In this episode I spoke with Andrey Levin, a Ukrainian-born Israeli – and an amazing musician and worship leader – who lives in the Tiberias area. He talks about the strategic importance of his hometown and the siege his relatives and friends are living under – and where is mother-in-law is now trapped. To support Andrey's contacts in Mariupol through his PayPal account.

To learn more about outreach to the Russian-speaking community about Israel that Andrey is part of, see Galil TV and, to hear Andrey leading worship, check out "Abba, Abba."

RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:
Here is another video with Viktor Michaylov, a Christian in Kyiv where we heard explosions during our conversation. 

This week we spoke with Viktor Michaylov as explosions were happening outside his home in Kyiv. Michaylov works for Ezra International rescue, return and restore the Jewish people. He is currently helping people in his home city who need food or transportation as the Russian invasion approaches their city.

Most of the world has heard that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau enacted the Emergency Powers law in his nation. Israel has its own version of that law and that is the primary reason for the #IsraeliFreedomConvoy that arrived in Jerusalem this week and is ongoing.

I spoke with the protestors – many of whom have set up camp – and attorney Rotem Brown. Brown is extremely concerned with the Special Powers Law in Israel, the government’s quest to give everyone a digital code and the general governmental overreach, which includes a concealed agreement with Pfizer to test how or if Israel can reach herd immunity with its vaccine.  

She discussed all this and more in an exclusive interview.

First tourists couldn't get into Israel. Now, they can't get out! Hear what happens when a tourist in Israel tests positive for COVID after a routine PCR test to leave the country.

Show notes:

NSO, international angle

NSO, domestic angle

NSO – Netanyahu 

What is NSO and the infamous Pegasus software?

In this episode, I met up with real, live tourists in the Holy Land! I had a great conversation with Patrick and Danielle Hagerty and Marlise Flanagan in Jerusalem. It wasn't easy getting into Israel and they tell us all about the challenges. But was it worth it? No spoiler alerts here :) Listen to find out.

ARTICLES:

1. Netanyahu breaks silence – says plea deal is off the table

2. Fewer than 170,000 Holocaust survivors live in Israel as numbers dwindle due to advanced age  

3. Let it snow – and let the kids play! Jerusalem residents get a 'snow holiday'

4. New record: Israel registered more COVID cases this month than in all 2021

5. THE TOP 22 IN 2022: Here is the ALL ISRAEL NEWS list of the 22 most powerful, provocative and popular Israelis to watch this year

6. ISRAEL REOPENS TO CHRISTIAN TOURISM: Max Lucado, David Jeremiah, Skip Heitzig, Chuck Swindoll among major Evangelical leaders planning tours to the Holy Land in 2022, 2023

This week I spoke with a fascinating Israeli political expert about the plea deal that has allegedly been offered to former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The news that Netanyahu could take a guilty plea in order to avoid jail time managed to wipe COVID off the front pages for several days now over here. 

Chaim Weizmann gives us a thorough review of the all the potential scenarios that could play out in the coming days. Check out our detailed – if not controversial – interview!

ARTICLES:

Netanyahu negotiating plea deal to reduce criminal charges, but deal might force Bibi to leave Israeli politics forever, say Israeli media reports 

Is Netanyahu on the verge of a deal that would change the landscape of Israeli politics? 

Most Israelis oppose a Netanyahu plea deal but a majority believe that the former premier is guilty in at least some of the cases against him 

TEL AVIV—As many as 7,000 Israelis – possibly up to 10,000 according to the organizers – joined a protest against the Green Passport and the continuous cycle of quarantines, which have worsened for the non-vaccinated. As I publish this podcast, Israel topped 38,000 infections in one day. Some 80,000 students and school staff around the country are in quarantine, most of them from coming into contact with someone who tested positive though they are not infected themselves – including my three kids. Feel free to send homeschooling tips to: nicole@allisrael.com :)

In this podcast, I covered the protest and spoke to a few of the speakers including Dean Braun – the mall protester who went viral here – and Dr. Amir Shahar, who excoriated a fellow Israeli doctor who said the unvaccinated should not be treated.

ARTICLES:

Video of mall protester goes viral, shows some Israelis are not taking the new mall regulations lightly

Top Israeli doctor warns unvaccinated not to expect ‘compassion’ when needing medical treatment

Israel shortens quarantine for COVID patients; Coronavirus czar threatens lockdown

Tourists back in Israel today as country reopens to foreigners

WHEN LIFE IMITATES ART: Israel's SNL takes down the government's shifting sands of COVID policies

We are still stuck on Christmas here in the Holy Land with two more celebrations to go! In this episode I was privy to an "exclusive" interview with Santa Claus. Yes, really. 

First though, I spoke with Katharine van der Beek, an Israeli tour guide who has started an initiative to raise support for her Palestinian peers who arguably have been hit harder than those in the Israeli tourism sector. Van der Beek has mobilized locals and internationals to raise support for Christians in Bethlehem whose lives have been impacted by Israel's border closures.

"It’s not something you could prepare for in advance – it was a very sudden thing," she said about the closure that impacted tourism for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

If you feel moved to send a "Christmas" gift to Palestinian Christians suffering during this season, you can make a donation here: https://app.securegive.com/KKCJ/king-of-kings-ministries/donate/category. Specify that you want your gift to go to “West Bank tourism.”

Here is some of our holiday coverage from Christmas and New Year's:

Little town of Bethlehem lies quieter than ever for Christmas with borders closed and tourists forbidden from entering Israel – and hence Palestinian areas

CHRISTIANS IN ISRAEL: Evangelical bishop says Israel must deal with attacks, discrimination against Christians coming from ‘radicalized’ Jewish groups