SEKULOW

Logan Sekulow: We got breaking news. Ambassador Huckabee tells American Embassy staff to leave Israel today.

Welcome to Sekulow. It's Friday, and we've got a live show for you today. Jeff Ballabon from ACLJ Jerusalem is going to be joining us in a little bit because there is some breaking news out of Israel. It's kind of been getting a little hot over there, as you'd expect, with the pending potential war with Iran. Just this morning and overnight, Ambassador Huckabee sent a message to essentially all of the staff at the embassy saying, "If you want to leave Israel, you need to do so today."

In fact, you need to leave today however you can to get out of the country if you feel you need to get out of the country. That means going to another country to then eventually make it to America. Don't wait on the next flight to Washington, D.C. This was an email that went around internally, obviously signaling what could be a very imminent strike in Iran that's going to open this up. This could also include travel warnings. There's a lot happening right now. We're going to break it all down. As someone who was even looking at potentially traveling to Israel as soon as next week, that has changed dramatically in just the last few hours.

We want to get your feedback and thoughts as it looks like we are headed and the clock is ticking towards what could be a potential strike in Iran.

Guest (Male): That's right. This email went around to staff at the embassy around 10:20 a.m. Israel time, while we were still asleep. It says things from the Ambassador like, "Those wishing to leave should do so today." He urges them to find a flight out of Ben Gurion Airport to any destination which they could book passage. This is because he says the embassy's move will likely result in high demand for airline seats today. Focus on getting a seat to any place from which you can continue travel to D.C., but first priority will be getting expeditiously out of the country.

This is as the State Department also updated a travel warning to American citizens and government officials that may be going to Israel, warning that maybe now is not the best time. Once again, there's also a post on X from the U.S. Embassy Jerusalem that said on February 27th, the State Department authorized departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members of U.S. government personnel from Mission Israel due to safety risks. It also says that employees and their family members may be restricted even going to certain areas within Israel, such as the Old City of Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Logan Sekulow: Where you'd be wanting to probably go. This is all happening right now in real-time. If we're going a little fast for you, we're going to break it down, but we are trying to learn in real-time what is happening for you that are watching this show.

Of course, our prayers are with Ambassador Huckabee and everyone who is representing America in Israel right now. They have had a heck of a few weeks, of course, coming off of that Tucker Carlson interview and everything that unfurled after that. We are covering this, probably for the majority of this hour. We will take some other calls and questions if you have something about any of the other topics we discussed this week. 1-800-684-3110. Again, a travel advisory, and then you also have Ambassador Huckabee telling his staff to leave now.

Leave today if you can. Get out of the country if you want to get out of the country. He's not saying you have to, but if you are feeling like you need to not be here, you need to leave immediately and do so by whatever country you need to. Fly to Europe and then find your way back home. Obviously, it's a much shorter flight. It's easier to find a flight to London or Paris or something like that and then make your way back to Washington, D.C., or wherever your destination is in America. I want to hear from you, though. What are your thoughts?

Obviously, this is looking like we are hitting a point of no return potentially with Iran. We also do know that Marco Rubio is scheduled to be in Israel next week. What does that look like now? We're going to discuss that a bit more. Again, phone lines are open for you at 1-800-684-3110. If you're watching online, I encourage you to hit us up in the chat. Let us know if you have any questions or comments there. You could also let me know where you're watching from. Again, we are dealing with this in real-time right now, so I want you to be a part of the conversation also. Check out the work of the ACLJ at aclj.org. We'll be right back.

Narrator: The challenges facing Americans are substantial. At a time when our values, our freedoms, and our constitutional rights are under attack, it's more important than ever to stand with the American Center for Law and Justice. For decades now, the ACLJ has been on the front lines, protecting your freedoms, defending your rights in courts, in Congress, and in the public arena. We have an exceptional track record of success.

But here's the bottom line: we could not do our work without your support. We remain committed to protecting your religious and constitutional freedoms. That remains our top priority, especially now during these challenging times. The American Center for Law and Justice is on your side. If you're already a member, thank you. And if you're not, well, this is the perfect time to stand with us at aclj.org, where you can learn more about our life-changing work. Become a member today. aclj.org.

Welcome to the all-new ACLJ app. Expert analysis and insight Big Tech can't censor. Customize your news and get real-time alerts on the issues you care about. Advocacy is now at your fingertips. Take action, make a difference, support the causes you care about with just one tap. Be the first to know. Breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox. Everything you need, all in one place. Stay informed, stay empowered. Download today.

