Stakelbeck Tonight

Erick Stakelbeck: Israel’s Fight Against Evil | Stakelbeck Tonight

September 4, 2025 | 25:5

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joins Erick Stakelbeck to discuss the conflict in the Middle East and events since Oct. 7, 2023.

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Stakelbeck Tonight | Erick Stakelbeck: Israel’s Fight Against Evil | Stakelbeck Tonight | September 4, 2025

Welcome to stakelbeck tonight.
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I'm erick stakelbeck,
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And we want to get right
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Into my exclusive interview
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With israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu.
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I sat down with the prime minister recently in jerusalem
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To discuss israel's bold military strategy,
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The destruction of iran's nuclear weapons program,
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His historic partnership with president trump
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And the new middle east
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That is now taking shape under his leadership.
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This is the inside story
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Of how bibi and israel are on the frontlines of the fight
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To defend judeo-christian western civilization,
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And to preserve the world's one and only jewish state.
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Take a look.
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Mr. prime minister, thanks so much
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For joining us here in jerusalem and hosting us.
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You could say that the iranian axis was
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At its peak on october 7th, 2023.
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Now, less than two years later, that ring of fire
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Is basically a smoldering heap of ruins.
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Can you talk about the achievements
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Of the past two years, since october 7th, and really
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The battering of the world's number one sponsor of terrorism?
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Well, iran is and certainly was the world's
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Chief sponsor of terrorism, but it had proxies in that hamas
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And hezbollah in lebanon and had the assad regime
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In syria, the hutus in yemen and others.
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And we, we smashed them.
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And with
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President trump's help, we also
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Smashed iran's nuclear program, which they were,
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Moving ahead to form to get a nuclear bomb
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And ballistic missiles to deliver them far and wide,
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Not only against israel, but ultimately
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Against the united states.
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They said, death to america.
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Well, i think we, i think we delivered some major blows.
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Hamas has been crippled.
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Hezbollah in lebanon has been crippled.
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The assad regime has gone down and iran's
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Nuclear weapons program and its ballistic missiles
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Program have been rolled back for years.
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And i think this is a great achievement both for israel and,
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The great american israeli alliance.
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Yeah, a stunning reversal of fortune
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For the iranian regime, for sure.
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Hey, you mentioned president trump.
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You two have formed an iron partnership, i would say.
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Some said, hey,
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This is a combination of two
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Churchillian leaders who believe in peace through strength.
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Can you talk about the importance of that partnership
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And how it's really transforming this region?
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Well, it's
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The strongest bond that israel has had with the united states.
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We've always had a great alliance with the united states
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Who, successive prime ministers and presidents.
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But this is a personal bond and ideological bond.
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We both believe in peace through strength,
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But we also believe that first comes strength,
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Then comes the peace.
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And we've already proven it by the common action that we took
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Under president trump's leadership to forge
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The abrahamic calls
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For peace treaties between israel and four arab nations.
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And, as we finish the iran
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Axis, we'll get more, i believe, more peace treaties.
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So it's a it's a bond that is both personal, national
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And international. yeah.
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Can you talk about operation rising lion in june?
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The decision to launch this historic operation.
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How close, mr.
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Prime minister, was the iranian regime to the bomb?
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And when did you get the sense
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That the united states would join the fray
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And assist in destroying iran's nuclear program?
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Well, i can say it was very close.
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And i'll tell you when had rush to do so,
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As long as it had its noose of death around
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Us, you know, with hamas
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And the south and hezbollah in the north both trying to,
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Invade israel,
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Destroy and exterminate israelis and exterminate
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The state of israel with, ballistic missiles and rockets.
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You know, raining down on us.
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And israel is a tiny country.
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It's, you know, it's smaller than new jersey.
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They had a plan to destroy us when we destroyed
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The iran's terror axis.
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And especially when we knocked out nasrallah.
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The most important iranian proxy.
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Then iran saw that its axis, the noose of death,
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Had been gone.
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It's been stripped away.
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That's when he decided to rush on what it calls weaponization.
