"I've received death threats online, thank God they haven't translated into actual death threats yet," Loay Alshareef, the Saudi blogger who has become one of the prominent Arab voices defending Israel, shared. "But you know what? I used to be on the opposite side. I saw what radical Islam looks like. I know how it poisons the heads, minds, and hearts of Muslims, and I'm not going to be intimidated in any way."
Video: Pro-Israel Saudi blogger Loay Alshareef. Credit: Yoni Rikner
This is Alshareef's third visit to Israel, following a brief 24-hour visit during Ramadan. This time, invited by the Jewish Statesmanship Center, he came to explain to the institute's graduates how to address the burning issues in the Arab world, in the new order in the Middle East after a year and a half of war that has completely transformed the region.
Alshareef, wearing a tailored suit and speaking with a distinct Arabic accent, has been one of the leading voices supporting Israel since the outbreak of Operation Strength and Sword. For his hundreds of thousands of social media followers, he explains in both Arabic and English how anti-Zionist activists and terrorist organizations, led by Hamas, inject propaganda and hatred of Israel into public discourse, flooding networks with what he calls "the big lie" about Israel.
"Until I was 20, I was the quintessential mainstream Arab-Muslim in the Muslim world – radical against Jews, anti-Jewish, anti-Israel, anti-everything related to most non-Muslims, especially Jews and Christians," Alshareef recounted. "The indoctrination in schools throughout the Middle East was so radical that it completely shaped my worldview."
"Did everyone think like you?" I asked. "Most did," he responded. "Thank God things have now changed dramatically in Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates also has a wonderful ministry of tolerance. Many people have left radicalism behind, but it still maintains its influence on so many people across the region."
Alshareef's current visit lasted five days, during which he toured the City of David, where Jerusalem became the capital of the people of Israel, and Masada, where Jews fought to the death for their faith and nation. "Masada is proof of how Jews survived and fought back against those who wanted to destroy them. It's very important that people know the history of Masada and the Jewish rebellion against those who wanted to take the most important thing about the Jewish people – their identity."
"The Jews never tried to expand and conquer," Alshareef emphasized. "They never wanted to take other people's land, as Al Jazeera and other radical Muslim Brotherhood media channels claim. Jews have always fought for this land with its known boundaries."
The highlight of Alshareef's visit was a conference at Psagot Winery, organized by the Jewish Statesmanship Center. "The college is a leading intellectual institution, working to train a new generation of Israeli leaders with breadth of knowledge and a clear Zionist vision," Ben Basson, an alumnus of the institution, explained about the idea behind the institution. "We provide participants with in-depth theoretical and practical training, aiming to empower young men and women with potential influence, working in government, security, education, and society, and equip them with ideological and practical tools to deal with the challenges facing the State of Israel."
Basson added that "the annual alumni conference is a central event that brings together hundreds of college graduates working in key positions in the public arena in Israel. The theme of this year's conference is 'Israel's Strategic Position in the New Order in the Middle East,' featuring keynote speeches, panel discussions, and strategic conversations about regional trends and their impact on Israel."
Addressing "the big lie"
Alshareef has strong feelings about how Israel has been portrayed globally over the past year and a half. During his first visit, he toured the kibbutzim near the Gaza border and witnessed firsthand what Hamas did. "I saw the savage attack carried out by the barbaric terrorists of Hamas. They didn't attack soldiers. They call what they did 'resistance.' In what dictionary is kidnapping a toddler considered resistance in war? Attacking and killing people at a music festival is resistance?
"Of course, it's not resistance. It's an act of barbarism and terrorism that must be condemned. And I believe those who don't condemn Hamas enough give them the power to continue. After October 7 happened, many people rushed to condemn Israel instead of Hamas, even before Israel responded. As much as they hate Israel's existence, they prove to the world how antisemitic they are."
When I asked whether he understood Hamas' position and what he thought about their motives before October 7, Alshareef responded forcefully, "Hamas is the armed wing of the Muslim Brotherhood – a radical Islamic group. We need to understand that there's a difference between spiritual Islam, which is like praying five times a day, going through the month of Ramadan, going to Umrah, to Hajj, performing the rituals of Islam, and radical Islam that believes in a military approach to conveying its message and controlling.
"You can't talk to Hamas," he stated firmly. "Hamas initiates an apocalyptic war in which millions on both sides must die, so that a disappeared imam will appear again. And that's something crazy that the world shouldn't accept. Israel is fighting Hamas and radical Islam on behalf of the world, and the world should appreciate what Israel is doing."
Alshareef emphasized that he wants the war to end, but according to him, Hamas, not Israel, can end it. "This is a war that Israel didn't ask for, didn't want, and didn't start. That's something very important for people to note. This war could have ended yesterday if those who started the war had ended it. I support ending this war with a complete victory and defeat of Hamas, so we don't reach another round and another war. This event must end absolutely.
"Hamas started this war because they truly believe in erasing Israel, they truly believe in killing Jews for God so they can go to heaven," Alshareef said angrily. "The Hamas charter calls for the destruction of Israel. Hamas didn't launch the attack on October 7 because they believe in peace. Even when Hamas leaders say they want a state on the 1967 borders, it's temporary – they want a temporary state until they have enough power to destroy Israel. And they say it out loud in Arabic, but in English they say something else."
Throughout the interview, Alshareef repeatedly mentioned Al Jazeera, which he referred to as a media body that pushes propaganda. "Al Jazeera is a Hamas supporter. When I was young, they convinced me that Abdullah Azzam and bin Laden were heroes," he said. "When the October 7 attack happened, I didn't understand why people were angry about people being attacked in America.
"After all, the US is the tyrant of the world. That's what Al Jazeera told us; it made us believe that many terrorists were heroes. I understand and respect freedom of speech, but there's a difference between freedom of speech and incitement. Al Jazeera engages in incitement. It's deadly and dangerous and needs to be fought back against."
Abraham Accords 2.0
The main message Alshareef wanted to convey at the conference is that peace with Arab countries is possible, contrary to what terrorist organizations try to project. "Hamas wants to prove to you that Muslims and Jews are enemies. Arabs and Israelis will never get along. And I want to deliver the opposite message – Arabs and Israelis will get along. Muslims and Jews are not enemies."
Alshareef believed that the moderate Gulf states can play a significant role in the region's future after the war ends. "Mohammed bin Salman is a person not only trusted by Saudis but also Arabs and most Muslims. He wants there to be a stable Middle East, a Middle East where there are no more wars. He's a great leader who seeks peace and will make it happen with God's help."
As the interview concluded, I asked Alshareef how he manages to remain optimistic despite the difficult situation. "I'm very optimistic," responded Alshareef with a smile. "The Middle East needs a strong America to promote more peace, and after four years of an administration that failed to promote peace, now there's an administration that can do it."
"I believe that the Abraham Accords 2.0 will be even better than the first generation. I know the situation looks grim now, but I'm optimistic that the future will be better. The war that's currently being fought brings people together. Hamas and radical Islamists are fighting to separate people, while we are fighting to bring Muslims and Jews, Arabs and Israelis, closer together. We are good, we are fighting the good fight, and God is on our side."
The Saudi blogger ended the interview with a sentence in fluent Hebrew: "I hope this dream will come true. With God's help, peace between all peoples in the Middle East."