Logan Sekulow: We are so excited to announce the ACLJ's brand-new app, completely redesigned to provide you with the best tools available to partner with us at the ACLJ. You can watch the daily Sekulow program, sign the petitions, customize your ACLJ membership experience, donate with the click of a button, and receive up-to-the-minute critical updates that the mainstream media can't censor. Just scan the QR code on your screen or go to your phone's app store, search ACLJ, and click install. It's that simple.

Welcome back to Sekulow. We are giving you real-time updates, and if it seems a little disjointed, that is because news is breaking at every minute here. Of course, we are talking about a pending war with Iran, what that looks like, but also it is due to travel warnings and a statement issued to the staff of the American Embassy in Israel from Ambassador Mike Huckabee saying, "If you would like to leave, you need to leave today."

That was to his staff, saying get out of the country however you can if you feel like you need to. Also, travel restrictions within Israel are going up today, including visits potentially to the Old City of Jerusalem. All of this is pointed towards what is going to be likely now, I would say, that these are the big signs that a deal with Iran is not likely to happen. Now, how does the future play out? We're going to discuss that at great length here over the next 45 minutes or so, and I want you to be a part of that show as well because it impacts all of us.

What do you think about this pending war with Iran as it now seems like the likely occurrence that is going to happen? 1-800-684-3110. Jeff Ballabon, who runs our ACLJ office in Jerusalem, is actually going to be joining us in the next segment. Again, Ambassador Huckabee has done a phenomenal job. He's done a great job over the last few days and even the last week or so handling the fallout from his interview with Tucker Carlson, the push against Israel, even within the conservative right over the last year or two. Again, this should not be taken lightly.

Guest (Male): That's right. In this email that went out to both the staff there as well as the public update about getting out if you should choose to do so, it's very serious. It's the Ambassador telling staff there, his employees, that if you are wishing to leave, you should do so today. Basically, today's the last time; get out if you can while you still can.

At the same time, we're seeing other moves, such as the Dutch airline KLM having already suspended service to Israel as a result of everything that's going on. They cite commercial and operational considerations. You hear that the State Department is making similar moves with the embassies in both the country of Jordan as well as Lebanon, evacuating non-essential staff and families from those embassies. All of this goes to point towards what has been a buildup for several weeks.

We know the military deployment is great and vast from what the President has sent over there. We saw that now F-22 stealth fighters have been deployed from United States bases, taken to Israel, bases that we have in Israel, as well as all the other assets in the Mediterranean and surrounding the area of which an operation would take place. We know that there are many ways you can look at this as well. We know that the President gave that 10-day to two-week deadline for Iran to make a deal.

We know that there were discussions yesterday in Geneva. They started in the morning in Geneva, they took a break in the afternoon, and then they came back and were negotiating into the night. What we haven't heard a ton that has come out of that, but we do know that both the individuals that were negotiating for the United States, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, were going with some of the most strong demands that the U.S. government has made, such as no sunset clause.

Logan Sekulow: Things that seem very unlikely. Get rid of all of your enriched uranium, turn it over to the U.S., and shut down all your facilities. If that is the hard stop of where this negotiation is, I don't know that the mullahs in Iran can—the survival of their own self-interest—if they were to give that up, they would be toppled. If they don't, they may be toppled. You're talking about flashing back a week when the Ayatollah said, "We'll slap you in the face so hard you can't stand up." That kind of rhetoric that was coming out of their leader.

Guest (Male): Did they watch the slap fights? Maybe they did. Dana White's a very specific reference.

Logan Sekulow: We've seen them. They're pretty brutal. Let's go to Dan, who's calling on line one. I want to hear from you, by the way, too. Hopefully, this inspires you to call in. If you're watching online right now, a great way to get engaged is to call us and be a part of the show. I know it can be intimidating on some of these big topics, but we're pretty kind here. Just be kind to our phone screeners. I want to take as many points of view as possible here. If you agree with the potential strike in Iran, if you don't agree with it, I do want to hear from you. I want to take the temperature of America right now. 1-800-684-3110. Dan, go ahead.

Dan: Yeah, I guess the only issue I have with this is I see it as very unnerving because Iran, this isn't political for them. This is ideologically motivated 100%. They're going to use any action they can or any excuse they can to take action against Israel foremost, United States secondary. Like I said, you can't argue with somebody who's or you can't negotiate with somebody who thinks that they're on the right side of their God.

