Following a conversation between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Rafah crossing is set to reopen, an American official told Israel Hayom. The move is expected to coincide with intensified efforts to recover the body of Ran Gvili, the last remaining hostage held in the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu met on Wednesday in Florida with leaders of the evangelical community in the US, where he laid out a broad vision for establishing an international alliance to protect threatened Christian communities worldwide. Church and Christian university leaders attending the meeting praised Netanyahu for his meeting with President Trump and for his decisions throughout the war.
"Christian Zionism made Jewish Zionism possible"
Netanyahu opened his remarks with what he described as a deep historical acknowledgment. "You represent Christian Zionists who made Jewish Zionism possible," he said. "It is hard for me to imagine the rebirth of the Jewish state without the support of Christian Zionists in the US, in Britain as well, but above all in the US in the 19th century."
He stressed that "Christian Zionism is what enabled the rise and success of Jewish Zionism, and there has been a very strong partnership between us ever since." Netanyahu also spoke personally about his long-standing ties with some of those present. "I can say that we have no better friends, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. You stood by us in good times and in difficult times."
Netanyahu outlined what he sees as Israel's broader strategic challenge. "We fought a war on seven fronts, and in many respects we prevailed," he said. "But there is also an eighth front, and that is the battle for the hearts and minds of people, especially of the younger generation in the West."
He argued that the implications go far beyond Israel. "This affects not only Israel, but also the US, our alliance, and the future of Western civilization. I do not think that is an exaggeration at all."
Addressing what he described as attempts to marginalize religious voices in the West, Netanyahu said: "There are people who think faith should be silenced and terrorism understood. No. Faith must be given a voice, and terrorism must be confronted, not understood. It must be confronted and defeated. And that is what we are doing now."
Netanyahu said that in his conversation with President Trump he presented what he views as the central threat map. "I see the war against us and against our Judeo-Christian tradition taking place around the world, and there are two main forces driving it: radical Shiite Islam and radical Sunni Islam."
He elaborated: "The axis led by Iran has been hit hard, but it is still there. And the Sunni axis led by the Muslim Brotherhood is seeping everywhere. They are reaching Europe, they are reaching the US, and they are reaching Africa."
Netanyahu emphasized what he said was a reality well known to those in the room. "We are all aware that Christians are persecuted across the Middle East, in Syria, Lebanon, Nigeria, Turkey and beyond," he said. "And we are all aware that there is one country that protects the Christian community, allows it to grow, defends it and ensures that it can flourish. That country is Israel. There is no other."
