As we enter uncertain times daily, it must be known to the world that the national security of both Israel and America is of the utmost importance. In recent days, civil unrest has taken hold of major metropolitan hubs all across America, in which the National Guard has been called up (more than 2,000) to cities such as Washington, DC, with more major cities in Blue-run Democrat states as the situation deteriorates.
A few years ago, my involvement in the Jewish community and with Conservative political groups brought me to a conference that was hosted in Phoenix, Arizona. At the three-day event, I had the opportunity to meet Pete Hegseth, who was working at Fox News and was covering the event.
Hegseth is an American author, former television presenter, and former National Guard officer who now serves as the the 29th US secretary of defense. When I initially met Hegseth, I thanked him for his deep devotion to the State of Israel, and we discussed why the strategic alliance between America and Israel is so important now more than ever. We discussed that both Israel and America are fighting the same war daily, and that he leans on his faith as a devout Christian to build on that bond. Hegseth identifies as a Christian and a Zionist, believing that the Jewish people deserve a homeland in the ancient Holy Land.
Pete Hegseth on Israel and the war
He has publicly declared his robust support for Israel and its existential defense. As the Trump administration has stood by the State of Israel in the war with Hamas, Iran, and all other terrorists, Hegseth has affirmed the United States’ commitment to Israel’s security, stating that it remains “100 percent” committed. As the IDF closes in on Gaza, Hegseth has reiterated that the US, under President Donald Trump’s leadership, is committed to providing Israel with the capabilities it needs to defend itself and prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and he has criticized the two-state solution, calling it “lip service” and believing in a one-state outcome.
As someone who has witnessed the effects of October 7, having met with many of the families that were victims of the attack, I can attest that once and for all, we must get closure and win the war against terror. Hegseth is a dear friend of the State of Israel and has called for Israel to “finish the job” and eliminate Hamas. He has always provided favorable coverage of Israel on Fox News, including a series called Battle in the Holy Land: Israel at War. He has interviewed Benjamin Netanyahu and views the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a biblical lens, emphasizing the historical and religious significance of the land and has been hawkish toward Iran, calling the regime “evil.”
When I met Hegseth, I thanked him as he leads the most powerful army in the world and under the Trump administration. The secretary of defense wields extensive power over the US military as the principal defense policy adviser to the president, overseeing a military of 1.3 million active-duty members and nearly 2.9 million who serve for the US both on active duty and as reserves. As I thanked Hegseth (who is a war hero as well), it should be known to all that his approach toward Israel is characterized by strong support for its security, its right to self-defense, and its military actions, rooted in his Christian Zionist beliefs. May the US Army and the Israel Defense Forces stand side by side as they bravely fight the war on terror on a daily basis.■
The writer received his undergraduate degree in business from Yeshiva University and his MBA from Long Island University. He is a financial adviser who resides in New York City and is involved in Israel-based and Jewish advocacy organizations.