This week on Jerusalem Dateline: Netanyahu and Trump meet at the White House - US-Israel ties warming; Netanyahu says “no greater supporter†of Jewish people and state than Trump - what will it mean for Mid-East? plus a look at the ...
Read Transcript
Chris: THIS WEEK ON
"JERUSALEM DATELINE,"
PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN
NETANYAHU VISITS U.S.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AT
THE WHITE HOUSE.
THE LONG WINTER CHILL IS
OVER.
THERE IS NO GREATER
SUPPORTER OF THE JEWISH
PEOPLE AND THE JEWISH
STATE THAN PRESIDENT
DONALD TRUMP.
Chris: WE'LL HAVE
ANALYSIS OF THE MEETING
AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE
MIDDLE EAST.
PLUS A LOOK INSIDE THE
SETTLEMENT ISSUE, AND HOW
ONE MINISTRY IS HELPING
VICTIMS OF THE SYRIAN
CIVIL WAR.
> HELLO, AND WELCOME TO
THIS EDITION OF "JERUSALEM
DATELINE."
I'M CHRIS MITCHELL.
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE
U.S. PRESIDENT TRUMP TOOK
OFFICE, ISRAELI PRIME
MINISTER BENJAMIN
NETANYAHU CAME TO THE
WHITE HOUSE.
IT MARKED A DRAMATIC SHIFT
FROM THE PREVIOUS EIGHT
YEARS.
THANK YOU, AGAIN, THANK
YOU.
David: A REKINDLED
FRIENDSHIP CHASED AWAY ANY
WINTER CHILL AT THE WHITE
HOUSE, AFTER YEARS OF
TENSION WITH THE WHITE
HOUSE ADMINISTRATION,
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SEES
PRESIDENT TRUMP AS A KEY
PARTNER.
I'VE KNOWN THE
PRESIDENT AND HIS FAMILY
AND HIS TEAM FOR A LONG
TIME.
AND THERE IS NO GREATER
SUPPORTER OF THE JEWISH
PEOPLE AND THE JEWISH
STATE THAN PRESIDENT
DONALD TRUMP.
David: BUT THERE ARE
KEY ISSUES TO WORK
THROUGH, STARTING WITH HOW
TO ACHIEVE PEACE BETWEEN
ISRAEL AND THE
PALESTINIANS.
President Trump: AS
WITH ANY SUCCESSFUL
NEGOTIATIONS, BOTH SIDES
WILL HAVE TO MAKE
COMPROMISES.
YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT?
David: IN COMMENTS
THAT WOULD NO DOUBT ANGER
PALESTINIAN LEADERS, TRUMP
SAID A TWO-STATE SOLUTION
ISN'T A REQUIREMENT FOR
PEACE.
President Trump: SO
I'M LOOKING AT TWO-STATE
AND ONE STATE, AND I LIKE
THE ONE THAT BOTH PARTIES
LIKE.
I'M VERY HAPPY WITH THE
ONE BOTH PARTIES LIKE.
I CAN LIVE WITH EITHER
ONE.
David: NETANYAHU
MAINTAINS PALESTINIANS
MUST RECOGNIZE ISRAEL'S
RIGHT TO EXIST BEFORE ANY
PEACE PLAN CAN MOVE
FORWARD.
YOU HAVE TO ASK
YOURSELF, WHY ARE JEWS
CALLED JEWS?
WELL, THE CHINESE ARE
CALLED CHINESE BECAUSE
THEY COME FROM CHINA.
THE JAPANESE ARE CALLED
JAPANESE BECAUSE THEY COME
FROM JAPAN.
WELL, JEWS ARE CALLED JEWS
BECAUSE THEY COME FROM
JUDEA.
THIS IS OUR ANCESTORAL
HOME LAND.
David: THE OTHER
THORNY ISSUE IS ON
SO-CALLED SETTLEMENTS.
IN THE WEST BANK,
NETANYAHU HAS PUSHED
FORWARD, BUT THE WHITE
HOUSE SAYS THAT MAY NOT BE
THE BEST MOVE FOR A PEACE
DEAL.
