Passages Pulse

Israel has pulled off some of the most remarkable military and intelligence operations in modern history. And yet it has never been more isolated on the world stage. How is that possible and what does it mean for the future? In this special episode of Passages Pulse, Josiah and Olivia step back from the weekly news cycle to reflect on what a year of covering Israel, the Middle East, and Christian response to it all has actually taught them. From the rise of AI on the battlefield to the decline of Christian Zionism in the West, this conversation covers the big picture questions that do not always make it into a single episode. If you are a Passages alumni join us this September at the Israel Impact Summit in Washington DC: https://www.passagesisrael.org/trip-types/washington-dc We unpack: 🌍 Why Israel is simultaneously stronger and more isolated than it has been in decades 🤖 How artificial intelligence is making it harder than ever to know what is real in modern warfare ✝️ What has happened to Christian Zionism since October 7 and why it matters 🇺🇸 The dangerous forces on both the far left and far right threatening the US Israel relationship 📅 What to expect from Israeli elections this fall and why they are so consequential 🎙️ What is changing about Passages Pulse and what comes next Disclaimer: Individual views expressed in this episode are their own and do not necessarily represent those of Passages. Passages exists to build a community of Christians who are informed, engaged, and connected to Israel and the Jewish people. Learn more at www.passagesisrael.org and follow us on Instagram @passagesisrael. 00:00 Celebrating Independence: A Fourth of July Reflection 04:22 Passages Podcast Update: A New Direction 11:22 Reflections on the Past Year: Lessons Learned 24:21 Looking Ahead: Future Engagements and Conversations #Israel #ChristianZionism #MiddleEast #October7 #ChristianNews

Qatar has spent $400 billion in America. That number is not a guess. It is backed by federal disclosures, public records, and a two-year investigation into where every dollar actually went. So where is all that money going, and why does it matter? In this episode of Passages Pulse, Josiah sits down with Natalie Ecanow, senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, to break down her bombshell report on Qatar's footprint in America. From university donations to defense contracts to elementary school classrooms, the scope of this spending touches nearly every corner of the country. We unpack: 💰 How Qatar spent $400 billion in America and why that number is actually an undercount 🎓 Why Qatar has outspent China on American universities by $2 billion 🏫 How Qatari funded curriculum ended up in American classrooms without Israel on the map 🔥 Why Qatar funds Hamas and American hurricane relief at the same time 🕵️ How a researcher tracked two decades of Qatari spending using public records alone ⚖️ What practical steps could actually hold Qatar accountable Natalie’s Report: https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2026/06/03/mapping-qatars-400-billion-footprint-in-the-united-states/ Disclaimer: Individual views expressed in this episode are their own and do not necessarily represent those of Passages. Passages exists to build a community of Christians who are informed, engaged, and connected to Israel and the Jewish people. Learn more at www.passagesisrael.org and follow us on Instagram @passagesisrael. 00:00 Introduction to Qatar's Influence 03:36 Following the Money: Research Methodology 08:29 The Evolution of Qatari Spending 12:45 Significant Recipients of Qatari Funding 19:59 Concerns Over Foreign Investment 20:15 Understanding Qatar's Complex Role 26:45 Malign Influence in Education 31:24 Practical Solutions for Transparency #Qatar #ForeignInfluence #MiddleEast #Israel #ChristianNews

What does a Palestinian political activist actually think about Israel, Hamas, Abbas, and the future of the conflict? The answer might surprise you.Samer is a Palestinian leader, master's student in conflict resolution at Hebrew University, and chairman of the Jerusalem Development Fund. He is also one of the only high-profile Palestinian politicians to visit the Gaza envelope after October 7 and sit with the Bibas family during their mourning. And he sat down with our students in Israel to have an honest conversation about the conflict.We unpack:🇵🇸 Why a Palestinian activist says this is the most misunderstood conflict in history⚡ What Samer says is the real root of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict🗳️ Why Palestinians are fed up with both Hamas and Abbas🕊️ What Palestinian coexistence actually looks like on the ground in Israel🧭 Whether a two-state solution is still realistic and what young Palestinians actually think🌍 What needs to change on the Palestinian side for peace to be possible✝️ Why Christians should care about Palestinian voices like this oneDisclaimer: Individual views expressed in this episode are their own and do not necessarily represent those of Passages. Passages exists to build a community of Christians who are informed, engaged, and connected to Israel and the Jewish people.Learn more at www.passagesisrael.org and follow us on Instagram @passagesisrael.00:00 Introduction to Passages Pulse and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict02:36 Understanding the Sources of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict04:45 The Role of Leadership in the Conflict06:53 Historical Context and Coexistence09:13 Palestinian Identity and Nationalism11:30 Divisions within Palestinian Politics13:56 The Need for a New Palestinian Strategy16:14 The Dynamics of Hamas and Fatah18:13 International Influence and Palestinian Leadership20:43 Reconciliation and the Path to Peace22:52 The Political Landscape of Palestinian Leadership26:25 The Role of Polls in Palestinian Politics30:15 The Stagnation of the Peace Process30:57 The Dilemma of Two-State vs. One-State Solutions33:49 The Changing Perspectives of Palestinian Youth37:31 Humanity Beyond Conflict38:08 The Future of Israeli-Palestinian Relations