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That's creating a weapon, an actual nuclear weapon
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For the enriched uranium that they had amassed.
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So our assessment was that it would take them less than a year
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To create not only a nuclear device,
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But possibly 1 or 2 nuclear bombs.
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And at that point, we decided to act.
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That's the decision.
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After the defeat of nasrallah,
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And the
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Collapse of the assad regime in syria,
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They were formed.
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And so we had to rush forward.
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That decision was made about
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Six months before the strike, and president trump joined us.
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Towards the end, i leave it to, my next by autobiography
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To describe how he made this bold decision.
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And, it's a partnership like no other.
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It really makes a huge difference.
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His leadership on the global stage
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Here in the middle east was amazing.
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I remember people told him, you know,
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You're going to start world war three.
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Israel is dragging you in.
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You're going to get thousands of american soldiers
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With boots on the ground in iran.
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Trying to affect regime change and all that nonsense.
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And in fact, nothing of the kind happened.
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He took a measured and precise,
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Military action,
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Taking those incredible to,
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Bombers with their incredible,
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Pilots, dropping those bombs
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On the iran's deepest, nuclear bunker.
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That followed everything that we did to iran
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And, turned out to be, a devastating blow,
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A responsible blow in a very, very powerful message
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To the world that america is back.
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Yeah. history made, no doubt.
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Maybe somewhat similar to the 1980s.
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Reagan and thatcher
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Bringing down the soviet empire and now the iranian empire
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Of terror in shambles.
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You mentioned president trump making that decision,
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And there was a lot of pressure, a counter pressure.
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I would say.
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Can you tell us why the iranian nuclear program
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And the iranian terror axis in general is a threat
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Not only to israel, but to america?
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You mentioned a minute ago
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That the ayatollah was chant death to america.
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They refer to israel as the little satan
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In their ideology and their eschatology.
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America is the great satan and really the ultimate target.
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Israel acting as the first line of defense
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For western civilization in that regard.
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Well, remember what iran, is saying all these years.
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First of all, that regime started out
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Just the very first days.
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They took over the american embassy and held over
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50 americans hostage.
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Tradition that is continued by their despicable
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Allies, hamas and taking 250 israeli's hostages.
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But they also did other things.
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They and their proxies
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Arranged the murder of 251 marines in beirut.
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They have killed and wounded
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Thousands of americans with their idea
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There are explosive devices in iraq and iran.
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They have bombed american embassies.
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They've tried to murder president trump
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Not once, but twice.
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They burn the american flag all the time, and they say
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They put out a price.
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And and president trump said now, just now,
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The former spokesman, the whole thing is incredible.
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These people, you know, the people who criticize israel on
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On the american so-called maga movement, that's not maga, maga.
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You support israel,
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Maga, you oppose iran that wants to destroy america.
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But iran is has its plans for destroying america,
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Our first to take over the middle east.
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And israel stands in the way
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Then to continue to europe, but ultimately to build
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Ballistic missiles,
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Intercontinental ballistic missiles
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That can reach the united states.
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Right now, they're building an icbm of 8000km.
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That's the president,
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But they add 3000 to it, 3000km to they reach new york.
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Washington.
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Where do you live? right in texas.
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It'll take a little more time,
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But all the eastern seaboard of
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The united states will be under iranian nuclear blackmail.
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That's what israel is fighting.
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That's what president trump identified.
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He said.
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Yes, israel is a valuable ally, and we have a partnership
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Like no other.
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But president trump always thinks about america's
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Interests and america's interests is to align itself
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With israel against those who want to destroy america.
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And we just did together with them.
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You set them back. yeah.
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But i enjoy the fact that israel is now enjoying
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The closest partnership with an american president,
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An american administration in our history.
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It's about time.
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It's a very exciting time. it is indeed.
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Coming up, more from my exclusive interview
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With israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu.
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What does he say
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To western leaders who are demanding a palestinian state?
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Find out after the break.
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Find out after the break.