IT IS A TOPIC CBN NEWS
ASKED ABOUT AT THEIR JOINT
NEWS CONFERENCE.
David: ON THE
SETTLEMENT ISSUE, ARE YOU
BOTH ON THE SAME PAGE?
HOW DO YOU TERM THAT AS IT
RELATES TO SETTLEMENT
ISSUES.
President Trump: AS
FAASFAR AS SETTLEMENTS, I
WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU HOLD
OUT FOR A BIT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DEAL
MADE.
THAT'S THE ART OF THE
DEAL.
David: IT ALSO
PROVIDED THE PRESIDENT HIS
FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO
ADDRESS THE CONTROVERSY
SURROUNDING MICHAEL FLYNN.
HE DIDN'T ADDRESS THE TIME
TABLE OF WHAT HE KNEW
ABOUT HIM TALKING TO
RUSSIAN OFFICIALS.
INSTEAD, HE BLAMED THE
MEDIA.
President Trump: I
THINK HE HAS BEEN TREATED
VERY, VERY UNFAIRLY BY THE
MEDIA, AS I CALL IT THE
FAKE MEDIA IN MANY CASES.
AND I THINK IT IS REALLY A
SAD THING THAT HE WAS
TREATED SO BADLY.
I THINK IN ADDITION TO
THAT, FROM INTELLIGENCE,
PAPERS ARE BEING LEAKED,
THINGS ARE BEING LEAKED.
IT'S CRIMINAL ACTION, A
CRIMINAL ACT, AND IT HAS
BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG
TIME, BEFORE ME, BUT NOW
IT IS REALLY GOING ON.
David: THE KEY
QUESTION REMAINS IF THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CAN
BEGIN TO PLUG THESE LEAKS
SO HE CAN MOVE FORWARD
WITH HIS AGENDA.
DAVID BRODY, CBN NEWS.
Chris: JOINING ME TO
TALK MORE ABOUT THE
TRUMP-NETANYAHU MEETING IS
JOHN WAGGI, SENIOR EDITOR.
HERE IN OUR JERUSALEM
BUREAU, JULIE STAAL, OUR
MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT.
JOHN, WHAT WAS YOUR BIG
TAKE-AWAY FROM YESTERDAY'S
PRESS CONFERENCE WITH
PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU
AND PRESIDENT TRUMP.
John: IT FEELS LIKE A
NEW ERA.
YOU COULD TELL BY THE BODY
LANGUAGE.
YOU COULD TELL BY A LOT OF
DIFFERENT WAYS.
THE CAMARADERIE THAT
FLOWED BETWEEN THE TWO
LEADERS.
AND THEY HAVE SOME
SUBSTANTIVE NEW IDEAS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WILL BE INTERESTING IS
BECAUSE I NOTICED IN
JERUSALEM, THE HEADLINES
WERE ALL ABOUT THE
POSSIBLE END OF THE
TWO-STATE SOLUTION, AND
HOW THE TWO LEADERS SEEMED
TO GET ALONG SO WELL, AND
ALL THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
AND THE HEADLINES HERE IN
WASHINGTON WERE ABOUT ALL
OF TRUMP'S PROBLEMS WITH
HIS FELLOW REPUBLICANS,
WITH THE NATIONAL SECURITY
APPARATUS, AND ALSO WITH
THE MEDIA.
AND SO HE HAS GOT A LOT OF
WORK TO DO JUST TO GET TO
THE MIDDLE EAST.
AGAIN, HE HAS GOT A THE
LOT OF THINGS TO WORK OUT
HERE POLITICALLY, JUST TO
GET HIS FEET ON THE GROUND
HERE IN WASHINGTON.
THE OPPOSITION IS IN FULL
CRY HERE.
Chris: IT DOES SEEM
LIKE AN ADMINISTRATION IN
SEIZE.
BUT THE OPTICS YESTERDAY
WERE A BIG CHANGE FROM
WHAT HAPPENED WITH
NETANYAHU AND OBAMA IN THE
LAST EIGHT YEARS.
