressure to bear on hamas,
00:17:24.466 --> 00:17:27.569
The hamas will even maybe willingly
00:17:27.569 --> 00:17:30.005
Give up some of its weapons.
00:17:30.005 --> 00:17:31.773
The other reason that i think president trump wants
00:17:31.773 --> 00:17:34.443
The language of a of a pathway to a palestinian
00:17:34.443 --> 00:17:37.179
State is because he wants,
00:17:37.179 --> 00:17:39.148
The kingdom of saudi arabia
00:17:39.748 --> 00:17:41.083
Under the leadership of mohammed bin salman,
00:17:41.083 --> 00:17:44.153
To make a peace and normalization deal with israel.
00:17:44.153 --> 00:17:47.289
What's your assessment?
00:17:47.289 --> 00:17:48.290
Is 26 the year that that's going to happen
00:17:48.290 --> 00:17:51.860
To the saudis?
00:17:52.194 --> 00:17:52.961
Want this any more?
00:17:52.961 --> 00:17:55.197
What's your read?
00:17:55.197 --> 00:17:55.831
Because,
00:17:55.831 --> 00:17:58.133
One of the reasons they wanted
00:17:58.133 --> 00:17:59.434
This agreement, an alliance in the sense with israel,
00:17:59.434 --> 00:18:02.804
Was because iran was such a threat
00:18:02.804 --> 00:18:05.040
And nobody in washington was dealing with it.
00:18:05.040 --> 00:18:07.242
Now, washington has dealt with it under trump.
00:18:07.242 --> 00:18:09.745
Does that lower the value,
00:18:09.745 --> 00:18:14.016
Of a palestinian state?
00:18:14.516 --> 00:18:16.718
A what were the value of a deal with israel?
00:18:16.718 --> 00:18:19.588
Actually, you should hold that.
00:18:19.588 --> 00:18:20.556
We're going to have to take a break.
00:18:20.556 --> 00:18:22.357
We'll come back and, we'll pick up with that question.
00:18:22.357 --> 00:18:24.793
Are we going to see normalization
00:18:24.793 --> 00:18:26.161
Between israel and the saudis,
00:18:26.161 --> 00:18:28.096
Brokered by trump in 2026, or at all?
00:18:28.096 --> 00:18:31.700
Don't go away. we'll be right back on the rosenberg report.
00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:34.903
Coming up next on the rosenberg report.
00:18:35.671 --> 00:18:37.906
As we come to the end of 2025 and head into 2026,
00:18:37.906 --> 00:18:42.644
Will president trump be able to persuade the saudis to sign
00:18:42.644 --> 00:18:46.381
A real and robust peace and normalization deal with israel?
00:18:46.381 --> 00:18:50.118
Does mbs still want a formal treaty with israel?
00:18:50.118 --> 00:18:53.355
And could 2026 really be the year we'll see history
00:18:53.355 --> 00:18:57.192
Being made?
00:18:57.192 --> 00:18:58.227
Or are the saudis actually souring on the notion
00:18:58.227 --> 00:19:01.029
Of joining the abraham accords and have all the images of death
00:19:01.029 --> 00:19:04.900
And destruction coming out of gaza over the past
00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:07.436
Two years, when the chances for a game changing deal
00:19:07.436 --> 00:19:11.640
With riyadh? find out when the rosenberg
00:19:11.640 --> 00:19:14.142
Report continues on tbn right after the break.
00:19:14.142 --> 00:19:19.000
Report continues on tbn right after the break.
00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:22.150
Welcome back to the rosenberg report.
00:19:22.951 --> 00:19:24.786
Yaakov katz is my guest. yaakov.
00:19:24.786 --> 00:19:28.323
In your
00:19:28.557 --> 00:19:29.458
Reporting, in your years of reporting,
00:19:29.458 --> 00:19:32.361
Do you think the saudis want
00:19:32.361 --> 00:19:35.163
And need a deal with the israelis anymore?
