Ohad Tal is a member of Israel’s Knesset from the Religious Zionist Party and a man with many responsibilities. He leads the Knesset Committee on Public Projects and is a member of the Security and Foreign Affairs, Economics, and Diaspora and Absorption Committees. Tal served as a tank commander under the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) Operation Defensive Shield in 2002. He is a central figure in the effort to build relationships between Israel and evangelical Christians in the United States.
Tal is often asked about his deep engagement with evangelical Christians, even within Israel. “I get a lot of questions, also in the Knesset, asking, ‘Why are you meeting with them so much?’” he says. But to him, the answer is clear: “Our brothers and sisters, evangelical Christians, are helping us realize who we are and who we should be.” He sees their support as a reminder of Israel’s historical and spiritual mission. “They love us, they believe in us, they understand that we have a role in history—to serve humanity.”
Tal views Israel’s greatest modern challenge as one of identity. After centuries of exile and displacement, he believes that many Jewish people have lost sight of what he says is their true purpose. “Returning to our homeland after 2,000 years of exile has to be for a purpose,” he says. “It cannot be that we came back only to have beautiful high-tech companies or just to defend ourselves.”
He sees Israel’s mission as much greater: “We came here to serve a higher purpose—to be a light unto the nations and to fulfill the prophecy that all nations shall stand before the temple, for ‘my house shall be a house of prayer for all nations.’”
Despite being a relatively new member of the Knesset, Tal has become a ubiquitous figure in the United States. “Everywhere you go in America—whether in Congress, at a big church, or at a conference—Ohad’s there,” he says, echoing the sentiments of many who observe his tireless efforts. “David Friedman once told me, ‘Oh my God, I’m meeting you everywhere.’”
Tal sees his work as a privilege. “God has expectations from us, and he wants us to move forward. I’m trying to help my people fulfill our destiny.”
His first encounter with evangelical Christians came at the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast in Houston, Texas, an event he attended by what he calls “divine intervention.” “I remember seeing all these Christians, praying for us, crying, so passionate about their love for Israel,” he recalls. “I was shocked. It was genuine, and it was deep.” Since then, he has made it his mission to strengthen the bond between religious communities in Israel and their Christian allies worldwide.
For Tal, the alliance is more than political—it is part of a greater battle for shared values. “We are fighting the same battle for the same cause,” he says. He views the rise of progressive ideologies as a direct threat to traditional values, both in Israel and the United States. “The progressive woke culture tells us that we, conservative people, are part of the past, that we are irrelevant. But 77 million Americans rejected that idea. They said, ‘No, we are here, and we are more relevant than ever.’”
Tal sees the pushback against this ideology as crucial. “They try to tell us that the most sacred thing in the world is the individual and what they want. But when that happens, there’s no significance to gender, to family, to religion, or to God.” He believes that standing firm on faith and national identity is the only way forward.
A core element of Tal’s political agenda is Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, the land known in international discourse as the West Bank. “The term ‘West Bank’ is a false name given by Jordanians after they illegally took over Judea and Samaria in 1948,” he says. He believes the only real solution is to establish Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria. “Enough fooling ourselves. Let’s apply Israeli law, dismantle the Palestinian Authority, and give Arabs who want peace a chance to thrive under Israeli governance,” he says.
His view of statehood for Palestinians is that “there is already a Palestinian state—Jordan.” He believes that history disproves the notion of a Palestinian state beyond Jordan. “From 1948 to 1967, the Arabs had the entire area of Judea and Samaria, including most of Jerusalem. If they wanted a Palestinian state, why didn’t they establish one then?” To him, the answer is clear: “They don’t want a Palestinian state. They want to destroy the Jewish state.”
Tal calls on supporters to reach out to push for American recognition of Israeli sovereignty. “It’s in America’s interest to stabilize the Middle East, push back against China, and build stronger alliances with India and Saudi Arabia,” he says. “This isn’t just good for Israel—it’s good for America and the entire world.”
