Weekly Update: Nachum Segal and Malcolm Hoenlein Discuss the Latest News

Time for the weekly update. Malcolm Hoenlein is with us. Executive Malcolm Hoenlein is with us. Conference of Presidents of major American Jewish organizations on a Friday morning, eve of Shabbos, with a weekly update. Mr. Hoenlein, welcome back to JM in the AM. >> Hello. Thank you. And uh look forward to uh I don't know what we'll talk about. There's just nothing happening. >> Yeah, nothing at all. And a brilliant um a member of the medical community told me right before our conversation I should drink more hot tea. So I may go in that I may go in that direction. And obviously And obviously if it works, I'll give you all the credit in the world. All right. We we we semi-joked earlier in the week with Jake Novak when he joined us for some commentary after Tuesday's election day that we need him and others to talk some people off the ledge. Um I know that this result nationwide was not a complete surprise. Maybe the enormity of it was somewhat of a surprise. What is your reaction to the blood bath that the Republican Party took this past Tuesday during the elections? >> I think it's America that took a blood bath. And my hope is that it's a wake-up call. Though in the past that has not proven necessarily to be true. But [snorts] for all of those who have been listening for the decades and all the warnings telling you exactly this scenario would happen and what's happening, it didn't just come overnight though people feel that this came out of nowhere. It It has been in the works for years. It took immense amount of planning and [clears throat] devotion, mobilization, um investment foreign and domestic probably. And it um the results are only the beginning of seeing the impact of how our universities and our educational systems have distorted reality. Our uh uh is unreliable and also presents a one-sided uh presentation of especially when it comes to Israel and the Middle East. The fact that Israel is just thrown out as an issue of the war. Remember the still the majority of Americans support Israel and we cannot allow ourselves to become depressed and frozen into inaction, which is what they want. They want to paralyze us and to make us feel uh despondent and I think we have to see this as a challenge that we start yesterday mobilizing for the next election, but doing it seriously. I think that a lot of the figures, and I've said this before, are just wrong. They're meant to demoralize us to say that the vast majority of Jews voted for DSA people or others. There's no evidence that those numbers that people are throwing out are true. I'm telling you that there was a major shift in the community of people who voted Democratic in the past, voted Republican this time. Certainly here in New York, but I think around the country. And you know, I have anecdotal evidence of that. And I I believe that the Kishka factor is better than any poll. We know where people are at. Look at the turnout in our communities and especially where efforts were made to get people to vote. You know, the the the not to stick our head in the sand just for one minute, to stick our heads in the sand. I was certainly depressed and angry after when the results came in. But I realized that that's exactly what they want us to do, is to throw up our hands and say, well, the game is over. We we we we're losing the power. We're doing It's true, but there are still many allies. There's still many communities like the black communities, the Hindu communities, Hispanics, many of them, who reject DSA approaches. We have to do a much better job, and there are people working on it to to win people over. But I think, you know, the uh if you look at the what the Congress is now and the likelihood that if we don't do something you're going to have multiples of of DSA members that you have now but they're also electing them on the state and local level many and I warned about it we talked about it we talked about how they were mobilizing how they educated people look at that the mosque where where the guy said if each of us trains journalists 10 journalists and 10 lawyers and 10 filmmakers and 10 others he said in in a few years we'd have 4,000 just out of our mosque and [clears throat] multiply that around the country so we have to be as aggressive and as intelligent >> Yeah that 10 routine seems to be gaining a lot of steam yeah so what I was going to say earlier is that you're right in that we have to keep in mind that the the local the local candidates that you were mentioning on the air over the last few weeks did win they won so you know and again that's your what you're saying in terms of mobilizing and actually getting out there and getting out the vote you know in the in the old days so to speak a lot of those elections took place and our candidates did not win because there certainly were simply weren't enough people in the community who were mobilized to to go and and motivated enough to go out and vote so at least that on the local level is one of the silver linings from Tuesday the other thing is I mean I get when you say you can't believe everything in terms of the statistics