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Ten months in workplace, Isaac Herzog is proving a markedly lively president — wielding what he calls the immense comfortable energy of his workplace to advertise Israeli targets abroad and search to heal rifts at house.
Herzog, 61, is scion of one in all Israel’s most storied households — his grandfather Yitzhak Halevi Herzog was chief rabbi for over 20 years earlier than and after Israel achieved its independence; his father Chaim preceded him as president for a decade from 1983; his brother Michael is Israel’s ambassador to the USA. And he got here into workplace with peerless connections and a lifetime’s understanding of Israeli politics and diplomacy.
With that background, he’s been in a position to additional elevate the presidency from its formal ceremonial standing right into a key instrument for advancing Israeli pursuits, and to take action in commendable concord with Israel’s most various coalition ever. Maybe much more remarkably, given his personal political background as the previous chief of the Labor get together, he has managed to take action with out drawing explicit ire from Israel’s deeply embittered opposition.
This interview with The Occasions of Israel, performed to coincide with Israel’s 74th Independence Day, goes an extended method to explaining the secrets and techniques of his success. Herzog is without delay agency in his ideas, terribly diplomatic, and credibly earnest in advancing his perception within the easy worth of trustworthy dialogue.
“The primary thrust of my agenda,” says Herzog, in the important thing summation of his strategy to the position, is “to work as a way to decrease the partitions between teams as a lot as doable, and encourage dialogue, belief and a minimum of data of each other.”
With that tenet, Herzog has been seen jetting off to Turkey, having progressively helped put together the bottom for the potential warming of Israel’s ties with the risky President Recep Tayyip Erdogan; widening channels of communication with the Biden administration; touring the UAE; telephoning Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to convey heat needs for Eid al-Fitr; and internet hosting an Iftar dinner for some 200 Arab Israeli notables.
Given his help, as Labor chief, of a two-state resolution; his declaration at a gathering with Abbas in 2015 {that a} peace deal was doubtlessly doable inside two years; and his criticism as opposition chief of then-prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to provoke Israeli proposals for progress, maybe essentially the most telling passages in our interview are these through which he states flatly that “we gained’t get to a everlasting standing [agreement]” within the foreseeable future, and urges “originality and new thought” on what he plainly sees as a really lengthy street towards resolving the Palestinian battle.
“I’m not a agency believer within the previous paradigms as a result of I don’t see them essentially selecting up,” Herzog mentioned. “And I’m making an attempt to elucidate to people who find themselves repeating the previous paradigms that they should evaluate them, and see the place issues went incorrect and why. On the finish of it, I completely imagine that Israel’s trigger is simply and unequivocally right. And [progress will be possible] when individuals will perceive that and settle for us within the area…”
If that feels like an uphill battle, nevertheless, Herzog’s overriding message is insistently optimistic. He believes Israel is much less divided than broadly perceived; he believes intra-Jewish relations are ripe and viable for warming; he sees a “historic motion of inclusion of Israel within the area”; and he’s awed by what Israel has achieved because it enters its seventy fifth yr, and what it may obtain within the years forward.
“I imagine within the vitality of the Israeli individuals and of their zestfulness,” he advised us. “Now’s our alternative to develop additional, and look in the direction of the centennial… It’s simply across the nook.”
The interview was performed in English, and has been frivolously edited for readability and brevity.
The Occasions of Israel: Mr. President, let’s speak initially concerning the Temple Mount and the violence, and what looks like the rejection within the Arab world of any Jewish legitimacy there.
President Isaac Herzog: These are very delicate days and Israel is doing its utmost to guard the suitable of non secular observe for all, to go away all websites open, to guard all those that are praying.
As I said throughout an Iftar dinner which we held to interrupt the quick with lots of of Muslim leaders in Israel, we’re bombarded by faux information, diatribes and lies about Israel’s actions on the mount. They’re all lies. Take for instance the difficulty of sacrificing a younger goat. They claimed that we had been going to sacrifice a younger goat. In actual fact, a bunch of extremists needed to go on the Mount, and the Israeli police arrested them and stopped them, manner earlier than they entered the location.
However there have been waves and waves of lies — faux information revealed throughout the Muslim world as a way to instigate hate and to attract the events into one other battle.
