Morning Wire XX
[0] It's been a week since the terror group Hamas orchestrated a surprise attack on Israel from Gaza.
[1] An attack, many are saying, is the worst since the Holocaust.
[2] For a firsthand account of what it was like to survive Saturday's deadly invasion and what it's been like in Israel in the days afterwards, I spoke to Ari A. Lightstone from Israel.
[3] Lightstone was the senior advisor to the U .S. ambassador to Israel under the Trump administration, and he lives in Israel.
[4] I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire Editor -in -Chief John Bickley.
[5] It's Saturday, October 14th, and this is an extra edition of Morning Wire.
[6] Joining us from on the ground in Israel is Ari A Lightstone.
[7] So, Arii, I spoke to you just a day or so after Saturday's deadly attacks.
[8] You dialed in from a bomb shelter at that time.
[9] It's now been a week or so since Hamas attacked Israel.
[10] What's happening on the ground now?
[11] Is there still fighting?
[12] It feels like a year.
[13] It's only been five days.
[14] Israel, about 36 hours ago, cleared out all of the terrorists.
[15] from Israel proper and is now mounting at the border, which we are driving to right now, preparing for a great war in order to clear Hamas from Gaza forever.
[16] Now, where are you and what are you doing?
[17] Well, you're with us on the way to the Army base.
[18] We're driving to the south.
[19] Gaza is roughly that way.
[20] So you are seeing this live and in real time.
[21] Having just watched five days ago, the worst episode to befall upon the Jewish people since the Holocaust, It's incumbent upon everybody who cares about the difference of being good and evil, Jewish and not Jewish to stand for good.
[22] I am lucky enough, and I say that's seriously lucky enough to be in Israel at this moment, and we are bringing food for a bunch of units who are coming back from a patrol this evening, jackets because it gets cold in the desert in the evening, and material that they need in terms of helmets and vests in order for them to be able to do their job.
[23] And I consider it an honor of privilege, I'm bringing people that are very close with me to be able to see these heroes in real time.
[24] Wow.
[25] Now, the Biden administration says there isn't actually any proof that Iran knew about the attack or was involved.
[26] Do you believe that Iran was behind the attack?
[27] And if so, what evidence is there for that?
[28] Hamas says Iran is behind the attack.
[29] As well, it says Iran is behind the attack.
[30] And Iran says Iran is behind the attack.
[31] Being Jewish, you take people seriously when they say they want to kill you.
[32] If you don't take them seriously, this is what happened.
[33] Athens.
[34] Now, we've also seen some fighting at the Israel -Lebanon border in that region.
[35] There's a large Hezbollah presence.
[36] That's another terrorist organization with similar aims to Hamas.
[37] Do you expect Hezbollah to join the conflict on a larger scale?
[38] I certainly hope not.
[39] I think that they need to show, when I say they, Hezbollah needs to show that they're in the fight.
[40] This type of being in the fight, if they can go back and brag their buddies about they tried to kill Jews, good for them.
[41] Stay out.
[42] Nicky Hayley said, brilliantly in 2017.
[43] There are too many rockets in Lebanon for if they shoot the second one, there cannot be any more Lebanon.
[44] And just to be very clear, the only way to stop Hezbollah from getting into the war is through deterrence, the like of which we have not seen.
[45] So I hope that they are deterred because the alternative is far worse.
[46] What do you make of the level of support for Israel that we're seeing in the U .S.?
[47] Are you concerned that Americans may waver, especially in light of the Ukraine war that we've been supporting?
[48] Americans will not waver.
[49] Maybe some politicians will waver.
[50] Americans saw the raping of women, the kidnapping of Holocaust survivors.
[51] Americans are good.
[52] Americans liberated Europe from the Nazis.
[53] America will stand with Israel as it purges itself from the Nazis in their own mix.
[54] There is no doubt in my mind.
[55] The other advantage, this will not be a forever war.
[56] Israel doesn't have time nor patience for the ability for an ever war.
[57] They will win, they will win decisively, and they will win convincingly.
[58] It won't be two days.
[59] It might not even be two weeks, but it will not be a forever work.
[60] I will credit President Biden and his team for a very powerful speech, for having Secretary Blinken here in Israel, and for bringing a carrier into the Mediterranean.
[61] Now, Egypt is saying that they won't accept civilian refugees from Gaza, despite calls from Israel to do so.
[62] They're concerned that a certain portion of those refugees will be terrorists.
[63] What's your comment on that?
[64] I think that's a violation of international law and possibly perpetuating a war crime.