Logan Sekulow: Right, the ideology alone may keep it from getting to the point of peace. However, we do know they have worked on these situations before. We know there have been deals with Iran before. Whether you like them or not, there have been deals struck. Of course, we remember during the Obama administration all of the different times there have been some sort of deals that have delayed any kind of regime change. But we are at a point where a lot of the people even within their own country are calling for America to get involved in some way to say this is enough. We've had enough of what this administration has done to our country.

You also have the big threats obviously to Israel and other nations in the surrounding areas. Don't get me wrong here; there are a lot of people who are not on the side of Iran, and that includes nations right in the middle of it.

Guest (Male): Well, to Dan's point as well, when you think about what their theology is as the Ayatollah and this Twelver version of Shia Islam, it's apocalyptic. They believe that they will usher in the 12th Imam and that then they will rule the Earth. So self-preservation is going to be the name of the game for them if it comes to negotiation in the short term, or all-out war to destroy Israel and the United States according to their theology if it comes to that.

So, yeah, you are playing with a very dangerous regime. Also, they don't have the long-range ballistic missiles they want to hit the United States. However, they can hit our airbase in Qatar, our Navy base in Bahrain, Kuwait, multiple bases in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, Israel. They have those medium-range missiles that can hit a lot of American institutions and assets in the region.

Logan Sekulow: Do we know without a doubt they do not have the long-range capabilities? Because you wouldn't claim that even if you did, in some ways. How do we know for sure that this is not something that they do obtain?

Guest (Male): Well, the intelligence that the United States purports to have is that that is something they want but do not yet have. However, hypersonic missiles being created in Russia, who they are very well aligned with, if it were to come down to that, who knows? But at this point, it is believed by the U.S. government and our military intelligence that that is not something they currently have, even if they are aspirational of it.

Logan Sekulow: But as you said, there are Americans stationed all over the world. There are still military bases throughout Europe. There are military bases in many different places that could be reached.

Guest (Male): Well, and that's part of the reason why the armada that is over there has to be so large as well. It isn't just the attack capability; it is all of the missile defense systems that are also deployed through that way as well, so that if they start launching a bunch of their short and medium-range ballistic missiles, those missile systems can take out those and try to minimize as much damage as possible.

I also want to bring this up because I think we should talk about it with Jeff as well. Next week is Purim. Purim is the story of Esther. It's the holiday that comes from that where Queen Esther saved the Jewish people from Haman, who wanted to commit a genocide against the Jewish people in Persia. What is Persia? It's Iran. So I think the timing of this also is very interesting as we look to next week, which is a very important holiday.

Logan Sekulow: We also know that the holidays are really always targets. So Tuesday would be Purim. We know Hanukkah, there was the attack on Bondi Beach. This is not uncommon. There's the Yom Kippur War. There's so many different wars that have happened within Israel that are sparked on historic Jewish holidays. Purim being next week, we will see how that plays out. But I think you're right, something we should discuss with Jeff when we get back.

Phone lines are completely jammed right now. They will open up. Not everyone will make it through, so keep calling at 1-800-684-3110. Again, this is why we have an office in Jerusalem. It is why Jeff is there half of the time, if not more, in Israel. We have a team that we work with in Israel because we need to make sure that America is represented appropriately, especially right now when your social feeds may tell you something otherwise, where it may tell you that Israel is not on the right side here or that Israel is some sort of conspiracy theory state. We have to make sure we are there to support our friends and our brothers and sisters in Israel.

Look, phone lines, like I said, are open at 1-800-684-3110. I want to hear from you. There's a lot of you watching right now. You maybe have never seen us before. We do this show each and every day from 12:00 to 1:00, Monday through Friday. If you're brand new, hit that subscribe button if you're watching on YouTube right now. It's a great way to get engaged. We do this show like I said every day. If you've been here a while, you can support the work of the ACLJ at aclj.org. Next week, we're going to kick off a really special way for you to be a part of the ACLJ family, and I want you to make sure that you are a part of that as well.

So right now, as we head to break, again, this is all breaking news. This is all happening in real-time. We have two lines open currently: 1-800-684-3110. Jeff Ballabon's going to be joining us as we are covering the real-time world that is going on in a potential war with Iran and what it means for our friends in Israel. We'll be right back.

Narrator: Welcome to the all-new ACLJ app. Expert analysis and insight Big Tech can't censor. Customize your news and get real-time alerts on the issues you care about. Advocacy is now at your fingertips. Take action, make a difference, support the causes you care about with just one tap. Be the first to know. Breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox. Everything you need, all in one place. Stay informed, stay empowered. Download today.