etc but is it so hard to believe that the figure 60% of Jews in the state of Michigan voted for the Democratic nominee you know I I joked I mean we've spoken about my you know my family history often because you know one of my grandmothers was from Germany she came here from Cologne in the mid 1930s and I and I joked on Wednesday morning and it was only half a joke that I don't know if she would have voted Republican this election because it was so ingrained in her and she was an immigrant not somebody who was here since 1900. It was so ingrained in her that the only way to vote is Democratic. So is it that hard to believe that 60% of jury went for the Democratic candidate in Michigan? >> Yes. I do not believe it. I don't think that there's any evidence that will prove 60% I think that you always have a percentage and you know, we've seen trends in Michigan before, but this that are disturbing, but this is so far over the top, I think. And I believe that that there was at least a 30% swing between people who voted Democratic in the past to voting Republican now. Again, it varies. There are local elections you know, where outcomes were made up in different, but I think overall there is a big shift. It will come out when they do real analysis of the of voting results. We know the turnout in many of our communities was very strong and that vote went against the DSA candidates across the board. And and again, we have to realize that we're facing a psychological war, not just a political war, not just war in the media. The media sold us is sold out. The the political echelon, much of it is sold out. And I'm afraid when they start doing all these investigations of what what will come out of it, but the accusations against people including somebody we've talked about the ambassador in Turkey and stuff which most people don't even look at and read, but it has so many policy implications. And you know, when there's corruption and distortion, then it affects it it has real practical implications. And it's you know, the fear that we're removing the the umbrella of protection that that what what we'll talk about what happened with Israel, but the the domestic ramifications are serious. That means we start in our schools and our schools now that every parent put pressure on the schools to start teaching civics again, they teach the kids about what it means to get involved, what the danger is, why why are we against them? Not because they're Muslims or whatever religion they may be, but because of what the associations are. >> Well, there are other things that have to be dealt with. This atmosphere that's now, you know, been created, Israel, Jewish community, supporters of of the war, etc etc etc. Look what it's led to. You're a Philly boy and you see the threats that are going on. I mean, they're actually planning a Kristallnacht anniversary attacking kosher restaurants and establishments in the Philadelphia area. I don't know what the current status is. I don't know what the governor, police and and and the local officials have said regarding this planned protest, but I mean, we're talking about Jews possibly being in physical danger and I have to assume that you would agree that one has to do with the other. >> But do you also see the reaction that in Philadelphia those restaurants that were designated and are are targeted rather are have a booming business now. People are flocking to them, which is the best answer to the to the haters to show that the bulk of people reject this. And and I think you know, we again we don't overlook what they're doing, but it could be a small group and we we exaggerate them and you know, because it's very visible and if they announce they're taking bicycles and going from store to store, you know, that will be very visible. But you can do that with a very small group of people who are rejected by and large. Do you know, there are, you know, people talk about the black-Jewish relations. There are meetings going on all over the country between black and Jewish leaders, dozens and dozens and dozens of such events. And there are are many positive things that are happening too and it will be because it doesn't even have to be because they defend the Jews, it's because ultimately they realize that they're a target too. There's nobody who lived in Cuba who's going to support socialist regime. People who came from other countries who lived under these these kind of regimes or under Islamist regimes are going to be silent and and tolerant of this. >> Have you seen Have you seen any government officials or the police chief say anything regarding the Philadelphia situation that they're they're >> Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. Many people condemned it. >> And they're ready to stand down these thugs? >> Why would they? This is exactly what they want. They want that you and I are talking about it, that others are talking about it, that we make it uh you know if if a free Palestine everywhere, it becomes commonplace. It already wears it down, you know the shock in the beginning when sports stars would would do stuff and and here you have a major basketball player wearing a