Sadly on the night time earlier than Seder night time, at 4 o’clock within the morning, there was a pre-instigated rogue attack on the web site, with firecrackers, stones thrown towards the Western Wall and different locations. This compelled the police, who didn’t need to go into the mosque, to arrest individuals as a way to allow tens of hundreds of worshipers to enter the mosque and pray. Day by day there are literally thousands of people who find themselves going to hope. Earlier than the complaints and the blame recreation, one must know the info. I hope that issues will settle down as a result of we’re doing our greatest to calm issues down.
Are you concerned within the negotiations to calm issues down? We heard the prime minister of Jordan encouraging the rioters, and that is very damaging to the very delicate relationship between Israel with Jordan, which you had been a part of making an attempt to rebuild.
Initially, our relationships with Jordan are at all times vital, and crucial to us. There are efforts being made in any respect ranges, together with on my own. I can solely categorical sorrow relating to the Jordanian prime minister’s place. I hope that when he is aware of the info higher, will probably be corrected.
We’re additionally making clear that any allegation [regarding Israel’s actions], we’re open to examine and examine. I’ve made this clear to world and regional leaders, and I do know the prime minister has achieved the identical.
However first let’s put the document straight. The current pressure on the Mount is an outright results of pre-planned efforts to gentle up and flare up this case as a way to affect the large progress that’s loved by Arab international locations and Israel collectively of their relations within the area, and as a way to place blame on Israel. And I’m positive that it gained’t work. Our efforts had been recommended by leaders from everywhere in the world — for instance, the daring choice of the protection institution, beneath the management of the federal government and the protection minister, to raise any closure [of the West Bank for most of Ramadan], and lots of steps to allow a pleasing Ramadan for thus many Muslims within the Palestinian autonomy, and the territories, and in Gaza.
Mr. President, you’ve mentioned you propose to talk with the Palestinian Authority president quickly. [Herzog indeed telephoned PA President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday evening]. Do you see him as a drive for calm, regardless that the PA has been so concerned in anti-Israel incitement, together with within the run-up to those confrontations?
I at all times imagine in dialogue. I positively imagine in dialogue with the Palestinian leaders. I mentioned that I hope to have the ability to name President Abbas and congratulate him for Eid-al-Fitr. Nevertheless, I additionally mentioned that there are quite a lot of setbacks within the state of affairs, together with the very inaccurate and baseless rhetoric of the Palestinian management towards Israel, in addition to steps taken by the Palestinian management towards Israel.
I do imagine that we must always discover methods and means to have a dialogue — not on the political stage, however extra on the people-to-people stage. I believe that there’s sort of a psychological block between the 2 nations which needs to be handled differently.
We gained’t get to a everlasting standing [agreement]. The state of affairs doesn’t allow a real capacity of a course of — when you could have a Palestinian nation break up between two totally different factions, when you could have terror looming, when you could have a dysfunctional political system and so forth. However you might discover methods and means to advance people-to-people dialogue. And that’s at all times welcome in my thoughts. As a result of ultimately, they’re our neighbors, and the identical manner I really feel concerning the historic motion of inclusion of Israel within the area, I imagine, [this] also needs to embrace, in some kind or method, discourse with Palestinians.
Can we flip to Ukraine? Are you snug that Israel is on the suitable facet of historical past? Ought to we be standing extra clearly with Ukraine? Have you ever been troubled or happy by the way in which we’ve handled refugees wanting to come back to Israel?
Israel is doing its finest in aiding the Ukrainian individuals. The tragedy in Ukraine is big. It breaks my coronary heart, and I mentioned it from day one.
I’ve provided any assist we are able to present for humanitarian wants. There are literally thousands of Israelis who’re concerned on the bottom in serving to the Ukrainian individuals. I used to be in shut contact on a weekly foundation with our discipline hospital — a full, massive hospital on the bottom. One in all a sort. No different nation constructed such a hospital on the bottom.
Israel is doing its finest in aiding the Ukrainian individuals. The tragedy in Ukraine is big. It breaks my coronary heart, and I mentioned it from day one
[My wife] Michal and I hosted a Ukrainian Jewish household who fled from Ukraine for Seder and her father stayed in Ukraine.
We’re extraordinarily saddened by [what is happening]. Israel has taken a transparent place within the worldwide area.
Nevertheless, one wants at all times to do not forget that we even have clear strategic safety pursuits. We have to battle the Iranians on this area — and that is one thing accepted by the worldwide neighborhood — to push them out of Syria. So we have now our concerns. I believe Israel is working appropriately.
