(shofar blaring)

- This week on "Jerusalem Dateline,"

Morocco becomes the fourth nation

to normalize relations with Israel

while Saudi-Israeli relations take a hit.

Plus, the impact of Covid

on Christmas in The Holy Land

and how to help Christian businesses,

and Jews worldwide begin the celebration

of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights,

all this and more this weekon "Jerusalem Dateline."

(punchy music)

Hello, and welcome to this edition

of "Jerusalem Dateline,"I'm Chris Mitchell.

In the latest sign of shifting attitudes

in the Middle East, Morocco became

the fourth Arab country in four months

to join The Abraham Accords with Israel.

At a candle-lighting ceremony

at the Western Wall on thefirst night of Hanukkah,

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

thanked President Trump, and said

the two countries would work quickly

to establish full diplomatic ties.

- We will also institute direct flights

between Morocco and Israeland Israel and Morocco,

giving this bridge of peacean even more solid foundation.

This will be a very warm peace.

The light of peace on this Hanukkah day

has never shone brighter than today

in the Middle East.

- The Abraham Accords are aforeign policy achievement

for the Trump administration,

and while the Trumpcampaign wages a battle

over the presidential election results,

former Vice President Joe Biden

continues to assemblea foreign policy team.

The potential Biden-Harris administration

would mark a profoundchange in its approach

to a potentially explosive Middle East.

Sunday marked the third anniversary

of President Trump's recognition

of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

To celebrate, Israeli PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu

put Trump's declaration alongside

President Harry Truman's recognition

of the newly-born state of Israel in 1948.

- These two historic proclamations

will never be forgotten.

They'll never be forgottenby the Jewish people

and by the Jewish state.

They will be cherished for generations.

- [Chris] However, there are concerns

that some of the advances made

by the Trump administration

could be changed or even reversed.

So far, Joe Biden has indicated

he would likely keep theUS Embassy in Jerusalem

if he becomes president,

but what about other Trumppolicies in the Middle East.

Michael Oren is Israel'sformer Ambassador to the US.

- With respect to Iran,

both the former vice president

and his running mate, Senator Harris

have said unequivocally that they intend

to renew the Iran Nuclear Deal of 2015.

If Iran returns to the levels

of uranium enrichmentestablished by that deal,

it's not very difficult for Iran to do,

and that means lifting sanctions,

and that has profound ramifications

for Israel and the Middle East.

- [Chris] Netanyahu alsonoted other positive moves

made by Trump on Israel's behalf.

- You recognize Israel'ssovereignty over the Golan Heights.

You recognize Israel's legitimate rights

in Judea and Samaria.

You proposed a realistic peace plan

that acknowledges those rights

and maintains Israel'sability to defend itself.

You forged the historic Abraham Accords.

- [Chris] Oren believesa Biden administration

would not invest in those accords

the way the Trump administration has.

- I don't think they'regoing to invest money,

for example, in buildingthe Israeli-Sudanese peace

because that belongs to the Trump era,

and again, the emphasis willbe on the Palestinian issue

and not on the Abraham Accords.

- On the Palestinian front,

Senator Harris has embraceda return to negotiations

with the Palestinians, and stated,

"We are committed to a two-state solution,

and we will oppose any unilateral steps

that undermine that goal."

That signals opposition to building

in the Jewish communitiesin Judea and Samaria,

the West Bank, and restoring funding

to the Palestinian Authority.

From Tehran to the West Bank, it's clear.

A Biden-Harris administration would set

a dramatically different course

than what President Trumphas for the past four years

for Israel and the Middle East.

Since the first signingof the Abraham Accords

between Israel and two Arab states,

many speculated Saudi Arabiamight soon follow suit,

but now there seems tobe other factors at play.

Just this past week, a Saudi prince

unexpectedly blasted Israel

during a security conference in Bahrain

in a session ironically titled,

"New Security Partnershipsin the Middle East."