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You mentioned this rise of anti-israel sentiment
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Around the world,
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The anti-israel, anti-semitic madness
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We see in the west, in particular.
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Keir starmer, emmanuel macron, other western leaders
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Pushing to recognize a palestinian state at the u.n.
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In september.
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How does that embolden hamas?
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It seems to me that encourages hamas to just dig in more.
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Exactly right.
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Hamas,
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You know, hamas talks about death
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To israel, death to america, just to the west,
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Just like iran does, because it's a proxy.
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Everyone shares
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The same fanatic ideology anti-western, anti-american.
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So what are these western leaders do
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When we fight their enemy?
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When we fight iran, which is threatening them
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With ballistic missiles and nuclear warheads?
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What do they say?
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You have to reward iran, and certainly iran's chief proxy
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That started it all. hamas.
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How do you reward them?
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By giving them a palestinian state.
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They had a palestinian state
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In gaza, a de facto palestinian state run by hamas.
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Now, what did it do?
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That it seek peace?
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No, because the whole quest for a palestinian state
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Isn't for palestinian self-governance.
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They already have it there.
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It's not to create a state.
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It's to destroy a state, the jewish state.
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And so you're basically telling them you just tried.
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You may fail, but we're going to give you another chance.
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We'll create another state, another launch
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Ground to try to destroy the state of israel.
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So it's absurd.
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And basically it's appeasement,
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It's weakness of leadership, and it's appeasement.
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And churchill described this appeasement.
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He said, you know, it's an attempt to feed,
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The crocodile
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Slabs of meat in this case, our meat,
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In the hope that it won't swallow you.
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But it will
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Because of fanatic radical islam wins in the middle east.
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Not only israel will be in peril.
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The moderate arab regimes will go down the tube too.
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But it'll be. it'll gravitate towards europe.
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And let me tell you something, eric.
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I'll tell you this.
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It'll come to the united states.
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This extremism will haunt the western world.
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So we're fighting right now, this battle against these.
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These savages, these barbarians for the cause of civilization.
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And these leaders, unlike
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President trump, who standing strong and standing tall,
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They're basically trying to appease the crocodile, islam
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And crocodile.
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Won't work. certainly not at our expense.
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You're a student of history. of course.
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How concerned are you for the future
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Of judeo-christian western civilization?
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Although you're in the heart of the middle east,
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Middle east, here in israel.
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You've been a defender of western values.
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You see what's happening in london,
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Paris, brussels, sweden, denmark, new york city.
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How concerned are you about the state of the west?
00:12:14.958 --> 00:12:18.094
Very concerned because i think it's,
00:12:18.094 --> 00:12:21.331
It's, basically letting down its values.
00:12:21.331 --> 00:12:24.401
If you're not willing to fight for your country,
00:12:24.401 --> 00:12:27.103
If you're not willing to fight
00:12:27.103 --> 00:12:28.071
For your values, if you're not willing to fight
00:12:28.071 --> 00:12:30.407
For your civilization, then for civilization will go down.
00:12:30.407 --> 00:12:34.211
There's no guarantee.
00:12:34.211 --> 00:12:36.112
History doesn't guarantee that.
00:12:36.112 --> 00:12:37.380
Unfortunately, the good side always wins.
00:12:37.380 --> 00:12:39.583
We've had dark periods when,
00:12:39.583 --> 00:12:40.984
You know, when savages basically ruled the world,
00:12:41.952 --> 00:12:44.621
When hordes stormed and destroyed the destroyed
00:12:44.621 --> 00:12:48.158
The civilizations that had been built there for centuries.
00:12:48.158 --> 00:12:51.061
That could happen to.
00:12:51.061 --> 00:12:52.095
Unless the west,
00:12:52.095 --> 00:12:54.231
Basically gets a hold of itself.
00:12:54.231 --> 00:12:56.299
And i'm very pleased to see that, in america, there's
00:12:56.299 --> 00:12:59.703
There are strong voices and a strong leader
00:12:59.703 --> 00:13:01.571
Who understands that,
00:13:01.571 --> 00:13:02.906
Understands that there's a larger battle being fought
00:13:02.906 --> 00:13:06.243
And that the allies fighting allies like israel
00:13:06.243 --> 00:13:09.713
Who are willing to defend themselves by themselves.