JULIE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY
THE ISRAELI AND THE
PALESTINIAN REACTION WAS
TO YESTERDAY'S PRESS
CONFERENCE?
Julie: WELL, IT WAS
DEFINITELY A VERY
HOSPITABLE PRESS
CONFERENCE FOR THE
ISRAELIS.
I THINK THE REACTION HERE
IS PROBABLY A LITTLE
MIXED.
ON THE RIGHT, THEY'RE
PRETTY HAPPY WITH
NETANYAHU.
HE WAS GIVEN A LOT OF
FREEDOM.
ALTHOUGH I THINK THE
SETTLEMENT ISSUE KIND OF
THREW HIM A LITTLE FOR A
LOOP.
Chris: AND I
UNDERSTAND YOU HAD A
CONVERSATION WITH SAEED
BARAQUET, THE CHIEF
NEGOTIATOR.
Julie: YES, I DID.
AND HE SAID IF THIS IS THE
END OF THE TWO-STATE
SOLUTION, IT WILL BE A
DISASTER.
I ASKED HIM, WOULD YOU
RECOGNIZE ISRAEL AS A
JEWISH STATE?
AND HE SAID WE ALREADY
RECOGNIZED ISRAEL.
HE AVOIDED THE WHOLE
JEWISH ISSUE COMPLETELY.
Chris: JOHN, IT LOOKS
LIKE THE PALESTINIANS SEEM
TO BE OUT OF THE DEAL, SO
TO SPEAK.
PRESIDENT TRUMP, THE MAN
OF THE ART OF THE DEAL,
SEEMS TO HAVE A NEW
PARADIGM IN THE MIDDLE
EAST.
HE SEEMS TO BE MAKING IT A
REGIONAL ISSUE.
WHAT DID YOU THINK OF
THAT?
John: WELL, I THINK
ABSOLUTELY THAT'S WHAT HE
HAS DONE.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE HAS
DONE.
THERE IS A NEW KIND OF
SHAPE OF THINGS IN THE
ARAB WORLD.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
BOTH TRUMP AND NETANYAHU
REFERRED TO IN THEIR
MEETING AS A SIGN OF REAL
HOPE THAT SOMETHING CAN BE
ARRANGED.
IT DOES SEEM TO LEAVE THE
PALESTINIANS OUT IN THE
COLD TO SOME EXTENT.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO
SEE HOW, WITHIN THE ARAB
WORLD, THEY HAVE A
GIVE-AND-TAKE THAT WILL
PRESENT ONE NEGOTIATING
SIDE.
THAT COULD BE A REAL ISSUE
IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS TO
COME.
Chris: YEAH, I WOULD
THINK SO, TOO.
IT SEEMS LIKE WHAT IS
DRAWING ISRAEL AND THE
SUNNI ARAB NATIONS
TOGETHER IS THEIR COMMON
ENEMY, IRAN.
JULIE, HOW IMPORTANT IS
THE IRAN ISSUE TO ISRAEL?
Julie: IT IS VERY,
VERY IMPORTANT.
THEY'VE SAID ON THEIR
MISSILES, THE PRIME
MINISTER SAID LAST NIGHT
IT IS WRITTEN "DEATH TO
ISRAEL" ON THEIR MISSILES.
SO IRAN REALLY IS A
THREAT.
Chris: JULIE, WHAT IS
THIS IDEA BEHIND THE
NUCLEAR DEAL?
I UNDERSTAND NETANYAHU IS
SAYING THEY'RE NOT ONLY
WANTING TO MAKE ONE
NUCLEAR WEAPON, BUT THEY
WANT TO MAKE 200, 100
NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
AND HE WAS MAKING THE
POINT THAT THIS IS NOT
JUST A THREAT TO ISRAEL,
BUT THE U.S. AS WELL.
Julie: THAT'S RIGHT.
INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC
MISSILES WILL BE ABLE TO
REACH THE UNITED STATES
AFTER ISRAEL.
