By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
BENTON, La. (LBM) – Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel “Michael” Leiter dispelled myths about Israel’s conflict in Gaza while thanking America for its support during a leader forum hosted by Cypress Baptist Church, Benton, Sept. 2.
WORD OF SUPPORT
CBC Pastor John Fream recounted during opening remarks how his most recent visit to Israel took place in the aftermath of Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led attacks killed about 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in 251 hostages being imprisoned in Gaza. He said the ambassador’s visit to the church was motivated by a biblical mandate and a desire to provide theological reasoning for standing with Israel. Leiter also shared his message during a service that evening.
“A big portion of this is to really offset the lies (about the conflict),” Fream told the crowd. “If we’re not going to speak up, then who will for our friends in Israel?
“And then obviously we believe there’s a biblical mandate,” he said. “I believe that God is the same yesterday, today, forever. He says what He means. He means what He says. And He says, I’ll bless you if you bless Israel. I’ll curse you if you don’t. And so, I believe we are to stand with God’s people, and they’re still God’s people.”
BACKGROUND
Leiter became Israeli’s ambassador to the U.S. in January 2025
According to the website of the Embassy of Israel’s office in Washington, D.C., his prominent roles included advisor to the late Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, chief of staff to then-Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (2004–2005), deputy director general of the Ministry of Education (2001–2004) and acting chairman of the Israel Ports Company.
Throughout his career, he has managed international projects, collaborated with Jewish and Christian communities around the world and led strategic initiatives to strengthen Israel’s position on the global stage.
Leiter is the dad of eight children and many grandchildren. His oldest son, Major Moshe Yedidya Leiter, a physician and Israeli Air Force officer, who is the father of six, died in battle while leading Israeli Defense Forces into Gaza on Nov. 10, 2023.
MISSION TO FIGHT FOR ISRAEL
Leiter said when asked by Netanyahu to become ambassador, he hesitated initially. But then, Netanyahu asked what his deceased son would advise him to do.
“And I knew that my son was looking down in Heaven, expecting me to go on living, but I didn’t really have the gumption to do so,” he said. “But when the prime minister said, ‘This is your opportunity to get back into life,’ I said, ‘I’ve got to go for him.’”
FIGHTING ANTI-SEMITISM
Leiter acknowledged anti-Semitism is gowing on some college campuses across the United States. He said one reason is because of a “big, bold lie being spread about Israel,” which is they are committing genocide and causing starvation in Gaza.
He said Israel uses advanced command centers to monitor districts and facilitate population movement via cell phone communication so they can warn those in Gaza of an incoming attack on tunnels. He added that certain media outlets use emotive imagery (the use of photographs as well as mental pictures that trigger strong feelings) to misrepresent civilian casualties.
To that end, Leiter said his office released in May the book “Manufacturing a Modern Blood Libel: Genocide, Starvation, and the Language of Dehumanization” that equips readers with tools to distinguish between truth and lies regarding allegations of genocide, ethnic cleansing and starvation by Israel in its conflict with Gaza.
Leiter reminded the crowd that some adversaries Israel has fought even used men, women, boys and girls as shields to protect targets.
“They sent civilians to protect their bases,” he said. “There is no respect for human life. They’ve given up on the idea of every individual being created by God and the progressives on the left that support them have also given up on the idea that we are all individually created by God. So, it doesn’t matter how many people they kill.”
HONORING HIS SON’S MEMORY
He concluded his message by honoring his son’s memory, emphasizing the importance of discernment in identifying friends, enemies and truth in a chaotic world.
Leiter shared that when an earthquake hit the Philippines in 2013, his son was serving as an IDF paramedic and officer and saw Israeli medical personnel saving lives there. Afterward, he shared with Leiter a desire to become a doctor so he could help others.
Leiter asked his son how his knees did not buckle under the weight he carried while training for battle.
‘He smiled and said, ‘Dad, I have weight,” Leiter recalled. “I said, ‘Come on, I’m asking a serious question. How do you carry all the weight? I’m telling you, you had weight.’
“He said, ‘No, I’m serious. I had the hopes and prayers and dreams of my grandparents throughout the ages that one day will come back to their land. When I remember that I’m carrying your truths on my shoulders, I’m able to bear the weight, and I believe that we are all carrying the weight of our grandparents on our shoulders. And we have a responsibility for all those hopes and prayers that we have a better world.’”