[65] For Egypt not to open up the Rafa gate and to allow out civilians is insane.
[66] And I think their vetting system is likely not so good.
[67] I don't blame them.
[68] But the incitement that Egypt and some of the rest of the Muslim world has done, you have to reap what you so.
[69] The United States of America has a strong relationship with Egypt and should be using all of its to make sure that Egypt opens up the gate for, blame Egypt for the loss of civilian lives.
[70] This, I want other people to do something, but I won't do it myself.
[71] It's the Middle East of the past.
[72] It's not the Middle East of the future.
[73] Now, what's the significance of the unity government that's been formed by Prime Minister Netanyahu and his main rival, Benny Gantz?
[74] What's the scope of their shared goals?
[75] And do you expect that they'll be successful?
[76] Well, it is limited in what it will do.
[77] It will conduct a war.
[78] It will conduct a successful war and it will conduct an efficient war.
[79] And that is the entire role of this government.
[80] And I expect after Israel deals with Hamas, this government will not be the government any longer because it's only here for the sake of war.
[81] And that's the awesome thing about Israel.
[82] So you think this was the right move by the prime minister?
[83] Oh, it's a critical move.
[84] Israel cannot go to war with a divided politics.
[85] Israel needs to go to war together collectively with unity.
[86] Parents are sending their kids to the front.
[87] They need to have the confidence that the person making that decision is doing it for Israel and not for politics.
[88] Now, last time we spoke, you explained that Hamas leadership is suspected of hiding out in Qatar, basically living a life of luxury there.
[89] And I've heard some discussion that the U .S. is urging Qatar to give up those Hamas leaders.
[90] Do you expect that's going to happen?
[91] I think that the Hamas, it's not suspected that the Hamas leaders are living a life of luxury.
[92] They absolutely are.
[93] They steal from their people.
[94] They put their people out to die.
[95] They've got no regard for human life.
[96] But Qatar, has a position of meaningful influence.
[97] I am optimistic that they will do the right thing at this juncture in history and get the hostages home safely and immediately.
[98] If they do not do that, I think that would be extremely disappointing.
[99] Now internationally, at least in the West, we see a left -right divide over Israel's role in this conflict.
[100] Does that divide also exist in Israel?
[101] And has the political landscape changed in the last week as a result of these attacks?
[102] This morning, Ayal Waldman buried his daughter.
[103] Ayal Waldman is probably the greatest hero of making peace with the Palestinians.
[104] His company employed tens of, if not dozens of Gazans.
[105] He's contributed tens of millions of dollars to better the lives of Palestinians.
[106] And his daughter, without regard to anything other than the fact that she was a Jew living in Israel, was murdered by Hamas.
[107] Israel is united from right to left that Hamas needs to be around.
[108] I don't know a single Israeli who wants to eradicate Palestinians or any other people, but they want to eradicate the hate that is within them and they will do what it takes to eradicate that hate.
[109] This is not a left and right issue.
[110] And in America, it shouldn't be a left or right issue either.
[111] You are either for, raping, pillaging, or against it.
[112] I hate to be with the people who are for it.
[113] Right.
[114] Now, tell us a little bit more about what's happening on the ground now in Israel.
[115] You said they've expelled all terrorists from Israel.
[116] Are the Israeli people safe?
[117] The Israeli people on the home front are safe.
[118] They're rockets that are still firing.
[119] I have good friends who were in a bomb shelter just three hours ago when I was talking to them.
[120] They were safe.
[121] Iron Dome does miracles.
[122] But the constant living in fear of a rocket landing on your head needs to end.
[123] This has been a ridiculous concept that Israel can live with a certain amount of rockets being fired at it.
[124] I'm optimistic that this war, not an operation will end that once and for all.
[125] All right.
[126] Well, Ari, thank you so much for coming on.
[127] Good luck with everything you're doing.
[128] We appreciate your time.
[129] And if you'd like, is there a message you'd like to share with our listeners?
[130] Sure, absolutely well.
[131] For your listeners who are praying types, please pray.
[132] Please pray for the soldiers of Israel.
[133] Please pray for the Jews around the world who are being threatened by virulent anti -Semitism.
[134] And also pray for the Palestinians who are victims of their own oppressors, Hamas.
[135] I hope that they'll be liberated soon.
[136] Thank you.
[137] Thank you.
[138] All right.
[139] Thank you so much and stay safe.
[140] That was Ari A Lightstone, senior advisor to the U .S. ambassador to Israel under the Trump administration.
[141] And this has been an extra edition of Morning Wire.