Additionally the efforts of Prime Minister Bennett in making an attempt to de-escalate the state of affairs, a number of weeks in the past, had been right in my thoughts. [I support] any methods and means to decrease the stress and attain a ceasefire.
Concerning intra-Jewish friction on the Western Wall, and preparations for prayer for all streams of Judaism, you arrange a committee again in December as a way to attempt to negotiate an answer. Is it going anyplace?
I predict development in antisemitism on the earth as a result of geostrategic state of affairs, not solely post-COVID, however due to among the ripple results of the battle in Europe
I’m doing my utmost so that every one individuals of Israel get to know one another and respect one another, and all Jewish individuals get to know one another and respect one another. There are at all times parts who’re way more conservative of their strategy to the opposite, extra damaging of their strategy to the opposite, and I imagine there should be a dialogue.
I’m additionally a real believer in preparations on the Western Wall. I hope there will likely be some options on the bottom, particularly the unique resolution [from 2000] of the choice web site in Robinson’s Arch [for non-Orthodox prayer]. I pushed for it. And I hope that we can resume among the efforts that had been taken by my workplace. But it surely’s not straightforward on all fronts, I have to say.
It’s obligatory for the Jewish individuals to be united. Sadly, I predict development in antisemitism on the earth as a result of geostrategic state of affairs, not solely post-COVID, however due to among the ripple results of the battle in Europe.
I’ve labored to stop strife and pressure on the Western Wall in the previous couple of months, and to allow teams to hope on the Western Wall. What we’re making an attempt to do is allow individuals to hope with out battle.
You mentioned your abdomen turned over [regarding comments by Joint List party leader Ayman Odeh calling on Israeli Arabs not to serve in the security forces].
Sure, completely, as a result of I’ve identified Ayman Odeh properly for a few years as somebody who believes within the inclusion of the Arab residents of Israel in all walks of life. After my feedback, I really acquired a message that he was misinterpreted from Arabic to Hebrew. So I don’t intend to argue with Ayman Odeh. I’ll simply say that I imagine within the inclusion of all residents of Israel in all walks of life.
I particularly need to see an increasing number of Haredim and an increasing number of Arabs in all fields of life. You see many extra Arabs now in all financial spheres and an increasing number of authorities echelons. I actually look ahead to swearing within the new Muslim choose within the Supreme Courtroom, which will likely be historical past as properly, and lots of extra.
Throughout Ramadan, Michal and I went to go to the Muslim navy unit, the Bedouin Reconnaissance Battalion — we discovered them within the discipline, on the border, working tremendously impressively; Israelis who imagine of their Israeli id while they’re Muslims and members of different faiths. That’s the true nature of the evolution of Israeli society.
And on the different finish of the political spectrum, we had a celebration chief, Bezalel Smotrich, saying members of the coalition needs to be barred from synagogues on Passover.
And naturally, I criticized this — in the identical manner I commented on the British Jewish neighborhood, after the Board of Deputies revealed a ban on Bezalel Smotrich. I mentioned that was a mistake, as a result of I imagine that when an Israeli chief is visiting a Jewish neighborhood, he needs to be heard and likewise hear. It’s way more efficient to have a dialogue reasonably than banning.
In the identical manner that I demand and we demand that every one Israeli leaders meet all [Diaspora] Jewish leaders from all methods of life and streams in Israel, I count on Jewish leaders overseas and lively members of the neighborhood to take heed to voices from Israel and likewise be heard by then. They’ll criticize them within the assembly and really confront them, however they need to do it by the use of a gathering. I count on everyone to abolish all concepts of any bans. Bans by no means work. It’s counterproductive.
Following your current visit to Turkey, are we anticipating the Turkish overseas minister to go to Israel anytime quickly?
I assume there will likely be conferences following Ramadan. When and the place and the way will likely be decided between the overseas ministers themselves.
And also you’re proud of the outcomes of your go to?
Very comfortable. The go to left a big effect on each peoples. I additionally referred to as President Erdogan to congratulate him for Ramadan, and he condemned vehemently the phobia assaults on Israel.