00:19:35.163 --> 00:19:38.834
Or do you think that this or that, you think the the,
00:19:38.834 --> 00:19:41.503
The trump strike, the netanyahu strikes
00:19:41.503 --> 00:19:43.705
That neutralize the iran nuclear threat,
00:19:43.705 --> 00:19:47.009
Plus the devastation in gaza, which, you know,
00:19:47.009 --> 00:19:51.046
The saudi people, the arab people have watched.
00:19:52.047 --> 00:19:54.950
They're not focused on the hostages.
00:19:54.950 --> 00:19:56.285
They've been focused on destruction in gaza.
00:19:56.285 --> 00:19:58.787
And it's true. it's real.
00:19:58.787 --> 00:19:59.621
I've been there and it's apocalyptic.
00:19:59.621 --> 00:20:01.456
So, well, how do you assess as we go into 26?
00:20:01.456 --> 00:20:05.527
The prospect of a of a big game changing peace deal?
00:20:05.527 --> 00:20:09.031
I think it's possible.
00:20:09.031 --> 00:20:10.165
I think it hopefully will happen in the coming months.
00:20:10.165 --> 00:20:13.168
I think that the saudis definitely want it,
00:20:13.168 --> 00:20:15.237
But they want it for a couple of reasons.
00:20:15.237 --> 00:20:17.072
But they also want it on their terms and in their terms.
00:20:17.072 --> 00:20:20.642
They need to see israel embark
00:20:20.642 --> 00:20:22.678
On what we were discussing before
00:20:22.678 --> 00:20:24.479
This pathway or this journey towards a palestinian state.
00:20:24.479 --> 00:20:27.449
They need to get something out of the israelis,
00:20:27.449 --> 00:20:29.251
Especially because of those images
00:20:29.251 --> 00:20:31.053
That you spoke about in gaza.
00:20:31.053 --> 00:20:32.254
They have to pay that lip service
00:20:32.254 --> 00:20:34.489
To the young people within their own country,
00:20:34.489 --> 00:20:36.858
But also as they view themselves and views himself
00:20:36.858 --> 00:20:39.695
As the leader of the arab and muslim world,
00:20:39.695 --> 00:20:42.164
He needs to be able to explain to them,
00:20:42.164 --> 00:20:44.399
Yes, some normalizing with this
00:20:44.399 --> 00:20:45.934
On the aftermath of the war in gaza.
00:20:45.934 --> 00:20:47.903
But but look what i got israel to do.
00:20:47.903 --> 00:20:50.405
Yes, i want i want to,
00:20:50.872 --> 00:20:54.142
Quibble maybe with one phrase, lip service.
00:20:54.142 --> 00:20:57.379
I think in my time with mbs
00:20:57.379 --> 00:21:00.882
My impression was he didn't he he was disgusted
00:21:00.882 --> 00:21:04.186
With the palestinian authority.
00:21:04.186 --> 00:21:05.487
He hated hamas.
00:21:05.487 --> 00:21:07.789
Yeah. the palestinians need a state.
00:21:07.789 --> 00:21:09.658
That's important.
00:21:09.658 --> 00:21:10.692
But i'm not gonna make a big deal of it.
00:21:10.692 --> 00:21:12.894
That felt to me almost, almost like lip service today.
00:21:12.894 --> 00:21:16.565
I think the situation is much more,
00:21:16.565 --> 00:21:19.634
I think it's changed for me.
00:21:20.235 --> 00:21:21.670
Because of the war.
00:21:21.670 --> 00:21:22.971
Because his because, yeah, he is an absolute,
00:21:22.971 --> 00:21:26.842
You know, autocrat. true.
00:21:27.409 --> 00:21:29.544
But he's got a street, and the street loves what he's doing in
00:21:29.544 --> 00:21:33.782
Every area of modernization
00:21:33.782 --> 00:21:36.618
And economic growth and development.
00:21:36.618 --> 00:21:38.019
But they they are horrified,
00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:41.022
Really, genuinely horrified by what's happened in gaza.
00:21:41.022 --> 00:21:44.192
And so the question is,
00:21:44.192 --> 00:21:46.094
Is, you know, all politics are local eventually.
00:21:46.094 --> 00:21:48.397
And and so does mbs have what what room does he have
00:21:48.397 --> 00:21:51.533
To maneuver?