00:13:09.713 --> 00:13:13.116
And who are fighting for the same values.
00:13:13.116 --> 00:13:14.818
They should be supported,
00:13:14.818 --> 00:13:16.319
Not abandoned, not criticized, not condemn, but supported.
00:13:16.319 --> 00:13:20.323
That's what president trump is doing.
00:13:20.323 --> 00:13:21.791
And i think, he puts to shame all these western leaders
00:13:21.791 --> 00:13:24.694
Of basically capitulated, bowed down before terror.
00:13:24.694 --> 00:13:27.898
I'll tell you why they're doing it,
00:13:27.898 --> 00:13:29.165
Because they
00:13:29.165 --> 00:13:30.267
Now have islamic minorities in their own countries.
00:13:30.267 --> 00:13:33.603
And some of them are very radical.
00:13:33.603 --> 00:13:35.205
So there's
00:13:35.205 --> 00:13:36.473
That pressure of the media, the, you know, the deceitful media
00:13:36.473 --> 00:13:39.242
That buys
00:13:39.542 --> 00:13:40.644
The hamas lies, hooks, line and sinker and the pressure
00:13:40.644 --> 00:13:44.047
Of islamist minorities, and they bow down to it.
00:13:44.047 --> 00:13:47.550
And many of them say that to me.
00:13:47.550 --> 00:13:49.052
They say, you know,
00:13:49.052 --> 00:13:50.520
You know, when they talk to me privately,
00:13:50.520 --> 00:13:51.888
We know that the truth is different.
00:13:51.888 --> 00:13:53.390
But, you know, what can we do?
00:13:53.390 --> 00:13:54.791
We're under pressure. i said, well, be a leader.
00:13:54.791 --> 00:13:57.260
So stand up for the truth and stand up for real values.
00:13:57.260 --> 00:14:00.263
Be a leader. don't succumb to lies.
00:14:00.263 --> 00:14:02.799
And don't succumb to the forces who want to destroy you.
00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:06.303
What are those protesters in the colleges
00:14:06.303 --> 00:14:09.406
In american campuses say?
00:14:09.406 --> 00:14:11.541
What do they think of america?
00:14:11.541 --> 00:14:12.943
I know what they think of israel.
00:14:12.943 --> 00:14:14.077
They want to destroy israel.
00:14:14.077 --> 00:14:15.345
But what do they say about america?
00:14:15.345 --> 00:14:16.980
Do they wave american flags?
00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:18.782
No. they burn american flags
00:14:18.782 --> 00:14:20.550
Because they understand
00:14:20.550 --> 00:14:21.785
That israel is merely the stepping stone to america.
00:14:21.785 --> 00:14:24.621
So you you have to understand that this is a broader battle.
00:14:24.621 --> 00:14:28.792
It's a battle between civilization and barbarism.
00:14:28.792 --> 00:14:31.494
We stand firmly with the size of civilization,
00:14:31.494 --> 00:14:34.731
And we are winning.
00:14:34.731 --> 00:14:35.932
You know, you look at the region right now, mr.
00:14:35.932 --> 00:14:37.934
Prime minister of things
00:14:37.934 --> 00:14:39.636
Certainly moving in the right direction.
00:14:39.636 --> 00:14:41.571
Still some persistent threats
00:14:41.571 --> 00:14:43.139
And maybe some new threats emerging.
00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:46.076
Can you talk about the houthis,
00:14:46.076 --> 00:14:47.610
Who seem to be a thorn in
00:14:47.610 --> 00:14:49.112
Everyone's side right now,
00:14:49.112 --> 00:14:50.180
Including red sea shipping, of course.
00:14:50.180 --> 00:14:52.315
And are you concerned about raise up erdogan and turkey?