The historic motion is for way more dialogue than up to now between Islamic nations and Israel, particularly Sunni nations, after all. That is the symbolism of this period, and we must always seize the second
The connection will likely be judged in response to deeds, actions on the bottom. As I identified in the course of the go to, our commerce with Turkey is rising, and likewise there’s fairly an inflow of vacationer exercise this vacation. And naturally, that has to go facet by facet with our distinctive relationship with Greece and Cyprus, and Overseas Minister Lapid’s go to and conferences with the leaders of these international locations was very constructive.
And are we anticipating a subsequent nation [to normalize relations with Israel]? Indonesia, maybe, due to some interfaith exercise that’s going down between the Indonesian authorities and a few Jewish communities — is that on the desk?
I’m unaware of that. However I believe, all in all, the historic motion is for way more dialogue than up to now between Islamic nations and Israel, particularly Sunni nations, after all. That is the symbolism of this period, and we must always seize the second, use this period, on the platform of the Abraham Accords, which made historical past. I give credit score to those that led to this settlement.
It’s additionally a motion that comes out of the [common] pursuits that are clear — particularly [facing] the efforts of Iran to succeed in nuclear weapons, the necessity to develop a joint protection technique within the area, and naturally, the longer term. I foresee an excellent future for this area as a provider of vitality to Europe, Asia and Africa; particularly once we’re coping with local weather, the entire notion of photo voltaic vitality. There are various concepts. If we solely imagine, we are able to attain these moments.
How do you see the connection with the American authorities now? You talked about Iran. The US authorities appears to need to rejoin the Iranian deal, which most Israeli leaders appear to seek out very troubling.
Michal and I had been very comfortable to host Ambassador Tom Nides at our Seder night time, and I had a really considerate and nice dialog with Vice President Kamala Harris, who referred to as me on the eve of Pesach to sentence the terrorist assaults, in addition to to want a contented Passover, and to convey each condemnations of terrorism and congratulations on the competition from President Biden. And I wanted [a happy Passover to her] as a result of it was the primary Seder night time held within the vp’s house in American historical past.
I’ve met each Nationwide Safety Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, for very open and frank discussions.
Now we have no higher pal than the USA of America — pal and ally.
The JCPOA is, after all, a problem which is mentioned brazenly, frankly, between Israel and the P5+1 nations, however principally with the USA. We oppose categorically the elimination of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from the itemizing of designated terror teams. That’s one of many foremost points that’s on the agenda. Let’s wait and see the way it all evolves. However we’re very clear on our positions on the Iranian nuclear deal, as a result of we’re fearful by its affect on the area and its doable hostile affect on peace within the area and combating terror.
Your predecessor president Rivlin needed to give the mandate for forming a authorities 4 or 5 instances throughout his time period. We’re taking a look at extra potential turmoil right here, and the present authorities not holding collectively. You possibly can be going through the identical downside of granting the mandate to kind a authorities to somebody who will not be merely indicted, however on trial. How do you see this political disaster any longer, in your position?
Israel requires political stability, at all times. It’s vital for our nation and our capacity to function short-term and long-term… That’s the nationwide consensus
I’ll by no means reply hypothetical questions and I don’t intend to leap into the political swamp. I believe there’s one factor that’s agreed by all: Israel at all times wants political stability. It doesn’t matter from which facet of the political spectrum. That’s not for me to resolve. However Israel requires political stability, at all times. It’s vital for our nation and our capacity to function short-term and long-term… That’s the nationwide consensus.
You could have put quite a lot of effort and time into bringing totally different teams collectively and speaking to totally different teams. You’re welcome [among Jewish residents] in Hebron; you’re welcome in [the Arab city of] Kafr Qasim. You’re welcome in all walks of Israeli society. However the truth that the president is welcomed by all of these teams doesn’t carry them collectively.
That is the primary thrust of my agenda: to work as a way to decrease the partitions between teams as a lot as doable, and encourage dialogue, belief and a minimum of data of each other.
There are various constructive processes that, after all, normally don’t get the eye of media and others. For instance, as I discussed, we had an Iftar dinner with lots of of individuals from all walks of life, lots of of Muslim leaders. And I began it with [the Jewish hymn] “Hinei Mah Tov..” [– how good it is for people to sit together in unity]. It was an incredible occasion as a result of there’s a want and need for dialogue.
There’s a massive need for dialogue — together with within the so-called blended cities [of Jews and Arabs]. I’m coping with this quietly, normally in shut quarters: an open, frank dialogue with all conflicting events. I discover an enormous need to reside collectively in peace and concord. I imagine our nation is way more unified [than people think]. It’s not that there’s no divisiveness, however it’s way more unified as a result of there’s a serious sense of goal. There’s a serious sense of mission.