free Palestine headband in the last six games. You have others who who who are doing it and and and they wear down the resistance to it and becomes then the mantra it at events and you see huge crowds of people then following almost like automatons. That to me is the scariest thing. The young people are not taught to think and they they will much just march blindly. >> I agree, but my question is has law enforcement declared that they will be there to protect the Jewish establishments? >> From what I understand from speaking to people in Philadelphia that they have been in touch with the police, the police will protect the the establishments. Sorry. That were named and um and and many of the and many officials or or leaders in community have certainly uh come out to to oppose this action, especially being on Kristallnacht. >> Right, on the anniversary. Now on the subject of of you know talking people off the ledge when one gets to a certain age, they have a much different perspective than those who have not lived as long. And I say it that way because to a degree you can tell us that you've seen similar things like this before. There have been battles like this before. There have been members of the administration in the White House and the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives who have posed great challenges and have created very challenging atmospheres for us in the past. I just need you to give everyone somewhat of an encouraging word. >> I think I've been giving them an encouraging word that that you know, sky is very cloudy and there's bad storms, but it hasn't fallen in yet. And if those I was not around yet, you know, I think I've lived through everything since the Civil War, but 1940s America where Father Coughlin could could go on national radio, at least when people do it now, at least until recently, they were condemned. Now it seems that you can go on and say whatever you want and attack whoever you want and and lie and distort, misrepresent and get away with it. But in that time, Jews, you know, were very scared of the antisemitism that the president of the United States didn't act to save Jews because he was afraid of the antisemitic backlash that would ensue. And I I So yes, there have been terrible times in our past. There were events that were very scary. But my problem is I look at Europe as always, as I've told you many times, as a model of what happens in America later, especially England, but Europe as a whole, which is lost and there's no redeeming it. But what we're seeing is the Europeanization of America, the Muslimization of our society, of our politics. >> Why would you think that we could redeem it here? >> Because I think America is still different and it's still possible to redeem it. And especially when you go into the heartland of America, you don't find support for it generally. And I've seen demonstrations in Montana and Idaho and Iowa and other places in support of Israel that you have still a Christian populations that are supportive, even some and and some minority groups that are supportive and others who who you don't see because the New York Times won't report it or our media doesn't report it, but who are uh still supportive. >> Right. >> And the Council for Secure America has been doing work in these in these states and they get they come their great response. The biggest thing we find is no one's ever goes, no one ever went there to explain to people what the facts are and to educate them and to invest in that. And as much as we invested people invested, I think sometimes foolishly in in some of the campaigns and uh throwing money at at races, uh that money should be invested now in doing positive in doing positive activities, exposing Israel, helping more people go there to learn, to see, to come back. There are groups there now in Israel um of Christian pastors, black pastors, large groups uh are going and when they come back, they become ambassadors for for Israel. And we need to do much more. We have to I hope get past this election in Israel and get it done quickly and attend attend then to the security challenges, which are very imminent, and the financial challenges, which are great, but the opportunities are great and to to most of all work together to change the image. >> And when I said that you had lived through certain things, what I was alluding to was uh was David Duke, Pat Buchanan, uh George Schultz, everyone thought he was going to sell Israel down the river, when Nixon, when they thought he would sell Israel down the river, etc. etc. So you don't have to go back to World War II. There's plenty that's happened since then that has created uncomfortable circumstances for Jews and Israel lovers in the last 80 years. >> But then each case that was individuals. You didn't have the kind of systemic and organized effort that we have today backed by the kind of foreign resources being invested in this country by China, by by Iran, by uh Qatar. I mean Qatar billions and billions of dollars that has been invested long-term in our campuses and elsewhere, poisoning the minds of young people, training all these professors so that you can get uh