00:14:52.315 --> 00:14:56.152
There's maybe a bit of a vacuum now that the iranian axis
00:14:56.152 --> 00:14:59.723
Is being smashed.
00:14:59.723 --> 00:15:00.957
Is he someone who maybe has broader ambitions in the region?
00:15:00.957 --> 00:15:04.861
Well, on the hood, is there another,
00:15:04.861 --> 00:15:07.130
One of the iran's proxies,
00:15:07.130 --> 00:15:09.232
The fired indiscriminately, ballistic missiles at israel?
00:15:09.232 --> 00:15:12.469
In fact, they fired one at 5:00 in the morning today.
00:15:12.469 --> 00:15:15.772
They do that all the time, and, you know, we slam them.
00:15:15.772 --> 00:15:18.575
We'll take care of it.
00:15:18.575 --> 00:15:19.809
We're not going to leave them, in place where they can choke
00:15:19.809 --> 00:15:22.912
The one of the biggest of the most important
00:15:22.912 --> 00:15:25.582
Maritime routes, on the planet.
00:15:25.582 --> 00:15:28.852
The opening of the of the dead sea, the bubble, mandeb straits.
00:15:28.852 --> 00:15:32.589
And we'll take care of them. but,
00:15:32.589 --> 00:15:34.090
But they're a remnant of the iran terror axis,
00:15:35.025 --> 00:15:36.993
Which has to be, destroyed and will be destroyed.
00:15:36.993 --> 00:15:40.296
Turkey, we've always had good relations with turkey,
00:15:40.296 --> 00:15:44.334
But they were undermined when,
00:15:44.334 --> 00:15:47.771
The islamist party of,
00:15:47.771 --> 00:15:51.274
Erdogan came to power, and he shifted this
00:15:51.274 --> 00:15:54.077
Traditional friendship that we had to, this kind of
00:15:54.077 --> 00:15:58.348
Latent antagonism.
00:15:58.782 --> 00:16:00.817
And, look, i hope that this, takes
00:16:00.817 --> 00:16:03.787
Care of itself,
00:16:03.787 --> 00:16:04.888
But i'm very concerned with the fact that erdogan says
00:16:04.888 --> 00:16:08.258
That his goal is to reestablish the ottoman empire.
00:16:08.258 --> 00:16:12.095
You know, the ottoman empire, he's talked a lot about
00:16:12.095 --> 00:16:14.998
Jerusalem, is talked about jerusalem being their city.
00:16:14.998 --> 00:16:18.501
No, no, mr.
00:16:18.835 --> 00:16:19.769
Erdogan, it's our city. it's been our city
00:16:19.769 --> 00:16:21.905
Since the time of king david 3000 years ago.
00:16:21.905 --> 00:16:25.041
He talks about reestablishing the ottoman empire
00:16:25.041 --> 00:16:27.444
In the middle east that includes mecca
00:16:27.444 --> 00:16:29.813
And includes a good chunk of the arabian peninsula
00:16:29.813 --> 00:16:32.882
And includes, jordan, syria and so on.
00:16:32.882 --> 00:16:36.186
These are imperialistic goals
00:16:36.186 --> 00:16:38.354
That i hope turkey will abandon in any case.
00:16:38.354 --> 00:16:40.957
We will do what we have to do
00:16:40.957 --> 00:16:42.525
To defend ourselves, because we know the jewish state
00:16:42.525 --> 00:16:46.529
And the jewish army and our will to protect our future
00:16:46.529 --> 00:16:50.100
And defend defend our country.
00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:53.736
Up next,
00:16:54.003 --> 00:16:54.904
Bebe shares by israel is the only safe
00:16:54.904 --> 00:16:57.607
Haven for christians in the middle east.
00:16:57.607 --> 00:17:00.410
That's next.
00:17:00.410 --> 00:17:06.003
That's next.
00:17:06.003 --> 00:17:08.817
The christian community in the united states.
00:17:09.751 --> 00:17:11.353
You and i were talking a bit off camera, mr. prime minister.