Logan Sekulow: We are so excited to announce the ACLJ's brand-new app, completely redesigned to provide you with the best tools available to partner with us at the ACLJ. You can watch the daily Sekulow program, sign the petitions, customize your ACLJ membership experience, donate with the click of a button, and receive up-to-the-minute critical updates that the mainstream media can't censor. Just scan the QR code on your screen or go to your phone's app store, search ACLJ, and click install. It's that simple.

Narrator: The challenges facing Americans are substantial. At a time when our values, our freedoms, and our constitutional rights are under attack, it's more important than ever to stand with the American Center for Law and Justice. For decades now, the ACLJ has been on the front lines, protecting your freedoms, defending your rights in courts, in Congress, and in the public arena. We have an exceptional track record of success.

But here's the bottom line: we could not do our work without your support. We remain committed to protecting your religious and constitutional freedoms. That remains our top priority, especially now during these challenging times. The American Center for Law and Justice is on your side. If you're already a member, thank you. And if you're not, well, this is the perfect time to stand with us at aclj.org, where you can learn more about our life-changing work. Become a member today. aclj.org.

Logan Sekulow: Phone lines are jammed, but they will open up. 1-800-684-3110. Of course, we are talking about what is going on this morning. This is all breaking news coming out of Israel, and I want to make sure that you know that we are covering this in real-time as we are live. So look, there are things that are changing rapidly. Ambassador Huckabee telling his staff at the U.S. Embassy in Israel to essentially, if they need to leave, they need to go ahead and do it today by any means necessary.

Get on a plane to Europe, get on a plane somewhere else, then make your way back to the United States. We have more travel warnings and restrictions going into place that may even get more. This is obviously all signaling what could be a very imminent attack in Iran, as we know that Israel's going to play a major part in this whole story, as it always has. Jeff Ballabon, who runs our ACLJ Jerusalem office, is joining us now. Jeff, I just wanted to get your thoughts of all the changes that have happened rapidly in the last few hours.

Jeff Ballabon: First of all, I am coming to you from America. It's right now Shabbat in Jerusalem. This news is still coming out of Israel, and especially now when there are life-threatening issues, there are emergency services that operate even throughout Shabbat, telling everybody what's going on. So I'm in receipt of those, but I was here because this week, actually the last couple of days, I've been in Washington, at the White House and Capitol Hill about these issues and other issues as well.

Look, from Israel's perspective, from America's perspective, regime change, I believe, has to happen. Iran is inimical to our interests. They've been killing Americans, attacking our assets now for decades. They have threatened our existence. They want the capacity to threaten our existence. We've talked about this before: intercontinental ballistic missiles together with the kind of warheads that they're trying to develop are a literal threat to all Americans. So this is vital.

What does regime change bring, which is what people are really hoping for? Well, we don't know. There are three scenarios right now. It could be an Iranian preemptive attack, primarily on Israel, although there definitely could be attacks here in America. They have many terrorist proxies. But certainly on Israel, they could rain down hundreds of ballistic missiles, which Israel's shields could be overwhelmed by. Or there could be an American-led attack, which would be in the best interest, I think, for America and Israel. There could be an Israeli-led attack as Israel, I don't think, can let this buildup go without response. Listen, the Trump administration has tried over and over to negotiate with them, even way beyond anything that could be reasonably expected given their bad actions. They keep on refusing, and now we're at the last moment and everything is on the line.

Guest (Male): Jeff, I wanted to bring this to your attention as well. I don't know if you've seen it, but Congresswoman Ilhan Omar put out a message on Twitter last night, on X, that said this: "Iraq was attacked by the U.S. during Ramadan, and it's sickening to know that the U.S. is again going to attack Iran during Ramadan. The U.S. apparently loves to strike Muslim countries during Ramadan, and I am convinced it isn't what these countries have done to violate international law, but about who they worship."

First of all, there are community notes that point out that the Gulf Wars were not started during Ramadan, so that's factually incorrect. But even there, what we've seen from the Iranian regime, killing 30,000 of their own people, many, many Muslims killed by the Iranian regime. The fact that this would be her hot take on Twitter to try and resist President Trump at this point is frankly shocking that we're even here.

Jeff Ballabon: Look, I actually don't know, but I assume that Ilhan Omar is a Sunni Muslim. And the truth is the Sunni and the Shia—and Iran is Shia Muslims—have been killing each other now for decades, for more than decades, for centuries. And they're not really friends of one another, but they have a mutual enemy. And that is the United States. That is America. That is Christians. That is Jews. That is Israel. Those are the mutual enemies. So the fact that she is making common cause with people who kill more Sunni Muslims than anyone else—it's just being anti-American, it's just being anti-Christian.

