Three takeaways from Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s speech to Congress
Jack Elbaum
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Moments ago, Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed a joint session of Congress. It comes as Israel celebrates 75 years of independence, there is mounting political tension over judicial reform in Israel, and debates in America rage over the extent to which we should support what some consider our closest ally in the Middle East.
Herzog’s speech touched on all of that and more. Here are the three crucial takeaways.
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1) The U.S.-Israel relationship remains strong
Even though five liberal House members boycotted the speech, nine opposed a resolution supporting Israel on Tuesday, and hatred of Israel is ascendant in some quarters of the Democratic Party, the U.S.-Israel alliance remains strong.
The filled room and consistent standing ovations were a testament to that fact. But so were the joint interests Herzog pointed out on everything from preventing Iran from going nuclear to building a more stable Middle East and to our shared values best outlined in our respective declarations of independence.
The United States still values Israel for the information it provides us with respect to national security. Israel still values the U.S. for being a steadfast ally and maintaining its qualitative military edge over its enemies. The political rhetoric of far-left members of Congress has not changed that. The environment during his speech could not be described in any other way than quite warm.
2) Peace with the Palestinians can only happen once the terrorism stops
Herzog expressed a deep desire to make peace with the Palestinians. However, he explained that true peace can only happen once terrorism against Israeli civilians ceases.
The problem is that even the “moderate” faction of the Palestinian leadership, the Palestinian Authority run by Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah party, spends more than 8% of its annual budget on a “pay for slay” pension program that rewards terrorists and their families. Meanwhile, people celebrate in the streets after stabbings, shootings, and bombings carried out by Palestinian terrorists. Two dozen Israeli civilians have been killed in terror attacks in 2023. As such, there is no real partner for peace. And because Herzog made it clear Israel has no tolerance for such terrorism, which is the correct position, it does not seem like peace will come soon, even though Israel has demonstrated its desire over the years.
Herzog did not mention this, but the impossibility of peace has become clearer in recent years when considering that the rise of the Israeli hard right, which brags about trying to end the possibility of a two-state solution, features openly racist elements and has recently begun to escalate attacks against Palestinian villages. With representation of this faction now occupying powerful positions in the Israeli government, peace becomes even less likely.
Herzog’s longing for peace is real, and he made it evident. However, it does not seem viable at this point.
3) Israeli democracy is not going anywhere despite intense internal arguments
Herzog was not oblivious that his visit was with a backdrop of massive, prolonged protests in Israel over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial reforms. Many on the Israeli Left have painted any judicial reforms as a catastrophe and the end of Israeli democracy. And although that charge is untrue, a good number of the reforms are quite troubling.
Herzog made it clear he is using his role as president, which has traditionally been primarily ceremonial, to try and reach a “public consensus” that will “protect democracy.” He emphasized the importance of a strong, independent judiciary that protects civil liberties and minority rights numerous times in the speech. He also framed Israel’s internal debates as just that: internal debates similar to that of every other country rather than the apocalypse some are portraying.
Most Israelis, 72%, agree there ought to be reform but that a compromise must be reached. They value democracy, equality, and human rights just as Herzog does. And Israeli democracy is not going anywhere, it seemed that Herzog wanted to stress.
This speech will likely not be remembered for many years to come, as Netanyahu’s in 2015, when he rebuked President Barack Obama over his support for the Iran nuclear deal. Nevertheless, it reaffirmed the U.S.-Israel relationship at a time many consider a critical juncture in Israeli and American history. For that, he deserves praise.
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Jack Elbaum is a summer 2023 Washington Examiner fellow.