00:17:11.353 --> 00:17:13.789
Some signs of maybe slippage in support for israel
00:17:13.789 --> 00:17:16.758
Among the younger generation.
00:17:16.758 --> 00:17:18.494
And we have this whole woke right movement.
00:17:18.494 --> 00:17:21.530
What do you say to the christian population
00:17:21.530 --> 00:17:23.599
Around the world, really, but in america in particular,
00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:27.002
About why israel is absolutely a nation
00:17:27.002 --> 00:17:29.872
And the jewish
00:17:29.872 --> 00:17:31.073
People are a people that every christian should stand with?
00:17:31.073 --> 00:17:34.276
Well, you know, we have a common bond.
00:17:34.276 --> 00:17:36.145
It's the judeo christian tradition, the heritage.
00:17:36.145 --> 00:17:39.548
And remember that christianity sprang from judaism
00:17:39.548 --> 00:17:42.651
In this country, in this city.
00:17:43.252 --> 00:17:45.687
And we never forget that bond.
00:17:45.687 --> 00:17:48.023
But that bond has been immeasurably
00:17:48.023 --> 00:17:50.392
Strengthened in the last two centuries, as the,
00:17:50.392 --> 00:17:54.696
The idea of the rebirth of
00:17:55.264 --> 00:17:57.065
The jewish state in modern times came from christian zionist
00:17:57.065 --> 00:18:01.370
That preceded jewish son in the uk, in the uk
00:18:01.370 --> 00:18:04.439
And the us too, and the us too.
00:18:04.439 --> 00:18:06.475
And they basically said that it's time that
00:18:06.475 --> 00:18:10.078
The vision of the prophets be realized.
00:18:10.078 --> 00:18:12.147
The ingathering of the exiles, and this country was barren.
00:18:12.147 --> 00:18:16.185
I mean, there were arabs here, but not that many.
00:18:16.185 --> 00:18:19.354
And, for example, when mark twain, the great
00:18:19.354 --> 00:18:21.890
American writer, came here in 1869,
00:18:21.890 --> 00:18:25.360
He saw this country barren.
00:18:25.961 --> 00:18:27.362
He says, oh,
00:18:27.362 --> 00:18:27.863
He goes to the
00:18:27.863 --> 00:18:29.031
Galilee for a whole day, didn't see a single human being.
00:18:29.031 --> 00:18:32.501
He describes jerusalem.
00:18:32.501 --> 00:18:34.169
He says, jerusalem sits in a sackcloth and ashes.
00:18:34.169 --> 00:18:39.308
And basically he and others ask, when will the jews come back
00:18:39.308 --> 00:18:42.578
And revive this land?
00:18:42.578 --> 00:18:44.146
So that's really the first impetus for
00:18:44.146 --> 00:18:47.482
The jewish national movement of a massive return of jews
00:18:47.482 --> 00:18:51.086
To this land, because we always had jews live in you.
00:18:51.086 --> 00:18:53.388
But when were the jews from the, you know, from the diaspora,
00:18:53.388 --> 00:18:56.992
One from very foreign lands?
00:18:56.992 --> 00:18:58.927
When would they come back to their native land,
00:18:58.927 --> 00:19:01.363
Which we never gave up, never stop talking.
00:19:01.363 --> 00:19:03.999
Next year in jerusalem that happened in the mid 19th
00:19:03.999 --> 00:19:06.935
Century.
00:19:06.935 --> 00:19:07.869
It began to take root and grew and grew.
00:19:07.869 --> 00:19:10.405
And when we came back,
00:19:10.872 --> 00:19:12.140
We brought this land back to life.
00:19:12.140 --> 00:19:14.142
In fact, a lot of those who call themselves palestinians
00:19:14.142 --> 00:19:16.912
Immigrated here from neighboring lands
00:19:16.912 --> 00:19:19.314
To enjoy the farms, the factories,
00:19:19.314 --> 00:19:21.850
The health clinics and so on.
