Culture & Christianity: The Allen Jackson Podcast - Why Should We Support Israel? [Featuring Fleur Hassan-Nahoum]

Episode Date: August 2, 2024

Giving up is not an option for Israel. Pastor talked with Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, the Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem City on his podcast. Hassan-Nahoum stated, “We have no choice. This is existential for us now. This is not a little, localized war. In the end, it’s all about ideologies. It’s not even about territory, because Gaza’s theirs! We left in 2005. This is pure, ideological hatred. They want the end of Israel and the Jews.” The Church needs to be vocal about our support for Israel, to pray for peace and protection, and to call on our leaders to make decisions that would not bring the judgment of God upon us. Listen to this podcast to discover how you can support Israel and share it with your friends.__ It’s up to us to bring God’s truth back into our culture. It may feel like an impossible assignment, but there’s much we can do. Join Pastor Allen Jackson as he discusses today’s issues from a biblical perspective. Find thought-provoking insight from Pastor Allen and his guests, equipping you to lead with your faith in your home, your school, your community, and wherever God takes you. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3JsyO6ysUVGOIV70xAjtcm?si=6805fe488cf64a6d Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-christianity-the-allen-jackson-podcast/id1729435597

People were really caught by surprise, especially by the anti-Semitism in America. I wasn't because this has been brewing for years. This anti-Israel sentiment on campus is so embedded into the academics, academia. I mean, even in the Jewish Studies Department, they fill it up with anti-Zionists, self-hating Jews. And it, to me, wasn't surprising. Welcome to our culture and Christianity podcast today. We have a very special guest. I just been in Jerusalem, and I had the opportunity to sit down and interview, Flour Hassan Dahum.

She was the vice mayor of Jerusalem, and will help us gain an understanding into that city. Why that matters is Jerusalem is really the epicenter of what God is doing in the earth. It's the center of so much controversy and so much debate on the international stage. And candidly, there's just a lot of ignorance around the city of Jerusalem, particularly within the Christian community. King David made Jerusalem the capital of the Jewish people, a Jewish state, about 1,000 BC. Okay, if you don't like dates and you're not into history, that one's important.

About 1,000 BC, Muhammad was born in the 7th century AD. So we're talking 1,500 years before Muhammad was born, King David made Jerusalem the capital of a Jewish nation. That's a lot of history. So when the Muslim world says the Jews have no rights to the city of Jerusalem because they're encroaching on their territory, it's an incomplete view of history. I'm not saying that they don't have some engagement in the city,

but it's not mentioned in the Quran. It's considered a holy city because as Islam expanded, they needed someplace in that portion of the world. Medina and Mecca are the most holy cities. for Islam. And so Jerusalem in the role it's played in the Jewish community and then in the Christian community because it was where Jesus was crucified make it very unique and the epicenter of spiritual discussions in our world. So today we get to talk with the vice mayor who very much understands the political tension of that city. And I believe we'll help you interpret the news

in a bit more sane way because spoiler alert, the general media doesn't always tell you the whole truth. And our objective is to help us understand our world so we can make better decisions to let the purposes of God emerge. I think you'll enjoy our guest. I'd like to bring in the deputy mayor, Fleur Hassan Nahum. Welcome to our new program. Thank you so much, Pastor. So can you give us an update? We just hear the media in the states and I don't trust them so much. How are things now here in Israel? Well, as you can see, Jerusalem is peaceful, and I did mean it. The 40% of Muslims here in the city decided to stay out of it. We've been doing a lot of bridge building for the last 10 years.

And I believe that, you know, the head of the Hamas, Yaya Sinwar, his kind of dream was that on October 7th, the Arabs here, as well as the Arabs in Israel, the rest of Israel, as well as the West Bank Palestinians, would all rise up. And that would be the beginning of the destruction of Israel. And even though that day, unfortunately, he was very successful, he did not achieve what he thought he was going to achieve. And that was everybody turning against Israel. And so how are things we're in the middle of a war?

We're losing precious soldiers every day. We still have over a hundred live hostages. Maybe some of them are already gone. And we have a threat from the north of Israel, another potential war. And we have anti-Semitism around the world. I don't think this is the best time for us, and I think probably in my generation,

this is probably the worst time for the Jewish people. But, you know, thank God we have friends like yourself who come to Israel in the middle of the war to show that you're our friends. Well, it's an honor to be back in the city of Jerusalem, and we are your friends. And I agree with you, I think there are unprecedented pressures, and to see the anti-Semitism globally being shouted at us

is uncomfortable. But I also think in it there's an opportunity. Because when your enemy shows themselves, then I think we can respond. Absolutely. And I think that the most people were really caught by surprise, especially by the anti-Semitism in America. I wasn't because this has been brewing for years.

This anti-Israel sentiment on campus is so embedded into the academics, academia. I mean, even in the Jewish Studies Department, and they fill it up with anti-Zionist, self-hating Jews. And it, to me, wasn't surprising. People are, I was doing press since the 7th of October that Sabbath morning, which was our holy festival as well. And somebody asked me, how many days of grace do you think we're going to have in the media? And I said, two days.

