Human Interest

Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar this evening (Wednesday, 3 December 2025) addressed the gala event in Jerusalem for the largest ever delegation of 1,000 Pastors from the United States, organized by Israel’s Foreign Ministry and Dr. Mike Evans and the Friends of Zion. Following is his speech: 

“Welcome to the Holy Land.

Welcome to Jerusalem – the eternal capital of the Jewish state and the people.

This is an extraordinary event.

This is the largest delegation that the Foreign Ministry has ever brought.
 
I want to thank you all – each of you – for coming.

Thank you for standing by Israel!

Thank you for being our Ambassadors.

Ambassadors of the Truth.

You are the greatest friends of Israel and the Jewish people.

I also want to thank both Mikes – Mike Huckabee and Mike Evans – for your vision and longstanding friendship.

There’s nobody like Mike, they say.

*

Distinguished Pastors,

You are standing in Jerusalem, the ancient and eternal capital of the Jewish people.

Jerusalem DC – David’s Capital.

It’s the beating heart of the Jewish people.

It’s not just a city.

Jerusalem is a symbol.

It represents the fulfillment of a dream of over three-thousand-years.

Yet there is a huge global movement today trying to erase the proven historical connection – between the Jewish people and our ancient homeland and capital.

They try to challenge our sovereignty over it.

They deny our historical, Biblical roots here.
But around us the Bible is present.

Shiloh is still Shiloh.

Hebron is still Hebron.

The Cave of our Patriarchs is still here.

And Jerusalem remained – and will remain – our capital.

The archeological findings in the City of David show beyond any doubt – the Jewish people are indigenous to this ancient land.

We were here a long, long time ago.

Three thousand years ago, King David lived and walked here.

He established Jerusalem as our capital.

In the book of Psalms King David wrote: “If I forget you Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten.”

Ever since then, the Jewish people have prayed for Jerusalem. We have never forgotten.

And we were able to see with our own eyes how the ancient words of the Biblical prophets came true.

The Jewish people returned to Israel. Jerusalem was restored as our capital.

God fulfilled his promise.

And we are here now – to stay – forever.

Remembering our past – and building Jerusalem in the present – ensures our future.

The Roman Emperor Hadrian destroyed Jerusalem.

He built a new city on its ruins.  He called it Ilia Capitolina.

His goal was to erase the memory of the Jewish city.

Nobody remembers Ilia Capitolina.

But everyone knows Jerusalem.

There has never been a sovereign nation in the land of Israel besides the Jewish people.

Not the Palestinians. Or any other nation.

There has never been a Palestinian state.

Jerusalem has always been and will always be the eternal capital of the Jewish people.

The axis denying the Jewish people’s historical connection to the Holy Land – wants to eliminate the Jewish state.

Against this axis stands the alliance of believers:

America and Israel.

Jews and our Evangelical Christian brothers.

Your overwhelming presence today proves: this alliance is alive and kicking.

But the truth must be told.

There is an evil campaign underway in America.

This campaign is well-funded also by states hostile to Israel.

Its method: pushing propaganda, flooding social media with lies, and promoting insane conspiracy theories.

Its goal: to ruin the U.S.-Israel alliance.

At its core, this campaign is anti-Israel. But it’s much more than that.

This campaign is anti-Western. It’s anti-American.

The truth is that Israel is an asset for America.

Just as the United States is indispensable for Israel:

Israel is indispensable for the United States, and for its National Security interests.

The United States has no way to ensure its National Security interests in the dangerous Middle East, without Israel.

We share real-time intelligence that saves the lives of American soldiers.

We are fighting, by ourselves, against enemies that are also the enemies of America.

These enemies – such as Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis in Yemen – swear “Death to America”, as much they swear “Death to Israel”.

Friends, those who try to harm the U.S.-Israel Alliance, harm America itself.

They undermine American values, and interests.

We won’t let it happen.

These values – our Judeo-Christian alliance – form the basis of Western civilization.

It’s the foundation of the unbreakable bond between Israel and America.

I want to praise President Donald Trump. President Trump is the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House.

And America is our greatest ally and closest friend. It will always be like that.

*

Dear Friends,

Israel has had a difficult two years.

During this time, we saw who our true friends are.

Christian friends of Israel are our most important and influential friends.

In 2025, under my direction, the joint projects between Israel and our Christian friends reached new heights.

Yet we have a lot more to do together.

I intend to continue our close cooperation in 2026.

Thank you all for coming.

God Bless America.

God Bless the U.S.-Israel Alliance.

Am Yisrael Chai!”