SO A NUCLEAR IRAN WILL BE
A THREAT NOT JUST TO
ISRAEL, BUT TO THE REGION
AND THE U.S. AND THE WHOLE
WORLD.
Chris: JOHN, IRAN
POSSESS A THREAT TO
ISRAEL, THE REGION AND THE
U.S.
HOW DO YOU THINK
CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE
PRAYING FOR THIS NEW ERA
WE'RE JUST GETTING INTO?
John: I HEARD A LOT
OF TALK IN THE MEETING
THIS WEEK ABOUT THE ART OF
THE DEAL AND DEAL-MAKING
AND ALL THAT KIND OF
THING.
CHRISTIANS, I BELIEVE, ALL
WHO BELIEVE IN THE WORDS
OF THE BIBLE, NEED TO
REALIZE THAT THE BIBLE HAS
A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THE
BIBLICAL BORDERS AND ABOUT
WHAT THE LORD'S PLANS ARE
FOR THIS LAND.
AND WE'RE ENJOYING TO PRAY
AND THE LORDS PRAYER, THY
KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE
DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN
HEAVEN.
SO WE WANT THE LORD'S
PLANS TO BE ESTABLISHED
HERE.
IT COULD BE WHEN YOU GET
CAUGHT UP IN POLITICAL
BATTLES, YOU MIGHT WANT
ONE SIDE TO WIN OVER THE
OTHER, AND DEALS SOUND
REALLY GOOD, BUT THE
IMPORTANT THING IS THAT
THE LORD'S PLANS BE
ESTABLISHED FOR THE MIDDLE
EAST.
I THINK THAT'S THE KEY.
AND A REAL POINT OF
PRAYER, IN ADDITION TO THE
ONE WE ALWAYS HAVE FROM
THE BIBLE, PRAY FOR THE
PEACE OF ISRAEL.
Chris: THANKS, JOHN,
FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.
GLAD TO SEE YOU THERE.
AND JULIE HERE IN
JERUSALEM.
THIS IS GOING TO BE SUCH A
BIG ISSUE THAT WE'LL BE
REPORTING ON MONTHS AND
YEARS TO COME.
> UP NEXT, A ONE-ON-ONE
INTERVIEW WITH ISRAEL'S
DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC
Chris: WELCOME BACK
TO "JERUSALEM DATELINE."
AMBASSADOR MICHAEL OREN
SERVES AS ISRAEL'S DEPUTY
MINISTER OF PUBLIC
DIPLOMACY.
AND WE SAT DOWN WITH OREN
AND ASKED ABOUT A NUMBER
OF ISSUES, FROM THE
TWO-STATE SOLUTION TO THE
CURRENT STATUS OF THE
JEWISH STATE.
> AMBASSADOR OREN,
THANKS FOR JOINING US ON
CBN NEWS.
ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO BE
WITH YOU.
Chris: YOU WERE THE
ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO THE
UNITED STATES WHEN
PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS
PRESIDENT.
WHAT CHANGES DO YOU SEE
RIGHT NOW, EVEN IN THE
LAST FEW WEEKS, WITH THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION?
WELL, THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION, BACK IN
2009, WHEN I CAME INTO
OFFICE, CHANGED SOME OF
THE FUNDAMENTAL, LET'S SAY
PILLARS OF THE U.S.-ISRAEL
RELATIONSHIP.
ONE WAS NO DAYLIGHT.
THAT MEANT IF WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE DISAGREEMENTS,
THAT THE TWO COUNTRIES
WOULD DO THEIR UTMOST TO
KEEP THOSE DISAGREEMENTS
DISCRETE, BEHIND CLOSED
DOORS.
AND THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION MADE A
CONCERTED DECISION TO
CONDUCT THESE DIFFERENCES
PUBLICLY.
THE OTHER MAJOR PILLAR
THAT WAS DISCARDED BY
OBAMA WAS THE PILLAR OF NO
SURPRISES.
