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President Isaac Herzog spoke with Yaakov Harari following his release from Venezuelan prison after over a year of harsh conditions, offering support for his.
(Communicated by the President’s Spokesperson)
Tuesday, 13 January 2026 / 23 Tevet 5786
*President Isaac Herzog speaks with Yaakov Harari Following His Release from Prison in Venezuela*
This evening, Tuesday, President Isaac Herzog spoke with Yaakov Harari immediately upon his return home to Israel. Harari had been held in prison in Venezuela for over a year without any justification, under extremely harsh and life-threatening conditions. On Monday, Harari was released from detention following an Israeli and international effort, in which President Herzog also took part at the request of the Israeli government’s Coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing, Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Gal Hirsch.
During his call with President Herzog, Harari described the suffering he endured and his current condition. President Herzog expressed his support for Harari and his family after the difficult ordeal they had endured.
President Herzog: “Yaakov, after a prolonged period outside Israel and separation from your family, after terrible suffering, thank God you have returned home. On behalf of the State of Israel, I welcome you on your return. We stand by you and your family and will assist you throughout the process of rehabilitation and return to normal life.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu in Jerusalem to discuss implementing the Peace Plan in Gaza and.
(Communicated by the President’s Spokesperson)
Monday, 12 January 2026 / 23 Tevet 5786
Yesterday, Monday, 12 January 2026, President Isaac Herzog met with Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Motegi Toshimitsu, at the President’s Residence in jerusalem. President Herzog welcomed Foreign Minister Motegi to Israel, a visit that signifies the deepening ties between Israel and Japan.
During their meeting, President Herzog and Foreign Minister Motegi discussed the importance of implementing President Trump’s Peace Plan in Gaza, including the urgent need for the last hostage still held in Gaza—Staff Sgt. Ran Gvili—to be returned home to Israel. President Herzog and Foreign Minister Motegi also discussed how to further strengthen bilateral relations across the fields of innovation, technology, science, security, and tourism.
President Herzog: “Welcome, Foreign Minister, dear friend. It’s not the first time that you are here, not the first time that we are meeting, and I want to congratulate you on re-entering the position of Foreign Minister of Japan. I believe now the circumstances are such that we can enhance for both nations our relations in so many spheres to impact both our economies—doing good in the world together. I think we can have strategic partnerships that encompass many fields, and I think that the joint interests of our nations on various topics, including security, including science, including technology, can surpass all the targets that we’ve met in the past, and I think we can exit from the standstill that we had now towards the direction of improving both our relations and our mutual economic ties. So thank you very much for coming here, and we will end by crying out loud for the return of our missing hostage, the last one, Ran Gvili, whose family is waiting for his return and, of course, for better stability and a future of peace in the Day After in the region.
“I want to add that we look forward to the involvement of Japan in the Day After, planning the implementation of President Trump’s initiative, which was approved by the Security Council, and this is the basis for disarming Hamas and moving forward and giving hope to the children of Gaza so that they can live a decent life like the children of the region and the world. And of course, we believe that one thing has to be made clear: terror is out of the question. We will fight terror, and all regional efforts that we are carrying out are aimed at dismantling the capabilities of terror and enabling a better future for the region.”
Foreign Minister Motegi: “It is an honor to meet you again. Your Excellency, I remember our last meeting, which was four years ago when I visited here in Israel last time. Let me express my deepest condolences to the victims of the October 7th terrorist attack. Japan has strongly condemned the brutal act of terror committed by Hamas, and we also reiterate our position that Hamas must be disarmed. To improve the situation in Israel and Palestine, we believe that the steady implementation of the Comprehensive Plan is important, and Japan is ready to play an active role for that.”
President Isaac Herzog hosted Christian leaders in Jerusalem for a New Year's reception, celebrating full capacity since the war. He affirmed Israel's.
(Communicated by the President’s Spokesperson)
Monday, 12 January 2026 / 23 Tevet 5786
President Isaac Herzog Hosts Christian Leaders in the Holy Land for New Year’s Celebration
President Isaac Herzog hosted Christian leaders in the Holy Land for the traditional New Year’s reception at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem. This marked the first time the annual reception has been held at full capacity since the beginning of the war.
In his remarks at the event, President Herzog expressed his pride in Israel‘s Christian communities and emphasized that the State of Israel will continue to protect the freedom of worship for people of all faiths and communities. President Herzog also conveyed his profound appreciation for Israel‘s Christian friends in the Middle East and across the world.
From the remarks by President Isaac Herzog:
“How beautiful it is to gather together in the Holy Land, whose hills bear witness to thousands of years of faith, prayer, and divine inspiration, and to hope together for a joyous, prosperous, and peaceful new year for us all.
“We meet at a fragile, yet promising moment for the Holy Land and the broader Middle East. At this important crossroads, the choice must be made between conflicting paths, conflicting trajectories, and conflicting visions for this region. Our hearts go out to the Iranian people bravely marching for their freedom as we speak—and being ruthlessly repressed by a regime that is the root of so much evil in the world. Our hope and prayer is that all women and men can enjoy the same precious liberty we are blessed with and live in peace and harmony, free from tyranny and oppression.