- They profess that the want to be friends

with Saudi Arabia, and yet,

all Israeli governments are the last

of the Western colonizingpowers of the Middle East.

From the time of the Balfour Declaration,

they have forcibly evictedthe inhabitants of Palestine

after the 1948 war.

- [Chris] Israeli ForeignMinister, Gabi Ashkenazi,

spoke by video after the prince.

- I would like to express my regret

on the comments of theSaudi representative,

the foreign minister.

I don't believe that they reflect

the spirit and the changes

taking place in the Middle East.

- The real question thenis, does that say that

the whole Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

has an attitude problemor does it say that

this guy has an attitude problem?

- [Chris] Former IsraeliUN Ambassador, Dore Gold,

also attended that conference,

witnessing the prince's accusations.

- I think he was being usedby the highest authorities

in Saudi Arabia to put somedistance between us and them.

- [Chris] Gold tells CBN News the attitude

toward Israelis appeared verywarm except for the prince.

Gold believes Saudi Arabiacould still come around,

mainly because they have a common enemy.

- I think it's the Iranian factor

which gave birth to theIsraeli-Arab peace process

as we know it today.

- Danny Danon, anotherformer UN ambassador

tells CBN News, he believes the Saudis

will eventually join the Abraham Accords.

- They are the mostimportant ones for the region

for Israel, and they understand that

once they will normalizethe relations with Israel,

we will see much morestability in the region,

and it will be a major force

to block the hostility coming from Iran.

- [Chris] Gold points to Washington

as being the major part of this puzzle

and what happens next.

- If they hear from Washington,

we like the Abraham Accords.

We want more treaties between Israel

and its neighbors, great.

- [Chris] Gold says, whilethe Trump administration

has improved the connection

between Saudi Arabia and Israel,

which led to opening itsairspace to Israeli planes,

it could all change ifa Biden administration

were to take a different approach.

- If, on the other hand,they don't acknowledge that.

They say, "No, you want to improve

the Middle East environment, you know,

give the Palestinians more money,

and make the Palestiniansthe center of everything."

That will not move us very far along.

- You saw Danny Danon,Israel's former ambassador

to the UN comment on Saudi Arabia.

We also talked withAmbassador Danon in our studio

about an upcomingconference bringing together

Israeli innovation and world leaders

called DiploTech Global Summit.

Okay, Ambassador Danon,thanks for joining us.

Tell us about this DiploTech Global Summit

you have in just a few days.

- Thank you for having me.

Indeed, we are reallyexcited about DiploTech 2020.

For the first time, we will bring

world leaders, diplomats to meet

the Israeli entrepreneurs and

to speak about life post-Covid.

We know that Israel is a startup nation,

and now, we have todiscuss what Israel can do

to support other countries,mainly developing countries

with our technologies.

We will hear from experts, from leaders,

like Ambassador Nikki Haleyand many other dignitaries.

- Can you tell us what some of those

Israeli innovations are?

- We will have a technologythat deals with post-Covid,

how can we walk, how can westudy within the reality,

and also, we're going to have

some interesting developmentsin the medical field.

So it will be a combinationof medical experts

and also about daily life,

what we can do to help our children

to stay connected to schools remotely.

We know it's very challenging,

and what we can do in terms of workplaces.

We will hear from experts, and also,

we will see new Israeli startups

that are dealing with those issues.

- Can you tell us who's going to be

participating in this conference?

- It's a unique mixtureof friends of Israel

who value our friendship,and also understand

that we are here tosupport them, to help them,

and we see, when we cooperatewith many countries,

we keep the support inthe international arena.

In Honduras, for example, we expect that

by the end of the year,Honduras will announce

that they are moving their embassy

from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem,and we appreciate that.

That's what I believe.

I believe that when we invest

and when we build bridges, eventually,

in support of diplomatic relations

we have with more than160 countries worldwide.

- In general, what's your view

of the Abraham Accords, Ambassador?

- We think it is a great initiative.