THAT PILLAR SIMPLY HELD IF
THE UNITED STATES OR
ISRAEL WERE GOING TO MAKE
A MAJOR POLICY MOVE OR
DECLARATION, THAT THE
OTHER SIDE WOULD GET
WARNING, A CHANCE TO
REACT.
STARTING WITH THE CAIRO
SPEECH, THAT OBAMA MADE,
AND WE HAD NO
CONSULTATION.
SO THE HOPE WILL BE THAT
PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU
AND PRIME MINISTER WILL
RESTORE THESE PILLARS.
Chris: WHAT CHANGES
DO YOU SEE NOW IN THE
MIDDLE EAST BECAUSE OF
PRESIDENT TRUMP BEING THE
LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD?
ONE IS THE HOPE THAT HE
WILL STAND UP TO IRAN.
SPECIFICALLY IN THE PERIOD
AFTER THE SIGNING OF THE
IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL, THE
UNITED STATES SIMPLY
BACKED OFF FROM EVERY
IRANIAN PROVOCATION, WHEN
IT WAS TAKING U.S. SAILORS
HOSTAGE OR HOLDING
AMERICAN JOURNALISTS IN
JAIL OR TESTING BALLISTIC
MISSILES.
THE UNITED STATES DID
NOTHING.
THAT MESSAGE HAS TO GET
ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION
THAT ERA HAS ENDED.
THE SENSE THAT THE UNITED
STATES STANDS FORE SQUARE
WITH ISRAEL.
AND AMERICAN LEADER DOES
NOT GET CREDIT IN THE
MIDDLE EAST FOR PICKING A
FIGHT WITH ISRAEL.
IN THE MIDDLE EAST, PEOPLE
RESPECT THOSE WHO STAND BY
THEIR FRIENDS, PERIOD.
Chris: THE PRIME
MINISTER IS UNDER A LOT OF
PRESSURE FROM A LOT OF
DIFFERENT SIDES.
ONE OF THAT IS ABROGATING
THE TWO-STATE SOLUTION,
ANNEXING PART OF THE WEST
BANK.
ONE OF THE PRESSURES HE IS
FACING -- HOW IS HE DOING?
I THINK YOU SAID IT
VERY WELL.
A LARGE PART OF HIS PARTY
NO LONGER ACCEPTS THE
FORMULA TWO STATES FOR TWO
PEOPLES.
ABOUT 100,000 PALESTINIANS
ENTER EACH DAY, AND THEY
WORK IN ISRAEL.
AND THAT'S AED GOO A GOOD THING.
SO HERE IS THE TYPE OF
THING NOBODY FOCUSES UP.
I THINK WE CAN BUILD THAT
AND IMPROVE IT.
Chris: WHAT IS YOUR
NEW POSITION?
MY POSITION IS
STRENGTHENING THE
RELATIONSHIPS, ISRAEL'S
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MAN, WE
DIDN'T HAVE PEACE WITH
EGYPT AND JORDAN.
AND TODAY WE NOT ONLY HAVE
PEACE WITH EGYPT AND
JORDAN, WE HAVE EXCELLENT
RELATIONSCHINA.
WITH CHINA.
THE INDIAN PRESIDENT IS
COMING HERE SHORT.
GOOD RELATIONS WITH
RUSSIA, AND WITH THE
FORMER AFRICAN BLOCK
COUNTRIES.
TODAY THEY'RE ALL STANDING
IN LINE TO RENEW RELATIONS
WITH US.
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
SUNNI ARAB STATES, THE
STATES OF THE ARAB GULF
AREA, HAVE NEVER BEEN
BETTER.
AND IT IS HAPPENING IN
LATIN-AMERICA, TOO.
SO THERE IS SO MUCH WORK
TO BE DONE THAT WE HAVE
SEVERAL OFFICIALS DEALING
WITH IT.
I'M ONE OF THEM.
Chris: WHAT DO YOU
ATTRIBUTE TO WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN ISRAEL IN 50,
70 YEARS?
OUR PEOPLE.