uh find a professor who who will defend Israel on a campus or speak up except, you know, just quietly and and in rare instances there are those heroes who who do. So it's not the same, you know. Pat Buchanan operated then was also said I anti-Semitic stuff. You know, he sort of was the Tucker Carlson, I guess, of his day or whoever you want to draw an analogy to. But it was not in the same kind of international atmosphere and the kind of organization that we've seen that they are capable of. >> Yeah. And I forgot Jesse Jackson, of course. All of these episodes, by the way, in recent Jewish history have prompted people to declare that that if things continue like this, they're going to be leaving and going to Israel. And if you're right that America follows Europe, look what's happened in France where so many French Jews have made Aliyah. Maybe United States, USA Jews are going to follow then in their footsteps. >> And many Jews in in France have sold their houses and moved to apartments. But I want to tell you the good news on this is that Jesse Jackson's daughter converted to Judaism, is a very serious Jew, very seriously pro Israel and speaks up for Israel. So there's always hope even in the bleakest moments and in his later years he became much more sympathetic and encouraged her in her path. You know, so there's always some light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes it's sometimes it's a train coming at you, but sometimes it's a real light. >> Life is funny, Mr. Hohlbein. It's America's one and only Jewish moments in the morning radio program heard on listener sponsored digital radio around the world Our weekly update is happening. Malcolm Hohlbein is with us. Reminder that our year end annual campaign has begun. If you enjoy and find what we do here informative and worthwhile, please support us. fbjunity.org fbjunity.org All right, we got to spend some time on the Israeli election, you know. You know, Malcolm, I don't know if I don't know what the expression is. Maybe if cooler heads would prevail or maybe if people would check their ego at the door, there would be an opportunity to form a a reasonable government. You realize that if Netanyahu, Eisencott, Bennett, Lieberman, and Smotrich decide who are generally seen, I mean Smotrich maybe not as much, but are generally seen as the, you know, central parties of Israel, if they would decide to go ahead and form a coalition without the Arabs, without the religious parties, etc., they would hold over 70 seats. Now, I know that there's some people pushing for this type of arrangement. Is there any possibility that it's going to happen? >> Yes, I think there's there are a lot of possibilities right now. The president concluded his meetings with all the candidates. Eisencott had the backing of 67, much more than Netanyahu, so he he under the system should get the first nod to be able to form a government. And Netanyahu said all the time he wanted Eisencott to have the first shot because he figured if he fails then he can it'll be easier for him than to to to put together something. A lot of people still think that it's not going to be possible and that eventually they have to go back to elections. I think that would be very detrimental. I do think some sort of a center, center-right government could work. Whether it could function, I don't know, but you could put together something that, you know, they hate each other. They keep saying that each one has said that they won't work with the others. But in the end when when it becomes down to the to the level of of practicality and you can't leave a vacuum, especially at a time like this, they so it may well be possible for for them, but you know, I would hope that some lessons would have been learned, that the first lesson is to shut up, that people talking too much and creating some of the ammunition for those who spread the hatred over the last couple of months in the election here, you know, drew upon the words of of Israelis and Israeli officials. And I think, you know, a lot of soul searching should be going on. But the the important thing right now is that we try to aim towards stability. You know, everybody is speculating whether there will be an event in Iran. Uh I certainly hope we can put uh a final blow and get it over. Had they done it a couple of months ago when they had the opportunity, had we continued, I think that um I don't know, you know, perhaps there were military reasons or other things that we don't know about. But had the US and and together with Israel with their other allies really acted against them, now look at at how the Houthis continue to expand the the uh Iranians think that they are in a in the driver's seat, that the seem new alliance is being formed. Uh the you know, time is the clock will run throughout this period and we have to take the kind of action that's that's really necessary. You know, Iran is now running the Hezbollah operations and you see Unifil is being kicked out. And there there are just so many things that go on. Um and it hardly even gets uh attention, you know, to see all the guerrilla actions, the terror actions in the straits of Hormuz. How