I think it's deeper than the relations

we have with Egypt and Jordan.

It not only is between leaders,

it's peace between people,

so many Israelis visiting the Gulf,

and I think we can achieve a lot together,

and also, in our summit, DiploTech 2020,

we will have speakersand guests from The Gulf.

- Yeah, is that one ofthe goals of the summit,

to be able to incorporatethis new relationship

with these Gulf countries?

- Absolutely, andthere's a lot of interest

from their side about our technology.

It's a win-win.

I have been there in the past

when it wasn't so easy for Israelis

to visit the UAE, and I can tell you

that they really haveadmiration for our technology

and we have admiration fortheir entrepreneurship,

and I think together we can achieve a lot.

I invite the friends of Israel,Jews, Christians, Muslims,

everybody who supports Israelto join us for DiploTech 2020,

and to become partners inbuilding the future together.

- Well, Ambassador Danon,thanks for joining us.

Appreciate it very much.

(upbeat music)

Up next, what impact Covid has had

on Christian businesses in The Holy Land,

how you can help.

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- [Narrator] This holiday season,

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(pumping music)

- In a few days,Christians around the world

will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ,

but it's a very different Christmas season

in the place where itall began 2000 years ago.

Normally, at this time of year,

at Manger Square, here inthe heart of Bethlehem,

and next to the Church of the Nativity,

would be filled with touristsand Christian pilgrims,

but in the town whereJesus Christ was born,

it's much differentduring the year of Covid.

- There's going to be no celebrations.

There can be no 24th, the normal year

that you have covered every year,

the parades and boy scouts

and music in the streets and everything.

- [Chris] Bethlehem, this year,

is a tourist town without tourists.

- Since Covid start in March,

the tourists go out from Bethlehem.

Until now, we don'tsee any other tourists.

The situation here is very sad.

No tourists at all,people are sitting at home

waiting to open a new page

when this disaster will be finished.

(power saw motor whining)

- [Chris] Christian artisans here

in the Bethlehem Star Olive Wood Factory

have certainly felt the impact.

- I am suffering hereand also in my factory,

you see that I have here 14, 15 people

works in my factory.

I did not send any of my people home.

I left them here, all of themare working in the factory,

just at least to get someincome at the end of the week.

- [Chris] That's where Artza Box comes in,

a Jewish company designedto bring The Holy Land

to Christians in North America.

- Israel has such strong significance

to so many people, somany different faiths,

but about 95% of Christiansin North America,

for example, never actuallymake it over into Israel,

and we spend out liveslearning the Old Testament,

the New Testament, all the stories

and the people and the characters,

and also the life of Jesus.

You have no way to actuallybring these stories to life.

- [Chris] An Artza Box subscription

provides gifts from TheHoly Land four times a year

made locally by folks like Jamil Hosh.

Last quarter featured Nazareth,

and this quarter, Bethlehem.

It's their way of bringingthe Bible to life.

- That coupled with Covid,

which hit earlier this year,

I know the small businesses and artisans

are really suffering 'causethey really rely on tourism.

So we decided to create Artza,

which delivers the experienceof Israel to your doorstep

and takes you on ajourney through the land,

and at the same time, we help support

all these small businesses and artisans,

and you know, theseincredibly talented people,

especially now when, you know,

tourism isn't coming here.

- [Chris] That includes Jamil Hosh,

his family and factory.

- Artza, I make in two big orders,

and now we are selling myproducts in the United States.

They help me a lot.

Maybe I work about six or seven weeks

in summertime to Artza orders.

It was very helpful andit's still in the beginning.

I am expecting next year, itwill be more orders from Artza,

and to work with more items.

- [Chris] In Jerusalem, justa few miles from Bethlehem,

Covid also hit Christian businesses.

Many of these alleys wouldbe filled with tourists,

but now, many of these shopsin the Christian quarter

of the old city are shuttered and closed.

- Local business, it went down to zero.