WE HAVE LEARNED TO BE VERY
ADEPT AT CRAPPLING WITH
CHALLENGES AND THRIVING.
AND WHY IS THAT?
IT IS RELATED TO OUR
CONDITION.
Chris: AMBASSADOR, I
APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.
ALWAYS A PLEASURE.
Chris: COMING UP, WE
TAKE A DEEPER LOOK INTO
THE ISSUE OF JEWISH
Chris: WELCOME BACK
TO "JERUSALEM DATELINE."
IN LATE DECEMBER, 2016,
THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL
DECLARED THE AREA KNOWN AS
THE WEST BANK OCCUPIED
PALESTINIAN TERRITORY.
BUT DO THE JEWISH PEOPLE
HAVE THEIR OWN CLAIM TO
THE LAND, KNOWN IN THE
BIBLE AS JUDEA AND
SAMARIA?
HERE IS CBN NEWS MIDDLE
EAST CORRESPONDENT JULIE
STAAL.
Julie: MORE THAN
400,000 ISRAELIS LIVE IN
JUDEA AND SAMARIA, AN AREA
MOST OF THE WORLD CALL THE
WEST BANK.
ISRAEL ARGUES THE LAND IS
NOT OCCUPIED, BUT
DISPUTED, BECAUSE IT WAS
NEVER A MODERN COUNTRY AND
ITS STATUS HAS NEVER BEEN
RESOLVED.
IN 1967, ISRAEL TOOK BACK
THIS AREA KNOWN AS THE
BIBLICAL HEARTLAND IN THE
SIX-DAY WAR.
IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT A
VICTORY IN A WAR.
THIS WAS A RETURN TO OUR
ROOTS.
> THIS IS THE MODERN DAY
COMMUNITY OF BETEL,
ESTABLISHED IN 1977, IT IS
HOME TO SOME 6500
ISRAELIS.
IT IS IN THE SAME AREA AND
NAMED AFTER ITS BIBLICAL
ANCESTOR BETEL, ALSO KNOWN
AS BETHEL.
> 4,000 YEARS AGO, JACOB
DREAMED OF A LADDER TO
HEAVEN, AND GOD APPEARED
TO HIM AND PROMISED THE
LAND TO HIM AND HIS
DESCENTANTS.
> INITIALLY THE
GOVERNMENT DID APPROVE,
BUT ISRAELIS FROM ALL
SIDES OF THE POLITICAL
SPECTRUM SUPPORTED THE
IDEA.
I BELIEVE THEN ALMOST
THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF
ISRAEL WAS WITH US.
Julie: THE FIRST
SETTLEMENT WAS FARAZ ZION.
FIRST ESTABLISHED SOME 20
YEARS BEFORE THE STATE OF
ISRAEL.
ARABS DESTROYED IT THREE
TIMES OVER THE YEARS.
THE 1948 SIEGE LED TO THE
EVACUATION OF WOMEN AND
CHILDREN AND AN EVENTUAL
MASSACRE OF THE FIGHTERS
LEFT BEHIND.
THE YOUNG EVACUEES, LIKE
JERRY KATZ, NEVER LOST THE
HOPE THEY WOULD ONE DAY
RETURN.
THE GOVERNMENT ALLOWED
THEM TO DO SO IN 1967.
AS LITTLE CHILDREN, WE
SAID THAT WE WERE GOING TO
RETURN.
LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN
REPEAT STORIES ALL OF THE
TIME TO MAKE IT COME TRUE.
AND THEY REPEAT IT.
BUT THIS TIME IT REALLY
DID BECOME TRUE.
Reporter: EVEN WITH
THIS HISTORY, THE
SETTLEMENTS REMAINED UNDER
ATTACK.
WHILE SOME OF THE
COMMUNITIES ARE ISOLATED,
OTHERS ARE MUCH CLOSER TO
SOMETIMES HOSTILE ARAB
VILLAGES AND CITIES.
SOME ARE SMALL; OTHERS
HAVE THOUSANDS OR TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS,
COMMERCIAL CENTRES,
SCHOOLS AND SWIMMING
POOLS.