I went with Michal to offer mishloah manot for Purim to kids who’re in dialysis within the kidney division for kids in Shaare Zedek Hospital. We stroll in and we have a look at the room, and there are Orthodox children and secular children and Arab children and Druze children and Palestinian children and even children from Gaza, imagine it or not.
And I’m wanting round, and I mentioned to the physician, all persons are born equal beneath the Lord Almighty. And he mentioned, after all, Mr. President. And I mentioned to myself, that is the actual story. And we must always merely disseminate it.
Now we have an excellent nation, an excellent supply story to inform, an extremely profitable nation, excellent individuals, big interior energy, ethical energy, gentle. I imagine in our individuals, and I’m an optimist.
After virtually a yr as president, how do you are feeling within the place?
I’m very comfortable. I really feel a way of doing good and making an attempt to affect with the comfortable energy that was granted to me — comfortable energy, which is sort of sturdy and fairly immense. The establishment of the presidency may be very sturdy in our nation’s psyche. I see it as an excellent mission. Michal and I are engaged with an enormous overload of missions and duties, however we’re additionally laying down an agenda through which everyone can discover a place — such because the local weather problem, or the longer term in area, or the power to advertise science and tradition and literature and inclusivity.
The establishment of the presidency may be very sturdy in our nation’s psyche. I see it as an excellent mission
We encourage the truth that whereas we’re the nation-state of the Jewish individuals and everyone needs to be happy with their very own id, we have now one frequent desk which all of us ought to sit round — and that’s our nation as nation-state of the Jewish individuals, which can also be a multicultural society.
Can we end by going again to the Israeli-Palestinian battle? It’s doubtlessly such a risk to Israel if we are able to’t discover a method to safely separate from the Palestinians. And I do know what you’ve mentioned about what’s achievable for the time being, however within the medium and long run future, how will we go about fixing it?
Effectively, I believe it requires originality and new thought. It requires a lucid view of the info on the bottom and naturally, on the psychological facet of issues between the nations. How will we get the younger era to have a dialogue? In any case, you see some very vibrant individuals and originality within the younger era, and maybe among the hope will come from there.
I’m making an attempt to elucidate to people who find themselves repeating the previous paradigms that they should evaluate them, and see the place issues went incorrect and why
I’m not a agency believer within the previous paradigms as a result of I don’t see them essentially selecting up. And I’m making an attempt to elucidate to people who find themselves repeating the previous paradigms that they should evaluate them, and see the place issues went incorrect and why. On the finish of it, I completely imagine that Israel’s trigger is simply and unequivocally right. And [progress will be possible] when individuals will perceive that and settle for us within the area…
I have a look at it in proportionality: Subsequent yr we’ll mark 50 years for the reason that Yom Kippur Battle. In that struggle, we had been surrounded by nations that had been all our enemies. Fifty years later, our closest allies are a few of our neighbors. That is the truth. That is how we must always choose — from a long-term viewpoint. And see how we are able to transfer step-by-step — in small steps reasonably than massive steps — in advancing the state of affairs for the good thing about each individuals. We’re neighbors and since we’re neighbors, we must always discover methods to have dialogue that make sense.
I don’t see any risk proper now of discovering some other various.
And what would you prefer to want for our state, on Independence Day, for the approaching yr?
Israel will likely be coming into its seventy fifth yr. It’s an incredible achievement, by a nation which began actually from scratch and is a world chief right this moment in so many fields, with such vibrant individuals.
I imagine within the vitality of the Israeli individuals and of their zestfulness. Folks come to Israel now in so many teams and visits, and so they inform me there’s one thing within the spirit right here that makes them have a look at issues so positively, and I do imagine in it.
Sure, we have now challenges. Now we have threats. I by no means keep away from them, however we’ve at all times had threats, in every era.
However now could be our alternative to develop additional, and look in the direction of the centennial. This needs to be our goal. I want the individuals of Israel to lookup excessive, towards the centennial — it’s simply across the nook — and see tips on how to enhance the state of affairs as a lot as doable.
And in the meantime, I want the individuals of Israel many comfortable returns on our Independence Day. For at some point we must always ignore the quarrels and the arguments, go searching, and be happy with what we’ve achieved.
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