A deal with Iran has apparently been signed. But nobody has actually read it. American and Iranian officials are making contradictory claims, leaked copies keep surfacing, and Israel was not even part of the negotiations.So what is actually in this Iran MOU, and should Christians who care about Israel be concerned?In this episode of Passages Pulse, Josiah and Olivia break down everything we know about the Iran memorandum of understanding, what it means for Israel, and what it was actually like being on the ground in Israel with students in the middle of all of this.We unpack: 📄 What an MOU actually is and how it differs from a permanent deal ⚠️ Why Israel has not seen the agreement and what that means 🇮🇷 Whether Iran can actually be trusted to follow through 🤔 Whether the Trump administration is being naive or strategic 🇮🇱 What Israelis on the ground are actually saying about the war right now ✈️ Why Israelis just want their airport back and what that tells us about the mood there 🙏 What it was like bringing students to Israel in the middle of all of thisDisclaimer: Individual views expressed in this episode are their own and do not necessarily represent those of Passages.Passages exists to build a community of Christians who are informed, engaged, and connected to Israel and the Jewish people. Learn more at www.passagesisrael.org and follow us on Instagram @passagesisrael.Chapters00:00 Welcome Back and Reflections on Israel02:26 Experiencing Israel with Students05:11 Personal Highlights from the Trip08:30 Learning and Growth Through Student Experiences11:37 Observations on Israeli Society and Community14:57 The Impact of Ongoing Conflict on Daily Life17:45 The Current State of U.S.-Israel Relations19:43 Understanding the Iran Deal and Its Implications25:36 Reactions to the Iran MOU and Future Concerns

Headlines are claiming Israel is breaking the ceasefire in Lebanon. But is that actually what is happening? And does anyone even know if there is still a ceasefire to break? So what is really going on in Lebanon right now, and why is the story so much more complicated than what you are seeing in the news? In this episode of Passages Pulse, Josiah and Olivia break down the Lebanon ceasefire confusion, explain why Hezbollah is the real spoiler in these negotiations, and share what life is actually like for communities in northern Israel that Western media is largely ignoring. We unpack: 🇱🇧 Why there is a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon but not between Israel and Hezbollah ⚠️ How Hezbollah is actively sabotaging the deal it never agreed to in the first place 🚁 Why drone attacks on northern Israeli communities are escalating despite the ceasefire📰 The story of northern Israel that is not making Western headlines 🗺️ Whether Israel is actually trying to expand territory into Lebanon 🙏 Where Christians should place their hope when the headlines feel overwhelming Disclaimer: Individual views expressed in this episode are their own and do not necessarily represent those of Passages. Passages exists to build a community of Christians who are informed, engaged, and connected to Israel and the Jewish people. Learn more at www.passagesisrael.org and follow us on Instagram @passagesisrael. 00:00 Introduction and Context of Lebanon Conflict 01:21 Historical Background of Hezbollah and Lebanon 03:27 Ceasefire Agreements and Their Limitations 06:35 Hezbollah's Rejection of Ceasefire and Escalation 07:48 Current Military Tensions and Violations 11:04 Iran, Hezbollah, and US Negotiations 14:16 Iran's Support for Proxy Groups and Regional Strategy 17:20 Implications for Israel and Regional Security 21:25 Israel's Military Strategy and Historical Lessons 26:47 Drone Warfare and Threats to Israeli Communities 29:17 Living Under Threat: The Human Impact in Northern Israel 32:23 Hope, Faith, and the Christian Response to Conflict