Just like, all one day, boom.

It has been very difficult,

and I have many peoplewho also work with me

in this business, and it hasbeen very difficult for them.

- [Chris] Zak Mishrikyis a third generation

Christian shopkeeper inJerusalem's old city.

- Since Covid started, Ihad a challenge, you know.

What is next?

And as soon as Covid started,

I started investing online.

I sell many Christian items

that was produced here in Jerusalem

to bless the whole worldand make them closer to God.

- [Chris] From olive wood nativity sets

to coins from the time of Jesus

and anointing oil, Mishriky offers

a wide range of Christmas gifts.

He feels it's important for Christians

around the world to support

their brothers andsisters in The Holy Land.

- Christians in the Middle East,

and especially in The Holy Land,

now we're only 1% of the population here

and supporting them issupporting The Holy Land.

Supporting them is supporting, you know,

the existence of Christ here.

- [Chris] Schimmel sees hisefforts through Artza Box

as a way to fulfill the Jewish concept

of tikun olam, healing the world.

- We're not just here to help Jews.

We're here to connect andhelp everyone in the world,

regardless of ethic, you know.

That's a very Jewish value

which I think is very important,

and secondly, you know, theChristian support for Israel

and their connection to Israel

is just overwhelming and incredible.

So, if there's a way on a personal level

to give back to that,

then I think that'svery important as well.

- [Chris] Both Artza Boxand Zak's online store

want to provide a meaningful Christmas.

- Buying, you know,gifts that has meaning,

made by Christians inThe Holy Land, you know,

and it really supportsfamilies in the land,

you want to bless them back.

- We really hope that it brings people

a lot of Christmas joy and, you know,

to celebrate your Christmaswith Christmas ornaments

from Bethlehem madefrom olive wood as well

and, you know, from allthese beautiful products

from the area, you know, whichis the story of Christmas,

we think people really enjoy it

and we hope people really do.

- Both Artza Box and Zak's Jerusalem Gifts

are offering CBN viewers a 20% discount

with the special code "CBN20."

You can visit Artza Box at artzabox.com

and Zak's Jerusalem Giftsat zaksjerusalemgifts.com.

Again, that's artzabox.comand zaksjerusalemgifts.com

for a 20% discount.

(pumping music)

Coming up, Jews worldwidecelebrate Hanukkah,

the Festival of Lights

and a miracle more than 2000 years ago.

- [Announcer] This holiday season,

- Woo hoo, check this out!

- Lord, please help me.

- [Announcer] how would you explain God

to those who don't believe?

- Chris, were you praying or something?

- I said a quick prayer.

- Not once have I comeacross evidence for any gods.

- [Announcer] A story so big,

it would take two episodes to tell it all.

- How do you show someone whohasn't had our experience?

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- They worship all these false gods,

even a god they don't know at all?

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(people chattering)

- I know people like that.

- [Announcer] "Paul and the Unknown God,"

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as our way of saying thanks.

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(pumping music)

- For eight days, Jewishpeople around the world

celebrate Hanukkah, a holiday marking

a great victory more than 2000 years ago.

This year, things will be abit different due to Covid,

but we'd like to show youwhat Hanukkah looks like

in a non-Covid year.

Thousands of Israelis cometo Jerusalem's old city

at Hanukkah to celebrateand see the lights.

All over the world, Jewssay special prayers,

thanking God for miraclespast and present,

and light a special candelabra or Menorah

called a Hanukkiah for eight days.

- This is a holiday about spirituality.

This is a holiday about values.

This is a holiday about connecting to God.

So many Israelis come here.

Everybody's attracted to the light.

- [Chris] Also known asthe Feast of Dedication,

Hanukkah is not mentionedin the Old Testament,

but it is in the New Testament.

"Now it was the Feast ofDedication in Jerusalem,

and it was winter, andJesus walked in the temple,

in Solomon's porch."

CBN News joined RebekahSpiro and her family

for the Jewish celebration.