00:19:21.850 --> 00:19:23.418
The desert was blooming and exactly everything
00:19:23.418 --> 00:19:26.021
That we did, the agriculture, they,
00:19:26.021 --> 00:19:28.257
You know, they call themselves,
00:19:28.257 --> 00:19:29.791
You know, palestinians from time immemorial.
00:19:30.692 --> 00:19:33.795
That's a blatant lie.
00:19:33.795 --> 00:19:36.064
Israel, the land of israel,
00:19:36.064 --> 00:19:37.699
The jewish state for thousands of years.
00:19:37.699 --> 00:19:40.135
Then came the arab conquest,
00:19:40.135 --> 00:19:41.670
Which helped to populate the country.
00:19:41.670 --> 00:19:43.939
And the arabs were replaced by other conquerors.
00:19:43.939 --> 00:19:46.708
And this land lay barren until mid 19th century,
00:19:46.708 --> 00:19:50.812
When the jewish return began towards
00:19:50.812 --> 00:19:52.581
The end of the 19th century.
00:19:52.581 --> 00:19:54.616
And we're willing to live with the in peace
00:19:54.616 --> 00:19:56.485
With our arab neighbors,
00:19:56.485 --> 00:19:57.486
Including the arab citizens of israel.
00:19:57.486 --> 00:19:59.121
They're the only ones who enjoy democracy, you know,
00:19:59.121 --> 00:20:02.291
Real democracy in the middle east, equal rights.
00:20:02.291 --> 00:20:05.327
You know, they're in the knesset
00:20:05.327 --> 00:20:06.361
And the supreme court, you name it everywhere.
00:20:06.361 --> 00:20:08.230
And the christian population in israel is actually growing.
00:20:08.230 --> 00:20:10.966
And that's what i want to say, that our ethos,
00:20:10.966 --> 00:20:13.935
Being part of the judeo christian partnership,
00:20:13.935 --> 00:20:16.938
Is that we cherish our christian friends.
00:20:16.938 --> 00:20:21.109
It's not only that we tolerate them
00:20:21.109 --> 00:20:23.145
The way some people are saying we don't tolerate them,
00:20:23.145 --> 00:20:25.881
We embrace them. the christian population
00:20:25.881 --> 00:20:28.150
In israel has been growing, thriving.
00:20:28.150 --> 00:20:30.018
It's the only place in the middle east where they're safe,
00:20:30.018 --> 00:20:32.988
Where they're,
00:20:32.988 --> 00:20:34.523
You know, churches are not burned down, where christians
00:20:34.523 --> 00:20:37.459
Aren't murdered, as they were in syria and elsewhere,
00:20:37.459 --> 00:20:40.696
Where they have full rights.
00:20:40.696 --> 00:20:43.465
You know, we just had, brought, hundreds of christmas
00:20:43.465 --> 00:20:46.635
Trees to jerusalem to be able to, you know,
00:20:46.635 --> 00:20:49.771
To, have the christian community have, celebrate christmas.
00:20:49.771 --> 00:20:53.642
So what i find astounded,
00:20:53.642 --> 00:20:57.112
Is that this,
00:20:57.479 --> 00:20:59.648
Truth that is so obvious and so easy to ascertain
00:20:59.648 --> 00:21:03.652
Is turned on its head by people in the united states
00:21:03.652 --> 00:21:07.723
Who proclaim that israel is oppressing christians.
00:21:07.723 --> 00:21:10.659
You know, i mean, that's crazy.
00:21:10.659 --> 00:21:12.794
Okay, then you have some crazy guy
00:21:12.794 --> 00:21:14.996
Taking i know who'd, you know, doing something.
00:21:14.996 --> 00:21:16.998
We immediately put him on trial.
00:21:16.998 --> 00:21:18.567
Anybody who offends christians.
00:21:18.567 --> 00:21:19.668
But we embrace christianity.
00:21:19.668 --> 00:21:21.737
We embrace our christian friends.
00:21:21.737 --> 00:21:23.739
We embrace our common tradition.