many ships are hit? How many people? We We don't even know anymore. People don't even cover it much in the media. So we we I really do hope that they will be able to see beyond their nose and see what is the for the greater good of Israel, the Jewish people, the issues that we care about and who can handle the you know, there's two years of Donald Trump, then there'll be likely a Democratic administration because it always swings with the no guarantee of no assurance of that. Um but at least to plan for the next two years to be able to maintain the relationship. The what happened this week regarding the arms sales was disgraceful. It should never have happened. That that morning the president announced um, you know, the cessation of the $4 billion a year at the end of this year. This is not a reaction to what's going on. It's complete distortion and they of course jump on it. The DSA people and say, you know, they they forced this. This is something that Netanyahu proposed. There are people working on it for a year in Washington. This is supposed to have >> but the timing [clears throat] of the president's announcement was so difficult to deal with. >> I agree, but but and and the thing is that this the current arrangement, the 10-year deal doesn't end till 28. That means we lose $4 billion a year in aid to Israel, 90% of which ended up being spent here, not it's not foreign aid. You know, it's expenditures made in the United States creating tens of thousands of jobs. And and they were working on how they would create a cooperative relationship and phase out the aid that they got from the United States over a couple of years because just to cut off $4 billion suddenly, regardless of how successful Israel's economy is, is going to be a hard blow because to to make $4 million free, you have to have, [clears throat] you know, I don't know, $100 billion, $200 billion in income to to free up that kind of money. So people talk about it blindly, but I'm in favor of the phasing out program, but the fact that it was tied to the election and now and everybody is saying that you see the president got the message and that 's why he he moved on this. No, this is Netanyahu's proposal. They've been working on it together for a long time. Heritage has a whole committee studying it, working a task force working on it and how on its implementation and the details. It's it's very it's very damaging and and you can't have such a sudden cutoff. Israel and America have a lot to offer each other. The the security relationship will continue no matter what. But and and I want to see them do more joint like they did Iron Dome and do other things so that you take away this issue from the enemies of Israel. But we can't just come to them and let them pressure us to do in an irresponsible way. >> As the world as the world waits to see if the United States is going to take the action that you're hoping for, the final blow against Iran, Tuesday's result, in your opinion, makes it easier or much more difficult for the president to quote unquote pull the trigger? >> I think it makes it more difficult, uh but it also makes it more pressing. He can't It's not something he can wait till January 20th or after January 1st actually when the new Congress gets sworn in and they will move immediately including against the arms sales to Israel, including against many other things uh certainly trying to limit any action on Iran. So I and we see that while they may not have a majority and and and are even a minority, the fact is they're a vocal minority, they're driving the the and you the the bus and you see that even the leadership succumbs to them and and Schumer's endorsement of Elsa Egg and you know everybody endorsing all these radical people uh is is symptomatic of it. So we don't have much time and I think that that that's why action has to be taken now. The Iranian economy is in ruins. The people are waiting. They're disappointed that more wasn't done and that they they lost 50,000 perhaps people who went out to the streets to demonstrate when they were assured that they would have support and they would, you know, we would have their backs and we did not and we we left them there. Um arming the Kurds, all these questions have to be have to be addressed. The fact that we took our troops out of Iraq which I put at the the foot of the same guy um is it took it was a demoralizing blow aside from the implications militarily. It was a a couple hundred people. It didn't cost us much. It was no no big risk, but their presence there gave a sense to the minorities like the Druze, the Kurds, the Christians that there was some protection and that they the US presence would be remain and now that 's out of Iraq too. And I think you know there are a lot of things happening. We see the shifting that what Libya and and Turkey did in signing the new maritime agreements. You see how much more aggressive Turkey is now and building its own string to ring around the Middle East including with Egypt and and its maritime borders. But the goal is to reach Qatar through Somalia, through Sudan and and Libya where there Turkey is very active. And you know it's an Islamist