But you're right, she's lying about when the war was launched. And as we mentioned before the break, we are coming up on a significant holiday in the Jewish calendar and one that's obviously also in Christian scriptures, which is the story of Esther. This is ancient Persia. Persia is Iran. And a regime that decided it wanted to wipe out all the Jews. That's not unfamiliar to us, and we're living through it again today.

And we're living through a time where somehow close to the most powerful man on Earth—then it was King Ahasuerus, we call him, his name is also Xerxes—now it's clearly Donald Trump. He is the most powerful man on Earth. And the people around him—somehow there are those who whisper in his ear that want the destruction of Jews. And yet, somehow in his family, there are Jews who are even closer. Everything is playing out in the most biblical way possible.

Logan Sekulow: Yeah, I want you to speak on that a little bit more. Obviously, there has been a rise over the last number of years now in the anti-Semitism that has come out of the left, but then out of the right over the last, you would say, probably year. Then, of course, you are dealing with Ambassador Huckabee, who just a week ago had the conversation that went kind of south with Tucker Carlson, and now we are on the verge of war, somewhat in support of Israel. When you have such an influence as someone like Tucker, who has such a large audience, and now a week later we are potentially in a war, how do we fight back against what's going to be the narrative? Now, what seems to be—like you said, we're very lucky that in somewhat President Trump isn't listening to a lot of those voices. But we know a lot of people do.

Jeff Ballabon: We do, and it's astonishing and yet not so for believers. The fact that this story—that the Jews are spread out and they're a fifth column and they're not loyal to the country—this has been going on for centuries. Those who wish evil on the world, those who wish evil against God, love to choose the Jews in every culture, in every time. So we're coming up on Purim. The day before Purim, Jews fast. That's called the Fast of Esther, even though she asked that the Jews fast for three days and nights. We don't do that anymore. We fast the day before this, and then we lead right into reading the story of the Megillah of Purim and how that happened.

It's fascinating because in our scriptures, it's the only place where God isn't referenced at all directly. Although we have a teaching that every time it talks about "the King" and it doesn't say the king's name, you can read it as being God. And if you read through the scripture, you'll see it's amazing. It really could be God in each case. And that's the point: that we live in a time where open miracles aren't quite as clear, but what looks to be miraculous is happening all around us, if only you're paying attention.

That's the story of Purim, and it's the story of a complete reversal. So here you have Tucker sitting in the Oval Office whispering in Trump's ear even last week, and that went around the internet saying what he's literally quoting Haman. Saying that's what he's telling Trump. But all of this, we hope for the right ending. We hope for the same ending that happened in Purim, but we never know. We have to be righteous and deserve it in our generation as well.

Logan Sekulow: That's right, Jeff. I appreciate you joining us. I appreciate all the hard work you do for ACLJ at the ACLJ Jerusalem office and everything that we do to make sure we are ensuring freedom also for our friends in Israel and for American people in Israel as well. Whether those are the Jewish people, Christian people, Arab people, there are people of all faiths there, and that is something that I hope more and more people see.

And look, as someone who was hoping to go as soon as next week, I feel like some of those are going to be changing for people, but we will see how this all plays out soon. I appreciate you joining us. Hey, we've got a second half-hour coming up. If you're on hold right now, please don't go anywhere. I want to hear from you. I told you I wanted to hear from you. It is very important that we hear from the American people on this. This is not just us. This is not an echo chamber here.

We have one line open at 1-800-684-3110. There's a lot of work that we do in this realm. I want you to be a part of it at aclj.org. You can see our work, whether again that is for the Christian people, for the Jewish people, whatever it may be. Even today, at the UN, we filed a submission at the Special Rapporteur on summary executions, focusing on the death sentence for blasphemy in Pakistan. Again, supporting Christians there who are dealing with some unspeakable persecution as well. We have a lot more to cover. But again, I want to hear from you. So give me a call at 1-800-684-3110. We're going to continue to take your calls over the next half-hour. If you don't get us on your local station, find us however you get your podcasts.

Narrator: For decades now, the ACLJ has been on the front lines, protecting your freedoms, defending your rights in courts, in Congress, and in the public arena. The American Center for Law and Justice is on your side. If you're already a member, thank you. And if you're not, well, this is the perfect time to stand with us at aclj.org, where you can learn more about our life-changing work. Become a member today. aclj.org.