00:21:23.739 --> 00:21:26.041
And, if you want to know what happens in the neighborhood
00:21:26.041 --> 00:21:29.678
With the palestinians, you know, what's the ultimate
00:21:29.678 --> 00:21:33.014
Christian city?
00:21:33.382 --> 00:21:34.850
Bethlehem.
00:21:35.150 --> 00:21:36.385
The birthplace of the purported birthplace of jesus.
00:21:36.385 --> 00:21:38.387
Right.
00:21:38.387 --> 00:21:39.554
Well, when we were there, bethlehem was 80% christian
00:21:39.554 --> 00:21:43.191
When we gave it to the palestinian authority.
00:21:43.191 --> 00:21:46.128
You know, just a few decades ago, it's gone down to 20%
00:21:46.128 --> 00:21:49.664
Slipped because you don't want to be christian.
00:21:49.664 --> 00:21:53.468
Living under the palestinian authority.
00:21:53.468 --> 00:21:55.637
You don't want to be a christian in gaza.
00:21:55.637 --> 00:21:57.639
It's not a good idea.
00:21:57.639 --> 00:21:58.940
You don't want to be a christian
00:21:58.940 --> 00:22:00.008
In many parts of the middle east,
00:22:00.008 --> 00:22:01.810
But you definitely do want to be a christian in israel.
00:22:01.810 --> 00:22:05.280
And, and we have excellent relations
00:22:05.280 --> 00:22:07.849
With the christian community.
00:22:07.849 --> 00:22:09.518
They, i have to tell you, i enjoy their support.
00:22:09.518 --> 00:22:13.021
And i, i cherish it, but we cherish them, too.
00:22:13.021 --> 00:22:16.958
We protect them.
00:22:16.958 --> 00:22:18.260
So we'll continue to give them the only base of true
00:22:18.260 --> 00:22:21.830
Religious freedom anywhere in the middle east.
00:22:21.830 --> 00:22:24.232
Mr. prime minister, we appreciate it.
00:22:24.232 --> 00:22:25.500
Thank you so much.
00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:26.435
Thank you, god bless, we appreciate it.
00:22:26.435 --> 00:22:27.436
Thank you, thank you, thank you. for sure.
00:22:27.436 --> 00:22:30.071
Coming up, final thoughts on my wide
00:22:30.071 --> 00:22:32.274
Ranging conversation with israeli prime minister
00:22:32.274 --> 00:22:35.076
Benjamin netanyahu.
00:22:35.076 --> 00:22:42.001
Benjamin netanyahu.
00:22:42.001 --> 00:22:44.988
Welcome back to stakelbeck tonight, folks,
00:22:45.889 --> 00:22:47.691
As we wrap up here, what a privilege to sit down
00:22:47.691 --> 00:22:50.093
With israeli
00:22:50.093 --> 00:22:50.627
Prime minister
00:22:50.627 --> 00:22:51.762
Benjamin netanyahu at this critical point in history.
00:22:51.762 --> 00:22:54.531
And i believe he is leading the nation of israel at this point
00:22:54.531 --> 00:22:58.268
In history for such a time as this.
00:22:58.268 --> 00:23:01.171
It is not by coincidence he is an historic figure,
00:23:01.171 --> 00:23:03.874
A churchillian figure in the modern day,
00:23:03.874 --> 00:23:05.776
And i think his partnership
00:23:05.776 --> 00:23:07.311
With president trump, it's already changed.
00:23:07.311 --> 00:23:09.480
The middle east is transforming
00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:10.981
The world's most volatile region.
00:23:10.981 --> 00:23:12.583
There is much more to come.
00:23:12.583 --> 00:23:14.518
Exciting things lie ahead.
00:23:14.518 --> 00:23:16.854
It's been great bringing you this exclusive interview
00:23:16.854 --> 00:23:19.389
Until tomorrow night.
00:23:19.389 --> 00:23:20.791
God bless you and we'll see you soon.
00:23:20.791 --> 00:23:20.791

Erick Stakelbeck: Israel’s Fight Against Evil | Stakelbeck Tonight

September 4, 2025 | 25:5

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