On October 8th, there were these radicals in American around the world already disrupting disrupting vigils for the dead when the dead weren't even cold in their graves. So we didn't even get 48 hours of grace, of sympathy, of empathy from the world. No, this has not been an exercise in tolerance in any way. Intolerance, maybe. It's hard for us to gauge with the reports we get at home, the attitude of the Israelis. Are they willing and prepared to see this through to the end? They have no choice.

This is existential for us now. This is not a little localized war in the south of Israel. I think for too long, we made the mistake of seeing it that way and letting those poor residents of the southern communities bear the burden of the rockets, kids growing up, running into shelters as a daily thing. And we let it happen. We let it happen, mainly because Israel doesn't want wars.

We do anything to avoid wars. But we also thought that these people were rational. We thought that if we could give them economic opportunity, if we could give them money, if we could allow them to have whatever an economy, a country needs to flourish, that somehow we could pay for quiet. And what we didn't quite grasp was that in the end it's all about ideologies, not even about territory, because Gaza is theirs. We left in 2005.

This is pure ideological hatred. the fact that they don't want to share this place. They don't want a two-state solution. They want the end of Israel and the Jews. And when people tell you they want to kill you, we should start believing them. That's one of the lessons I've learned from my friends in Israel. You should believe what your enemy says.

Absolutely. America should do. Because in their eyes, you're the big Satan and we're the little Satan. And the Islamic Republic of Iran were funding the hooties attacking American servicemen and women. you know, subsidizing Hezbollah in the North and training, you know, funding Hamas here, and so many more Iraq, Qatar. These are the enemies of America. We're just the first line of defense for America

because we're a beacon of democracy and liberty in this part of the world. And yes, and that's why we need America's support. This is the moment. You don't only need America's support. You deserve it. Because I think the point. you made is so important, and I don't think the people at home understand, is that what Iran is funding on October 7 through Hamas and their other proxies as Belaw in the North.

They have every intention of doing in the United States. Absolutely. We're just the first. They want to change the world order. They want to ensure that America is no longer leading the world. And so America has to make a decision. Does it want to continue being the leader of the free world? Or does it want to retreat?

because there's no such thing as leading from behind. That's a joke in this region. It just is. You're right. Well, it's a political slogan. It's not a strategy for success. In this part of the world, nobody knows what you're talking about when you say that.

So what kind of support that you're not currently receiving do you need from the United States? Well, look, we have to say that from the 7th of October, the United States have given Israel incredible support. it has sent here, you know, unprecedented amount of aid packages for military. Now, do we need President Biden at the administration pressuring Israel instead of pressuring Hamas and Qatar? And it's enablers now.

We need President Biden to let us finish the job. What he said we needed to do right at the beginning and let us finish this job because Hamas is not going to go away unless we make them go away. They're not going to negotiate. And when you hear Anthony Blinken saying, oh, we're realizing that perhaps they're not negotiating good faith, how do you think a terrorist group that rapes women and kills babies have any good faith? Do you not know who you're dealing with?

And to beg a terrorist organization to accept a deal, that is not a good look and that is not effective. They should be begging for a deal, not America begging them for the deal. And that's the switch that everybody has to make. I know everybody's trying to do this from a good place, but they have to understand that this is not the West. This is a completely different ballgame.

And in this part of the world, and the Muslims have taught us that, who are the people who've gotten rid of Islamic fundamentalism in the most effective way? Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates. Are they asking to negotiate with terrorists? No? They just have to get rid of them.

And we do everything we can to avoid civilian casualty. But ultimately, we need to dismantle Hamas. You're a politician. You use kinder words than I would. Hamas showed us who they are. They videotaped it. They boasted about it to their families and showed it to the world. It was an expression of evil that's too hurt.

horrific to describe. It's too horrific. And I have been embarrassed by our nation for the United States not to say until you release every hostage, intact and healthy, the pressure that's come up will grow greater every day, that we will give Israel whatever resource they need is an abandonment of our place of leadership in the world. It's not an expression of compassion for the people of Gaza. You force them to live under the cruel hatred of Hamas and it's unacceptable.

but perhaps we will see a change of tone. I can tell you that many Americans are friends of Israel. I know that it's the very noisy minority making the noise of hatred. I know that decent Americans, and it's the majority of America, no evil when they see it. I know that. Amen. You may be able to hear in the audio behind me,

they are calling the Muslims to pre-examination. prayer. This is a divided city, not an angry city. It's a city where there are diverse opinions and diverse faiths living together. In my opinion, if the rest of the world would leave them alone, they would find a peace amongst themselves. We're delighted today to have the vice mayor of Jerusalem with us. You wrote something recently that I'd like to read to our viewers. You said, and I quote, we must fully embody the model of peace that is Jerusalem's potential. We must emphasize that de-radicalization and replacing the culture of incitement with the culture of cooperation,

which is the key to building peace and coexistence. I think the prayers remind us of that in such a powerful way. Absolutely. We are the most diverse city in the country. In this city, we have 40% Muslims, 3 to 5% Christians, and the rest are diversity of Jews, so from the ultra-Orthodox to the very secular

and anything in the middle. And so the question is, how does everybody get along here? For the most part, we're a city that sanctifies freedom of worship, as you can hear right now. Even in the worst possible times of war, like this year during Ramadan, every Friday we had over 100,000 Muslims praying in Temple Mount, whilst at the same time inciters saying that Jews were preventing Muslim prayer when your eyes are showing you the very opposite.