00:21:51.533 --> 00:21:53.335
If he's being seen as
00:21:53.835 --> 00:21:55.370
Or portrayed as by turkey and qatar
00:21:55.370 --> 00:21:57.506
And al jazeera as something betrayer.
00:21:57.506 --> 00:21:59.808
Yeah. of the palestinian people.
00:21:59.808 --> 00:22:01.209
I agree with you. i don't think we disagree.
00:22:01.209 --> 00:22:02.711
I think that he needs to
00:22:02.711 --> 00:22:04.012
He needs netanyahu to give him that for him
00:22:04.012 --> 00:22:06.515
To be able to make that step forward.
00:22:06.515 --> 00:22:07.749
But the reason that he wants it, i think, splits into three.
00:22:07.749 --> 00:22:10.652
Number one, he understands.
00:22:10.652 --> 00:22:12.687
And he's getting now a closer alliance with the united states.
00:22:12.687 --> 00:22:15.424
But for that to retain itself and to be preserved,
00:22:15.424 --> 00:22:18.360
He has to find a way to normalize relations with israel.
00:22:18.360 --> 00:22:21.263
You bring the other closest ally of the u.s.
00:22:21.263 --> 00:22:23.865
In this region, together with you,
00:22:23.865 --> 00:22:26.001
That will help you keep america on your side.
00:22:26.001 --> 00:22:28.203
It will help you in the
00:22:28.203 --> 00:22:29.104
In congress also,
00:22:29.104 --> 00:22:30.272
Where the president wants to see an abraham accords deal.
00:22:30.272 --> 00:22:33.475
I mean, they don't like the saudis so much,
00:22:33.475 --> 00:22:34.910
But they would love to see more peace in the middle east.
00:22:34.910 --> 00:22:37.145
And it will help you with arms sales
00:22:37.145 --> 00:22:38.647
And getting those ratified and confirm number two,
00:22:38.647 --> 00:22:41.450
You mentioned iran.
00:22:41.450 --> 00:22:42.551
Iran's not over, joel.
00:22:42.551 --> 00:22:44.286
Iran is now
00:22:44.286 --> 00:22:46.221
I think everything i hear from israeli defense officials,
00:22:46.221 --> 00:22:48.690
It's not a question of if there will be another round.
00:22:48.690 --> 00:22:50.792
It's a question of when there will be another round.
00:22:50.792 --> 00:22:52.727
There are already reports that the iranians
00:22:52.727 --> 00:22:54.663
Have replenished their ballistic missile systems.
00:22:54.663 --> 00:22:57.032
They're back to about 2000 rockets
00:22:57.032 --> 00:22:59.634
That can strike now in israel like they were before this.
00:22:59.634 --> 00:23:02.704
For the 12 day war, they're back to hundreds of
00:23:02.704 --> 00:23:06.174
Of ballistic missile launchers.
00:23:06.174 --> 00:23:08.009
About 250 had been destroyed during the 12 day war.
00:23:08.009 --> 00:23:11.346
They will rebuild their nuclear facilities as well.
00:23:11.346 --> 00:23:13.815
So the saudis know that the country
00:23:13.815 --> 00:23:17.552
That is the most bent on
00:23:17.552 --> 00:23:19.387
Preventing the iranians, their arch nemesis,
00:23:19.387 --> 00:23:21.423
From getting nuclear weapons, is israel.
00:23:21.423 --> 00:23:23.358
They want to be aligned with israel.
00:23:23.358 --> 00:23:25.360
And then there's number three.
00:23:25.360 --> 00:23:27.362
He wants, as you said, to modernize his country
00:23:27.362 --> 00:23:30.499
To to march saudi arabia into the future.
00:23:30.499 --> 00:23:33.602
There is no better countries to do that
00:23:33.602 --> 00:23:35.670
With from a technological perspective, culturally,
00:23:35.670 --> 00:23:39.040
Every other thing you can think of is here with israel.
00:23:39.040 --> 00:23:43.245
We are the most advanced country in this region.
00:23:43.245 --> 00:23:45.313
You want to be with us, and you want a partner
00:23:45.313 --> 00:23:48.450
To be able to take your country for the emirati.
