Prime Minister Netanyahu meets with Evangelical leaders in Florida occasion

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used a gathering with Evangelical Christian leaders in Florida right this moment to underscore Israel’s reliance on faith-based allies in america, as divisions contained in the U.S. over Israel’s battle and U.S. help proceed to floor.

The assembly got here days after Netanyahu held talks on Monday with President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, amid rising debate inside conservative circles over the scope of American backing for Israel and the course of U.S. international coverage within the Center East.

Chatting with the leaders, Netanyahu stated Israel has emerged "in some ways victorious" from what he described as a " seven-front war ," however warned that an extra entrance now looms within the West.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with leaders of the Evangelical Christian neighborhood in Florida, accompanied by members of the Israeli delegation. (Amos Ben Gershom / GPO)

"There’s an eighth entrance," he stated, describing a wrestle "for the hearts and minds of individuals, particularly younger folks within the West, and for me particularly in america." He framed that effort not solely as Israel’s battle, however as a broader one. "It’s our widespread Judeo-Christian civilization’s battle," he stated.

The prime minister argued that this ideological entrance requires the identical resolve as army motion. "There are some individuals who imagine that religion needs to be silent and terrorism needs to be understood," Netanyahu stated. "Religion ought to communicate its voice and terrorism needs to be confronted, not understood, confronted and defeated."

Professional-Palestinian Muslim protesters maintain a banner saying "From the river to the ocean.." and chant at an illustration calling for an finish to Israeli assaults on Gaza. London, UK, Dec. 9, 2023. ( Andy Soloman/UCG/Common Photographs Group by way of Getty Photographs)

Netanyahu repeatedly emphasised the historic and ideological bond between Christian Zionists and Israel. "You might be representatives of the Christian Zionists who made Jewish Zionism potential," Netanyahu stated, crediting U.S. Christian help as central to the reestablishment of the Jewish state. "I can say that we've got no higher buddies."

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President Donald Trump listens as Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks throughout an arrival at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago membership in Palm Seaside, Florida, on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Alex Brandon/AP)

Netanyahu instructed the group he had spoken with Trump the day earlier than and described what he sees as international threats dealing with Israel and its allies. He pointed to "two forces," figuring out "radical Shiite Islam," led by Iran, and "radical Sunni Islam," which he stated is led by the Muslim Brotherhood.

He additionally highlighted persecution of Christians in a number of areas, saying Christians are being focused " in Syria , in Lebanon, in Nigeria, in Turkey, and past," whereas arguing that Israel performs a novel protecting position. "One nation protects the Christian neighborhood, allows it to develop, defends it, and makes positive that it thrives," Netanyahu stated. "That nation is Israel. There isn't a different. None."

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Folks maintain an Israeli and US flag in entrance of a big group of anti-Israel protesters march exterior The Grove procuring middle on Black Friday, carrying an enormous banner studying "Shut it Down for Palestine" in Los Angeles, Nov. 24, 2023. (David Swanson/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)

Netanyahu stated Israel is working towards broader cooperation to help Christian communities beneath menace worldwide. "We're becoming a member of an effort to have principally a United Nations of nations that help Christian communities world wide," he stated, including, "Simply as you're serving to us, we need to assist again."

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, who attended the assembly, later wrote on X that Evangelical leaders’ dedication to Israel was "inspiring" and stated shared values would "fortify the bond between each our nations."

Efrat Lachter is an investigative reporter and battle correspondent. Her work has taken her to 40 international locations, together with Ukraine, Russia, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan. She is a recipient of the 2024 Knight-Wallace Fellowship for Journalism. Lachter could be adopted on X @efratlachter.