regime no less than than others except it's it's Sunni and Iran is Shiite. So this these challenges are are multiple and it needs the full attention of a president, of a secretary of war, of our allies and others to see what's at stake. >> Yeah, no question about it. [clears throat] By the way, since you mentioned the senator's endorsement of the winner in Michigan, does the FJCC ever get statistics of the Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods and what percentage of people voted for Senator Schumer? >> Well, there was no real race on the Schumer elections and you know anymore than there are on many of the other the statewide things etc. But the vote in the communities is we get some statistics, yes. Like for instance the vote against Ramdani was was overwhelming. I think it was 90% in the three districts of the FJCC, the Jewish Queen Coalition which I serve as honorary chairman of but Josh Mailman does a great job running and they do voter registration, they do mobilization, they the Rabonim get behind it. The turnout was very big and overwhelmingly they're voting the right way and in meaning conscious ways of taking into account the needs and it was reflected in in the votes people switching to Trump and that's why I believe that those who who you know based on the old statistical models are projecting how many voted, which way, even though most people have no clue about how they voted. Uh, that nobody comes and measures the three, I think assembly districts that are in our area. It's overwhelming the response. >> Right. Understood. By the way, I rarely go to the app during our conversations, but I do want to note that one of our listeners also says don't forget about Bush 41 and and [clears throat] James Baker. And I keep bringing this up, and I get the difference, Malcolm. I understand what you're saying. But we know who's really in charge, right? One of the big lessons after Tuesday, remember remember who's really in charge. Uh, and that's of course the one above. And and there are a lot of challenging situations, this one being another one. And and you know, and we don't know what the results will be, and there are dark times in Jewish history, but there has to be some recognition that, you know, we know who's pulling the strings, and we know that there's always hope and salvation, uh, you know, as these things move on. >> And things occur that people don't really First of all, I don't think this is the same as Bush. Bush himself >> I get it. >> wasn't But Buchanan wasn't anti-Semitic. But Bush was not. >> Right, but Baker Baker had the Judean some area problem. Like there was always something. >> We had always periods of tension, sometimes extended periods. And as you know, you know, Shamir had a very tough relationship with Bush and then when he did the one lonely man speech and an event that I organized the people who came to Washington to argue for the loan guarantees for Russian Jews to be able to be settled in Israel. And we went through many difficult times, uh, that um, is no doubt true. But we we can't lose perspective. You have to always see the historical context and the contemporary differences that exist. Europe is on fire. We can't turn to Europe anymore. The the only sign of hope right now is in South America where unfortunately we lost the the candidate lost in Bolsonaro in Brazil, but seven other countries turned into to very positive, and there are now delegations and all sorts of discussions going on. Uh, and Israel um, has done a very good job foreign minister in cultivating those relationships. We see it in Africa, we see it elsewhere, you know, and they say when he closes one door, opens another. I'm afraid the door on Europe is closing, but there are other options and we should never, you know, and despair and not communicate to our kids despair about this they communicate the challenge and why democracy to be healthy demands involvement. We see that these young people are being involved. They're being lied to, they're being paid, they're being distorted, they're they're they're being given simplistic solutions. And it's and and they're subject to it because they got no education. They got no counter facts to to make them skeptical of what they're hearing. And it's all professor comes in and lays out that, you know, it's a genocide and and when Saturday Night Live can make fun of of the the election in Israel and saying, you know, you have people on the right side, the left side and genocide. >> Right. >> It's it's not funny. It it it poisons the minds and it's become so commonplace to accuse this is a very serious charge. It's prosecutable when you talk about somebody being guilty of genocide. >> Right. As we know, that we know. Um, Andrew on the app writes, I live in the Philadelphia area. I went to Goldie specifically for falafel yesterday. The place was packed and that is how we need to respond. I will not be afraid. So there you go, Malcolm. As you said, that was your suggestion. Of course, thank goodness people are responding in that way and it really is one of one of I would say one of the only ways to respond. So the the despair has to be put to the side