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 one

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 Passages Pulse and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

02:36 Understanding the Sources of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

04:45 The Role of Leadership in the Conflict

06:53 Historical Context and Coexistence

09:13 Palestinian Identity and Nationalism

11:30 Divisions within Palestinian Politics

13:56 The Need for a New Palestinian Strategy

16:14 The Dynamics of Hamas and Fatah

18:13 International Influence and Palestinian Leadership

20:43 Reconciliation and the Path to Peace

22:52 The Political Landscape of Palestinian Leadership

26:25 The Role of Polls in Palestinian Politics

30:15 The Stagnation of the Peace Process

30:57 The Dilemma of Two-State vs. One-State Solutions

33:49 The Changing Perspectives of Palestinian Youth

37:31 Humanity Beyond Conflict

38:08 The Future of Israeli-Palestinian Relations