00:23:48.450 --> 00:23:50.652
Get that?
00:23:50.652 --> 00:23:51.653
The bahrainis got it, the moroccans got it.
00:23:51.653 --> 00:23:53.622
Egypt and jordan, they got it a bunch of years ago.
00:23:53.622 --> 00:23:56.558
Unfortunately, they didn't act on it
00:23:56.558 --> 00:23:58.293
The way they should have,
00:23:58.293 --> 00:23:59.561
But i think saudi arabia understands that.
00:23:59.561 --> 00:24:01.496
And this is
00:24:01.496 --> 00:24:02.731
Just one other reason why i'm hopeful that we can get there.
00:24:02.731 --> 00:24:05.634
Well, i hope you're right, because
00:24:05.634 --> 00:24:06.835
I hope you write a sequel to,
00:24:06.835 --> 00:24:09.271
“while israel slept,”
00:24:09.838 --> 00:24:11.606
You know, something along the lines of when israel woke up
00:24:11.606 --> 00:24:14.409
And was able to figure out how to chart a new path,
00:24:14.409 --> 00:24:17.846
Throughout the middle east.
00:24:17.846 --> 00:24:18.513
This is the book to get,
00:24:18.513 --> 00:24:20.348
As you head into hanukkah and christmas, “while israel slept.”
00:24:20.348 --> 00:24:24.152
How hamas surprised the most powerful military
00:24:24.152 --> 00:24:27.122
In the middle east.
00:24:27.122 --> 00:24:28.456
The story
00:24:28.456 --> 00:24:29.691
Of how october 7th happened, but also what's happened since.
00:24:29.691 --> 00:24:32.494
And i'm very grateful to my friend yaakov katz.
00:24:32.494 --> 00:24:35.564
Thank you so much for watching.
00:24:35.564 --> 00:24:36.798
I hope that you found this show helpful.
00:24:36.798 --> 00:24:38.433
I hope you if you if you missed last week's show
00:24:38.433 --> 00:24:40.969
In which i interviewed yaakov specifically about the book,
00:24:40.969 --> 00:24:43.438
I encourage you to go to rosenbergreport.tv
00:24:43.438 --> 00:24:45.974
As well as our youtube channel.
00:24:45.974 --> 00:24:48.610
Get a link, watch it, and then share a link to that show.
00:24:48.610 --> 00:24:52.447
And this on social media, with family and friends
00:24:52.447 --> 00:24:55.750
So that they have a better sense of what's really happening
00:24:55.750 --> 00:24:58.887
As we end this dramatic year and as we head into a
00:24:58.887 --> 00:25:03.191
And what i think is going to be a very, dramatic, 2026.
00:25:03.191 --> 00:25:06.995
Thank you for watching.
00:25:06.995 --> 00:25:08.563
May god bless you as you walk with the lord jesus christ
00:25:08.563 --> 00:25:11.700
This week.
00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:12.767
As you spend time in his word, spend time in prayer
00:25:12.767 --> 00:25:14.736
And worship, fellowship with other believers,
00:25:14.736 --> 00:25:16.805
Care for the the poor, the suffering of,
00:25:16.805 --> 00:25:19.941
Widows and orphans and those in need.
00:25:19.941 --> 00:25:21.977
As you continue to pray for the peace of jerusalem
00:25:21.977 --> 00:25:25.246
And for god to supernaturally heal,
00:25:25.246 --> 00:25:28.617
All israelis
00:25:28.950 --> 00:25:30.485
And palestinians who've been traumatized by this horrible war
00:25:30.485 --> 00:25:33.688
And help us give the wisdom to local and national leaders,
00:25:33.688 --> 00:25:37.759
How to chart a good and healthy way for.
00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:40.862
Have a great week.
00:25:40.862 --> 00:25:41.630
And, lord willing,
00:25:41.630 --> 00:25:42.864
I'll see you next week right here on the rosenberg report.
00:25:42.864 --> 00:25:42.864

Joel Rosenberg: Did Israel Miss Warning Signs? (Part 2) | The Rosenberg Report

December 11, 2025 | 27:33

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