And that's how it is. And we work very hard. We've worked very hard to create bridges, to find people who want to get along. And that group is increasing. And, you know, in Hebrew, Jerusalem means Shalem. Yerushalem. You will see completeness, peace.

Shalems, salam, shalom. And so I actually believe that Jerusalem is not the core of the problem, but it's in fact the laboratory to the solution. If we can make it here, we can make it anywhere. It makes perfect sense. Jerusalem is a holy city to the three major religions, Judaism, obviously, Christianity and Islam. Yes. And that makes it a focal point, and it's the external pressures from the nations beyond Jerusalem that seem to create so much pressure. And you've provided leadership in this city as a woman in a Muslim community that does not typically celebrate those opportunities is an achievement that I don't think the audience at home can understand.

I agree. I think that, you know, many of the programs that I've been spearheading in the city are women programs. Why? Because I actually do believe that women can bring peace in a much easier way sometimes because we open up and share much quicker. We bond much quicker. We find what unites us. So many of my programs have actually been ultra-Orthodox Jewish women and Arab women together in leadership for the economic development of the city and, you know, creating mentorship opportunities, them paying it forward, bringing other women on board. And it's really been very successful.

So what extent do the surrounding nations, Iran and the other expressions of Islam, foment the angst and the anger in Israel? Well, I think the big funders are also fermenting a lot of anger in America, but it's the same culprits. Think about it. Qatar. Qatar have got an endless pot of money. You go to any American college, Qatar has paid for upteen things. Look at the media in America, the mainstream media, all of their advertising revenue. Where is it coming from? You look at the terrorist organizations. Who? is harboring Hamas terrorists, and who is funding Hamas, literally funding them? Qatar. Who is behind Qatar?

Who is playing with Qatar? Who is allying with Qatar? The Islamic Republic of Iran. Why do the Americans have to give or release money to the Islamic Republic of Iran? What does anybody gain by appeasement? It's really that simple. It doesn't have to be more complicated than that.

The region is split into two. The countries that want peace and prosperity and the countries that want destruction and jihadi fundamentalism when either you as a Christian or me as a Jew will be safe. And the UAE have decided that they're on the side of peace and prosperity. Saudi are deciding this right now

and want to make peace, of course, with America and with Israel. Bahrain, Morocco, all the Sunni-Modred Arab countries, have made that decision. So we have to strengthen that block, not the other block. I agree. I think I can speak more plainly about our country. You know, the scripture says, you know, a tree by its fruit.

If we give money to Iran, if we support Iran, if we give them status amongst the nations, then we're supporting Hamas and Hezbollah and the terrorist. We can't imagine there's some cutout and then deny the other. And so our politicians, they speak out of both sides of their mouths. while they make possible the terrorism that's devastating Israel and has every intention of devastating our nation. It's treason and the American people need to wake up. They're just getting started and they've got patience

and they've got a long-term plan. They've completely bought the American academia. They've bought it. This is the time and I know there's great people in America really working hard to find out, follow the money and find out who is indoctrinating. the kids in universities. But it's the same everywhere in the world.

They bought the World Cup, Qatar bought the World Cup, I don't know how many trillions of dollars they spend. They pay to have their image exalted when they're harboring terrorists. We all have to wake up. This is a civilizational clash. This is not just Israel. We are in 1930s,

and the Islamic Republic is Hitler. That's how we have to see it. Do we want a Churchill? Do we want a Chamberlain? Who are those people going to be? Who's going to stop this? I think that's the question. But it begins with the courage in each of our hearts.

Before we go and close the program, I'd like to say just a brief prayer. The only one I trust to bring priest peace to this place. Let's pray. Father, I thank you for this city, for the diverse population and the people of faith that live here. You chose this city for yourself, and you have established it.

And I pray that you bring peace to this land. Lord, that they will, not an absence of conflict, but an understanding of one another and a willingness to cooperate together. May your blessing once again be apparent in this place. In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you for taking the time to be with us today. Thank you, Pastor.

Your perspective makes a difference. Thank you. Hey, thanks for joining me today. Before you go, please like the podcast and leave a comment so more people can hear about this topic too. If you haven't yet, be sure to subscribe to Alan Jackson Ministries YouTube channel

and follow the Culture and Christianity podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Together, let's learn how to lead with our faith and change our culture. I'll see you next time.