IF ISRAEL GAVE UP THIS
LAND, ESPECIALLY SAMARIA,
IT WOULD BE JUST NINE
MILES WIDE IN SOME PLACES.
MILITARY EXPERTS SAY THE
JEWISH STATE WOULD BE
INDEFENSEABLE.
IT IS NOT THE
SETTLEMENTS THAT ARE THE
STUMBLING BLOCK FOR THE
PEOPLE OF THE WORLD.
IT IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
THE SETTLEMENT OF THE
JEWISH STATE IN THE MIDDLE
EAST THAT IS A STUMBLING
BLOCK IN THE EYES OF THE
NATIONS OF THE WORLD.
Julie: MANY
SUPPORTERS POINT OUT THAT
ALMOST ALL ISRAELI
SETTLEMENTS ARE BUILT ON
STATE, NOT PRIVATE, LAND.
AND THERE IS CONFUSION
WHEN PALESTINIANS CLAIM
SOVEREIGNTY THERE.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THE
PERSONAL PROPERTY
OWNERSHIP RIGHTS OF THE
ARABS HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY
RESPECTED.
BUT WE DON'T AGREE THAT
THEY HAVE SOVEREIGN RIGHTS
TO THIS LAND.
AT ONE TIME MANY ISRAELIS
WERE READY TO GIVE UP THE
LAND IN RETURN FOR THE
PROMISE OF PEACE.
NOW AFTER ISRAEL UPROOTED
21 JEWISH COMMUNITIES IN
THE GAZA STRIP AND FOUR IN
THE NORTHERN WEST BANK IN
THE 2005 DISENGAGEMENT,
THEY'VE CHANGED THEIR
MINDS.
THE WAKEUP CALL HAS
SENT A MESSAGE TO ALL
ISRAELIS THAT SETTLEMENTS
ARE NOT THE ROOT CAUSE OF
THE PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI
CONFLICT, AND CERTAINLY
NOT AN OBSTACLE TO PEACE.
THE MESSAGE TO THE
TERRORISTS IS NOT ONLY IS
TERRORISM PAID OFF, BUT IN
FACT YOU GET MORE AND MORE
RECOGNITION BY THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
Julie: ALTHOUGH THE
UNITED STATES HAS HAD A
LONG-STANDING POLICY
AGAINST SETTLEMENTS,
ISRAEL BELIEVES THAT MAY
BE CHANGING UNDER
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
YEARS AGO TRUMP EVEN GAVE
A DONATION TO BETEL, AND
WHILE MUCH OF THE WORLD IS
STILL PUSHING ISRAEL TO
GIVE UP ITS BIBLICAL
HEARTLAND, THOSE WHO LIVE
THERE HOPE THEY CAN
CONTINUE RECLAIMING THEIR
BIBLICAL HERITAGE.
JULIE STAAL, CBN NEWS,
JUDEA AND SAMARIA.
Chris: UP NEXT, SEE
HOW A CHRISTIAN MINISTRY
CAME TO THE AID OF ONE
Chris: WELCOME BACK.
THE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR HAS
DEVASTATED MILLIONS OF
FAMILIES.
MANY OF THEM SOUGHT REFUGE
IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES,
LIKE LEBANON.
HERE IS A STORY OF HOW A
CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION
BROUGHT HOPE AND HELP TO
ONE OF THOSE FAMILIES.
Reporter: HOMER'S
FAMILY WAS FORCED TO FLEE
THE WAR IN SYRIA WHEN A
BOMB DESTROYED THEIR HOME.
IT HAS BEEN VERY
DIFFICULT HERE.
AND MY HUSBAND WORKS VERY
HARD.
HE CAN'T GET A BETTER JOB
BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT
WON'T ALLOW THE REFUGEES
TO FIND LEGITIMATE WORK.
BUT WE STILL NEED MONEY TO
FEED OURSELVES.