- It's a holiday thatcelebrates religious freedom

and our victory against oppression

and our ability to rededicate the temple.

- [Chris] In the second century BC,

the Jewish people in Judea revolted

against the Syrian-Greek conquerors.

The Seleucids tried toimpose their culture,

forcing the Jews to eat pork

and forbidding Sabbath observance,

Torah reading and circumcision.

Worse still, the Seleucidsdefiled the Jewish Temple

in Jerusalem and dedicatedit to the Greek god, Zeus.

Led by a priestly familyknown as The Maccabees,

the Jewish people retook Jerusalem,

and rededicated the temple,

but when they wanted to light the Menorah,

there was only a tiny bitof sacred olive oil left.

- We celebrate the eightdays that the Menorah burned,

which is miracle.

It was beyond nature, andalso the military victory.

- [Chris] Eating friedfoods like potato pancakes

and jelly donuts isanother Hanukkah tradition.

Spiro's family and neighbors also

have their own personal tradition

to build unity between secularand religious Israelis.

- Every single year, webring out a table of drinks

and thousands of people cometo the old city for Hanukkah,

to look around and seethe Menorahs and light.

- [Chris] Spiro says there's a message

in the holiday for today.

- No matter what happens,our candles burn bright,

and, like, civilizationshave come and gone,

but the Jewish people are still here.

(pumping music)

- Still ahead, "Reading the Bible

in the Land of the Bible,"

the story of Mary from the book of Luke.

Thank you for watching"Jerusalem Dateline."

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- Here, we're committed to a heritage

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- Last week, we brought you a new segment

we call, "Reading the Biblein the Land of the Bible."

We began in the book of Luke, Chapter 1.

Here's more from thatchapter, take a look.

(soft music)

The Gospel according to Luke,

"And the people waited for Zacharias,

and marveled that he lingeredso long in the temple.

But when he came out, hecould not speak to them;

and they perceived that he hadseen a vision in the temple,

for he beckoned to themand remained speechless.

So it was, as soon as the days

of his service were completed,

that he departed to his own house.

Now after those days hiswife Elizabeth conceived;

and she hid herself five months, saying,

"Thus the Lord has dealt with me,

in the days when he looked on me,

to take away my reproach among people."

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel

was sent by God to a cityof Galilee named Nazareth,

to a virgin betrothed to a man

whose name was Joseph,of the house of David.

The virgin's name was Mary.

And having come in, the angel said to her,

"Rejoice, highly favored one,

the Lord is with you;

blessed are you among women!"

But when she saw him, shewas troubled at his saying,

and considered what mannerof greeting this was.

Then the angel said to her,

"Do not be afraid, Mary,

for you have found favor with God.

And behold, you will conceive in your womb

and bring forth a Son, andshall call His name Jesus.

He will be great, and will becalled the Son of the Highest;

and the Lord God will give Him

the throne of His father David.

And He will reign over thehouse of Jacob forever,

and of His kingdom there will be no end."

Then Mary said to theangel, "How can this be,

since I do not know a man?"

And the angel answered and said to her,

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,

and the power of theHighest will overshadow you;

therefore, also, that Holy One

who is to be born willbe called the Son of God.

Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative

has also conceived a son in her old age;

and this is now the sixth month for her

who was called barren.

For with God nothing will be impossible."

Then Mary said, "Behold themaidservant of the Lord!

Let it be to me according to our word."

And the angel departed from her."

We hope you enjoyed

"Reading the Bible inthe Land of the Bible."

We filmed that in the Judean wilderness,

not far from Jerusalem.

Well, that's all for thisedition of "Jerusalem Dateline."

Thanks for joining us.

Remember, you can follow us

on Facebook, Twitter,Instagram and YouTube,

and for all our Jewish friends,

Happy Hanukkah and Chag Sameach.

I'm Chris Mitchell.

We'll see you next timeon "Jerusalem Dateline."

(pumping music)