The conference opened with a video greeting from Israeli President Isaac Herzog. It featured a powerful keynote address by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, along with nearly a dozen speakers representing government, academia, and the private sector.   “We need voices who speak truth to hate, who lean into ‘the pulse of Israel,’ who stand against terror and radicalism, who stand with the values of the Jewish nation,” Herzog said, thanking the conference organizers.

“‘You never know what will happen in Jerusalem,” quipped Ambassador Huckabee, after two sirens went off warning of an incoming missile attack from Yemen during the evening program. Despite the situation, he said, “I couldn’t wait to get out of Washington and back to Jerusalem - where I feel safe!” Since the auditorium also served as a shelter, the conference was able to continue uninterrupted.

In an uplifting address laced with humor, Huckabee spoke of the strong bond between Israel and the United States. He described the deep connection between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu as a “bonding of two leaders in a way that is extraordinary...The US has a lot of friends -  but only one partner, and that’s Israel.”

Huckabee is grateful for “the extraordinary privilege to be in a place that’s unique,” which speaks directly to his faith.  “The Creator of the Universe chose Abraham and gave him the title deed, then gave the people and the place and an everlasting purpose - and that is to be a light unto the nations... Israelis are “the most resilient people I’ve ever seen in my life…there is an optimism that comes because you understand that God has a people, a place, and a purpose.  I know secular people may be offended by that, but I can’t ignore the miracles in front of me.”

The conference featured several fierce advocates for Israel, including Knesset Member Amit Halevi;  H.E. Ezra Cohen, Panama’s Ambassador to Israel; noted Middle East scholar Dr. Mordechai Kedar; Tom Nisani, founder of Beyadeinu; Rawan Osman, a Syrian-Lebanese activist; Ken Abramowitz, Founder of SaveTheWest.com; Robert Meyer of isradvocacy.org; and Rabbi Leo Dee.

Pro-Israel activist and social media influencer Elizabeth (Lizzy) Savetsky was honored with the 2025 Brave Leadership of Zion Award. She shared the motivation behind her unapologetic public advocacy. “I was here on October 7, and right away I understood what was going to happen. I knew I had to fight in the digital space and knew that my future  - and our future -  would never be the same. Growing up one of the few Jews in Ft Worth, Texas, made me feel like an ambassador for the Jewish people.  Looking back, I understand how critical that was for the work I do now.” She encouraged everyone to be online advocates.“This is the moment to step up. Each of us has the power to fight. We are really powerful when we have the courage to do what’s right.”

MK Amit Halevi said that Israel radiates two lights to the world: one of freedom and one of unity. “I pray that the light of justice and peace will prevail, the light of Jerusalem grows stronger in becoming a light to the world.”   Syrian-Lebanese activist Rawan Osman shared her journey from growing up in war-torn Lebanon with antisemitic views to becoming a Zionist. She works with various organizations that promote peace between Arabs and Israelis. She is the CEO of Brit Shalom and was involved in the documentary Tragic Awakening. “The calling in my heart was for Israel, to go to the Kotel and say hineni, I am here.  I became a public speaker and spoke around the world. I know that I do make a difference,” she said. “I don’t say that to brag. I say it because we can all make a difference - we have quality voices on our side.”

Middle East scholar Dr. Mordechai Kedar detailed his ‘A New Palestinian Offer for Peace’ initiative, which appeared in a recent Wall Street Journal article. The plan empowers individual emirates within Judea and Samaria that correspond with indigenous clans. “The Hebron Sheiks want to join the Abraham Accords and build a thriving economy, free of the PA and its corruption. If the Hebron emirates idea is successful, the rest of Judea and Samaria will follow. The solution is a good one, and will set up the path to peace.”

A key theme of the evening was reclaiming the Temple Mount, Judaism’s most sacred place, with several speakers expressing the idea that Israel could not achieve true victory until that happens. “Our enemies always point to the Temple Mount because they know its importance to us,” said Tom Nisani, CEO and founder of Beyadeinu. “We must demand more from our Prime Minister and our leaders. Only when we have the Temple Mount will sovereignty return to us as Jews.”

Rabbi Leo Dee, whose wife Lucy and daughters Maia and Rina were murdered by terrorists on April 7, 2023, ended the conference on an inspirational note. “We are in the period of the Nine Days when we mourn the Temple. But we have to do more than mourn our losses…we need to bring all the holy pieces back together and rebuild what we had. The enemy named this war the Al Aqsa Flood, a signal and invitation that full victory means sovereignty on the Temple Mount.”

Pulse of Israel CEO Avi Abelow closed the evening with final thoughts and a call to action. “The world is starving for moral clarity and principled leadership. No matter how strong the lies or the pressure, we’re not here to apologize. We are reclaiming the land and living our truth. We are living the birth pangs of a new era; victory doesn’t just mean defeating our Islamist enemy in Gaza. Victory is the Jewish people reclaiming our mission as a people.  Rebuilding the Third Temple means the Jewish people are living with deep faith, Torah values, and acknowledging that there is something far greater than ourselves. “It’s up to us—Am Yisrael—to make it happen,” he said. “We must move forward with Jewish pride and a growing faith in Hashem; we must finish the job we were chosen to do.”

About Pulse of Israel

Pulse of Israel is a project of the 12Tribe Films Foundation. It features high-quality short videos with VIP personalities that entertain, inspire, and educate about Israel. The heart of the project is a solid dedication to the truth. This is not the place for political correctness. The Pulse of Israel aims to cut through the noise and influence public opinion by amplifying the truth vis-à-vis current events in the State of Israel and the world.