Israeli lawmakers praise Trump’s ‘out-of-the-box’ plan for Gaza, call for action against Iran
Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel and MK Michal Shir from the Israeli opposition thanked American Evangelicals for unwavering support throughout the war in conversation with Joel Rosenberg
Israeli lawmakers from different ends of the political spectrum understand the importance of building a closer relationship with American Evangelicals. All the more so, the alliance has proven to be crucial for the Jewish state during the testing and dramatic days of the ongoing war, two parliamentarians told THE ROSENBERG REPORT.
In the latest episode of the show, TBN host and ALL ISRAEL NEWS Editor-in-Chief Joel Rosenberg spoke with Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel and Knesset Member Michal Shir from the opposition party, Yesh Atid.
The two arrived in Washington, D.C. last week to attend the National Prayer Breakfast and address a special dinner that ALL ISRAEL NEWS and The Joshua Fund helped organize for Evangelical and Jewish leaders.
Sharren Haskel: We must join forces to fight Iran
In her remarks, Haskel cited the biblical prophets Habakkuk, Ezekiel and Isaiah to an audience of 100 Evangelicals.
“We don't normally hear that from Israeli government officials. I was very encouraged,” Rosenberg told the deputy foreign minister.
“In the Bible, the prophets have been talking about this period of time. Right now, of the war… These are historical times and it's time of opportunity,” she added.
Haskel stressed that the seven-front war Israel is fighting is not a territorial conflict, but rather a “religious and cultural” conflict at its core, with Iran’s footprints all over it.
She told Rosenberg, “This is Iran waging war not just on Israel, but on what Israel represents. It (Israel) is a symbol of freedom, of democracy, Judeo-Christian values. Iran is looking for world of Islamic dominance, and its operation is not just limited to the Middle East. Israel is just a test-case. They are spreading around Africa, in Europe, in America.”
She gave the example that Hezbollah, Lebanon’s Shiite terror organization, has been involved in drug and weapons trafficking in Central and South America for many years.
“This is Iran here, in your neighborhood. What are they doing here? They're trying to pose a threat. Iran is a threat to humanity,” said Haskel. “My message here is that we have to join forces together. This is a war about our liberties, about our values and being proud in who we are, in our tradition, in our history, our faith, in our religion.”
When asked by Rosenberg what she thinks of U.S. President Donald Trump’s new vision for Gaza – an American takeover of the territory and relocation of the Palestinians – Haskel replied, “Trump's declaration is a breath of fresh air for us in Israel.”
She stressed that every U.S. administration has attempted to promote solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that have been tried – and failed – time and again.
“It’s absolutely madness to try them again,” she said, especially after Oct. 7.
“When you hear Trump's declaration, regardless of what you think about it, it's finally something that's outside of the box. It finally gets people talking about something different. We need this conversation. We need people with an open heart and an open mind to discuss the future of the Middle East. These are times of opportunity.”
Michal Shir: Iran is at its weakest – It’s time to strike
Rosenberg picked up a similar sentiment from his conversation with Michal Shir, a member of the Israeli opposition from Yesh Atid, the centrist party led by former Prime Minister Yair Lapid.
“Without getting into all the details of exactly how this may play out, both you and Sharren were expressing a real unity of appreciation,” he told Shir.
“On Oct.7, Hamas terrorists didn’t ask, ‘Who did you vote for – opposition or coalition?’ before they tried to kill someone... Sharren and I are both Jewish. We live, in Israel, fight for Israel, love Israel – that's what unifies us,” she explained.
Shir referenced Trump’s historic press conference alongside Prime Minister Netanyahu in Washington, D.C. – in which the Gaza plan was first revealed – as “unbelievable, almost a dream for most Israelis.”
“We got the support that we really wanted to see from the United States. It was wonderful to hear him speak so fearlessly and strongly about the future of the Middle East and Israel,” she said.
One area of concern that jumped out to Shir, as she paid attention to the president’s bold statement, was what he said about Iran. As summarized by Rosenberg, “Trump seems to want to bankrupt the Iranian regime into compliance rather than bomb... That might not work in Iran.”
Shir agreed: “Iran is now the weakest that we've ever seen it. This is the time to strike.”
“I believe is that if we don’t stop Iran now – immediately – by attacking, we are at great risk because the world is unstable. Tomorrow, something can happen… After Oct. 7, I don't have time for a process. My life and my children's life are at risk.”
The Yesh Atid Knesset member thanked the Evangelical community for standing with Israel and understanding the risks that Israelis are facing. This support has been magnified in the aftermath of Oct. 7, she explained, when Israel faced not only a military challenge – but also hatred and isolation by various nations, organizations and the media.
“When October 7th happened, something happened in the hearts of each and every Israeli. We felt alone for the first time,” she described to Joel. “We are a new generation of Israelis. I heard about the Holocaust, but I didn't experience it. I know that my family was in Treblinka, and some were murdered by the Nazis, but I haven't experienced it myself. On October 7, for the first time, we really felt persecuted. It's like history books are coming to life again and are hunting us.”
“Every Israeli needs to know and feel the love and the support that you and your prayers have towards Israel and the Jewish people,” Shir said.
Watch Joel Rosenberg’s full interview with Sharren Haskel and Michal Shir on the TBN website.
THE ROSENBERG REPORT airs Thursday nights at 9 p.m. EST and Saturday nights at 10:00 p.m. EST – on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), the most-watched Christian television network in the United States.
Tal Heinrich is a senior correspondent for both ALL ISRAEL NEWS and ALL ARAB NEWS. She is currently based in New York City. Tal also provides reports and analysis for Israeli Hebrew media Channel 14 News.