Reporter: HOMER AND
HER HUSBAND INVITEDED ME
INTO THEIR MAKESHIFT TENT
AND TOLD ME ABOUT THEIR
LIVES BEFORE THE WAR.
WE HAD A BEAUTIFUL HOME
IN SYRIA.
AND I FARMED MY OWN LAND.
NOW I WORK IN OUR
LANDLORD'S FIELD, JUST
MAKING ENOUGH TO PAY THE
RENT.
Reporter: WHEN CBN'S
"ORPHAN'S PROMISE" AND
"HEART FOR LEBANON" FOUND
OUT ABOUT THE FAMILY'S
SITUATION, FIRST WE IN
RIGHTED THEINVITEDED THEM TO OUR FOOD
DISTRIBUTION.
THERE IS ENOUGH FOOD TO
LAST A FAMILY UP TO EIGHT
FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH.
NOW HOMER'S DAUGHTER AND
SON ARE GOING TO THE HOPE
CENTER, WHICH IS ALSO
SUPPORTED BY TH "HEART FOR
LEBANON".
I LOVE GOING TO SCHOOL.
THE TEACHERS ARE AMAZING
AND REALLY CARE FOR US.
WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GO TO
SCHOOL WHEN WE FIRST CAME
HERE, AND I REALLY MISSED
IT.
NOW WE GO TO THE HOPE
CENTER AND IT IS REALLY
FUN.
I'M SO HAPPY THEY ARE
GETTING A GOOD EDUCATION.
THEY COME HOME AFTER
SCHOOL, AND I MAKE THEM A
MEAL FROM THE FOOD WE WERE
GIVEN.
I CAN SEE THEIR SMILES AND
HOW HAPPY THEY ARE.
THAT MEANS EVERYTHING TO
ME.
Reporter: AT THE HOPE
CENTER, WE OPENLY TEACH
CHILDREN ABOUT JESUS
CHRIST AND SHOW THEM
"SUPERBOOK" IN ARABIC.
I LOVE "SUPERBOOK" AND
THE STORIES ABOUT JESUS.
I KNOW IF WE PRAY TO
JESUS, HE WILL TAKE OUR
BURDEN.
I PRAYED FOR MY
GRANDMOTHER, WHO WAS VERY
SICK IN THE HOSPITAL, AND
NOW SHE IS COMPLETELY
HEALED.
Reporter: "ORPHANS'
PROMISE" AND "HEART FOR
LEBANON" ALSO INSTALLED A
FRESH WATER SYSTEM FOR
HOMER'S FAMILY, SO THEY
NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
FINDING CLEAN DRINKING
WATER.
WE ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT
YOU ARE SUPPORTING US WITH
THE FOOD AND WATER.
AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT
MY CHILDREN ARE LEARNING
AT YOUR SCHOOL.
I WANT TO THANK
CHRISTIANS A LOT FOR THEIR
PRAYERS AND FOR PROVIDING
FOR OUR NEEDS.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND
PROTECT YOUR FAMILIES.
I WANT TO TELL ALL OF THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE HELPING US
THAT I LOVE YOU.
I LOVE "HEART FOR LEBANON"
AND "ORPHANS' PROMISE" SO
MUCH.
AND I WANT TO THANK THEM
FOR DOING THEIR BEST TO
TAKE CARE OF US.
Chris: "ORPHANS'
PROMISE" DOES GOOD FOR
MANY FAMILIES HERE IN THE
MIDDLE EAST AND AROUND THE
WORLD.
THAT'S ALL FOR THIS
EDITION.
REMEMBER, YOU CAN FOLLOW
US ON Facebook, TWITTER,
AND INSTAGRAM, AND PLEASE
SHARE US ON YOUR SOCIAL
NETWORKS.
AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE
EAST, PICK UP A COPY OF MY
BOOK, "ISIS, IRAN, AND
ISRAEL, WHAT YOU NEED TO
KNOW ABOUT THE CURRENT
MIDEAST CRISIS AND THE
COMING MIDEAST WAR."
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
I'M CHRIS MITCHELL.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON
"JERUSALEM DATELINE."