President Herzog addresses Congress: Crisis in Israel attests to fortitude of democracy
Israeli President Isaac Herzog addresses a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress at the U.S. Capitol on July 19, 2023. Photo by Getty Images
This article originally appeared on Haaretz, and was reprinted here with permission. Sign up here to get Haaretz’s free Daily Brief newsletter delivered to your inbox.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed Congress on Wednesday, a day after meeting with President Joe Biden.
Herzog’s speech comes amid the backdrop of American political controversy relating to Israel, after five progressive Democrats boycotted the speech and Republicans put forward a highly politicized pro-Israel resolution meant to attack Congressional Progressive Caucus chair Pramila Jayapal deeming Israel a “racist state.”
Herzog began his speech by praising the “bond forged between the people of the United States and the people of Israel, and describing Israel as a “vibrant democracy” that protects minorities, human rights and civil liberties, “a state founded on complete equality of social and political rights for all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or gender.”
But Herzog warned that Israel – as well the U.S. – face the “greatest challenge” at this time: The Iranian nuclear program.
“Iran is building nuclear capabilities, that pose a threat to the stability of the Middle East and beyond,” he said. “Every country or region controlled or infiltrated by Iran has experienced utter havoc. We have seen this in Yemen, Gaza, in Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq.”
“Allowing Iran to become a nuclear threshold state – whether by omission or by diplomatic commission – is unacceptable,” he added, calling on the free world to “act forcefully together to prevent Iran’s fundamental threat to international security.” According to Herzog, “the State of Israel is determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapon capabilities.”
Peace with Riyadh, Biden’s fight against antisemitism
Hailing the peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, as well as the Abraham Accords, Herzog thanked the U.S. for “working towards establishing peaceful relations between Israel and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” “We pray for this moment to come,” he said of peace with Riyadh. “This would be a huge sea change in the course of history in the Middle East and the world at large.”
On the Palestinian issue, Herzog said that although Israel has taken “bold steps towards peace, he said that “Palestinian terror against Israel or Israelis undermines any possibility for a future of peace between our peoples.” “One cannot talk about peace while condoning or legitimizing terror, implicitly or explicitly. True peace cannot be anchored in violence,” said the Israeli president. Herzog also mentioned the Israeli soldiers whose bodies are held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, alongside two Israeli civilians, and remarked that he has asked one of the soldiers’ mothers, Leah Goldin, to be present during his Congress speech.
“I am not oblivious to criticism among friends, including some expressed by respected members of this House. I respect criticism, especially from friends, although one does not always have to accept it,” Herzog said.
“But criticism of Israel,” Herzog continued, “must not cross the line into negation of the State of Israel’s right to exist. Questioning the Jewish people’s right to self-determination, is not legitimate diplomacy, it is antisemitism.”
The president further lauded Biden for his administration’s landmark national antisemitism strategy, whose planning sharply divided the U.S. Jewish community over whether or not it would codify criticism of Israel as antisemitism.
“Vilifying and attacking Jews, whether in Israel, in the United States, or anywhere in the world is antisemitism. Antisemitism is a disgrace in every form,” he said.
‘Democracy in our DNA’
Addressing the severe judicial and political crisis gripping Israel over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul, Herzog admitted that “over the past few months, the Israeli people have engaged in a heated and painful debate.” Yet according to the president, “the intense debate going on back home, even as we speak, is the clearest tribute to the fortitude of Israel’s democracy.”
“As President of Israel,” he said, “I am here to tell the American people, and each of you, that I have great confidence in Israeli democracy. Although we are working through sore issues, just like you, I know our democracy is strong and resilient. Israel has democracy in its DNA.”
Herzog said he has made it a priority to play a leadership role in finding “the way to talk to each other no matter how long it takes. As head of state, I will continue doing everything to reach a broad public consensus, and to preserve, protect and defend the State of Israel’s democracy.”
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