and the optimism and hope and understanding who's really in charge has to become front and center and I think what you just said about communicating this to our children, here's an opportunity. I always talk about the, you know, the Shabbat table. Here's a chance for children and grandchildren to hear from us and to see, are we, you know, going to paint a face of despair or are we going to project, you know, one one of hope and one of trust in the one above. And I think that, you know, for this audience, no one else is discussing this in the media. Yet another reason why we're why we're different. But I I think that this is one of the most important messages of this entire week. As all of this goes on, we we not only can't we lose hope as you suggested, we have to mobilize and just become more and more active in the system. >> And build alliances and we have friends out there. We're not all alone. Again, I I did not say the same things Tuesday night. Who lead me [laughter] I could not repeat on the air what I was saying and what what how I feel and how worried I am, which I am. But I believe and and I know that this is what they want us to be in despair because then we lower our guards, which we reduce people and, you know, don't want to go to meetings, they want to go to Israel. There people canceling trips. Don't cancel any trips. Go to Israel. Go you'll be safe in in Israel. Um the the um tourism is still a critical way of our showing our solidarity. >> And it's in a critical situation. >> And look at the amazing things the major donors. $250 million gift by Paulson to to Hebrew University, $200 million from Yankum to to Shara Tzedek, Khalifi 50 million, 30 million by Mr. Lam. I mean it's happening all the time. Major gifts. You never you hear one like this, it was a big deal. And I think many of them are coming to realize that this is the future, that this is really where they should be investing. And when I read about, you know, people giving moneys to museums and stuff, we will take down their names in a heartbeat when they feel or they feel the pressure or other incidents. >> You you don't have to go that far back. We know of of schools and many other institutions who where the names were insisted to have been changed and in fact the pressure was too great and they were changed. Um well, I thank you. This is this is interesting because in addition to what's happening here in the United States where the results, you know, give us some type of definitive um um opinion, I guess, what's going on in Israel. I mean, just one more time, and I know that, you know, we we did it already in this conversation, but there are solutions here to move Israel ahead politically in a reasonably responsible manner, and I just don't see these personalities, you know, caving in a bit and actually agreeing to do so. I hope I'm wrong. >> I think that the demands of the people have to be heard that, you know, they are voices, a lot of voices for change, and I understand why and and but we have to do it in a responsible and and thinking about the implications given the the the challenges. But I just want to tell people, you see when Norway went turned against Israel and started talking about sanctions, their their sovereign wealth fund went down in one day $200 billion. When you see that the OECD publishes their projections, economic projections for this year, number one is Israel at 4.67 growth. The lowest numbers amongst all of these countries were France and Ireland, two of the most anti-Semitic countries. So is sending positive signs. It's got to We've got to look for them and see them and see still the miracle of Israel's economy and how they're flourishing and how still with with all of the challenges that the the new inventions, new stuff, the investment in in high tech is is increasing even though the high tech sector went through a very difficult week as well. >> Yep. >> But the, you know, there are many challenges around. This is not about Israel alone. It's about the future of the West, the future of the things we believe in. And we have to build coalitions. We have to but be there first and be out there and see, you know, there should be pressure on China to stop arming the Houthis. There got to be, you know, more and more efforts to cut off Iran from any financial dealings. There's a A more we can do right now. >> Lot of work to >> be done. Thanks so much for joining us. Have a wonderful Shabbos. We'll speak please God next week. >> Have a good Shabbos. >> Thank you very much. Malcolm HomeLine everybody, conference of presidents of major American Jewish organizations. I remind everybody that our campaign has gone live. Our year end annual fundraiser is now live at fbjunity.org. If you tune in and enjoy the programming that we provide every single day, especially Friday, which is such a popular day with our audience, please give and give generously. This is an era where people do not hesitate to pay for content. And we've been watching all of you pay for our content and support us for over four decades. Please continue to do so. Go to fbjunity.org. fbjunity.org. 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