“Just a few months ago, I had the opportunity to meet His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, in Rome. We discussed then what I repeat here now, that it is the sacred obligation of all who believe to reject hatred, to affirm the divine image in each and every person, and to build bridges across religious and political divides. I also followed suit in a conversation with the Pope, just before Christmas, as he was in the Holy See. I believe that there is a real opportunity to advance and improve the relations between Israel and the Holy See in so many fields.
“My friends, your communities are a blessing to the State of Israel, adding richness, texture, and depth to our beautiful human tapestry. We are committed to ensuring that Christian communities can continue to grow and thrive, with full freedom of religion and worship. This is not merely a policy question—it flows from the very heart of our identity as a Jewish and democratic state. I want to state clearly: We will continue to safeguard the holy sites of all religions and to forcefully combat any disgraceful attempts to threaten, harass, or harm religious leaders, institutions, or worshippers.
“We also call for the protection of Christian communities across our region. No Christian, indeed no human being—in the Middle East, Africa, or anywhere in the world—should ever live in fear because of their faith.”
From the remarks of His Beatitude Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem:
“We would like to take this opportunity to wish all those who call this land home the blessings of this holy season.”
“The Scriptures remind us that ‘blessed are the peacemakers,’ and this is the call for all people of good will, regardless of our religious affirmation. Mr. President, your commitment to peace and to the well-being of all the people of the Holy Land and Israel is well known. We assure you that the Patriarch and the heads of the churches at this special gathering also remain steadfast in our spiritual mission to be messengers of peace and reconciliation, and to cooperate with you and with all those who bless peace and reconciliation before all others, as you promote the values of our common scriptures, fighting against all forms of antisemitism and Islamophobia.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog makes history as the first head of state to visit Zambia, strengthening ties with African nations.
Jerusalem, 10 November, 2025 (TPS-IL) — President Isaac Herzog arrived in Zambia on Monday, becoming the first Israeli head of state to visit the African country. He was welcomed in Lusaka with a formal ceremony hosted by Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.
The trip follows the recent reopening of Israel’s embassy in Zambia. Herzog’s talks are expected to focus on cooperation in agriculture, technology, and development.
From Zambia, the President will continue to the Democratic Republic of Congo for meetings with Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and other senior officials.
President Isaac Herzog departs on official Vatican visit. Meetings with Pope Leo XIV & Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Discussions on hostages, antisemitism, Christian
(Communicated by the President’s Spokesperson)
President Isaac Herzog will depart on Thursday morning, for a one-day visit to the Vatican at the invitation of the Pope.
During his visit, the President will meet with pope leo xiv and with the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Central to their meetings will be the efforts to secure the release of the hostages, the fight against global antisemitism, and the safeguarding of Christian communities in the Middle East, alongside discussions on other political matters.
Later, the President will tour the Vatican Archives and Library, before returning to Israel in the afternoon.
President Isaac Herzog offers condolences to the Weiss family and Kibbutz Be’eri upon the recovery of Ilan Weiss' body after 692 days. Hamas atrocities must be
President Isaac Herzog on the recovery of the body of hostage Ilan Weiss:
“I offer my heartfelt condolences and support to the Weiss family and the community of Kibbutz Be’eri upon the recovery of the body of hostage Ilan Weiss, of blessed memory.
692 days after he was brutally kidnapped with his wife Shiri and their daughter Noga, Ilan’s body was recovered in a joint IDF and Shin Bet operation. A moment of deep sorrow, but also of closure.
Ilan showed courage and noble spirit when he fought the terrorists on that dark day. In his death, he gave life. And ever since, his family has shown extraordinary strength in their struggle for his return.
The horrors committed by Hamas: murder, torture, abduction, are crimes against humanity. The world must show moral clarity, apply pressure, and act for the immediate release of all the hostages. We will not rest until every one of them is brought home, the living to the loving embrace of their families, and the fallen to be laid to rest in dignity. Every last one.”
President Isaac Herzog visits Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, urging immediate release of hostages held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
(Communicated by the President’s Spokesperson)
President Isaac Herzog this morning (Sunday, 17 August 2025), visited Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, and met with the families of some of the 50 hostagesheld by hamas terrorists in Gaza.
The President urged the international community to pressure Hamas and insist on the hostages immediate release.
President Herzog said, “I’m here to say to the international media and to the international decision makers: Our sons and daughters are there in the dungeons of Gaza for 681, days. We want them back home as soon as possible. The world should want them back home as soon as possible. Stop being a bunch of hypocrites. Press – because when you know how to press, you press, press and tell Hamas, ‘no deal, no nothing, until you release them.’”
The President added, “And I want to say to our brothers and sisters all over the world, we are together in this plight. We want the hostages back home. They are the most important issue on world affairs, and we want to see them back home as soon as possible.”
As he spoke to the media, the President was joined by Sharon Sharabi and Yael Adar.
Sharon is the brother of Eli Sharabi who survived 491 days in Hamas captivity after his wife and daughters were murdered by Hamas terrorists in their home on October 7. Yael is the mother of Tamir Adar, who fell in battle against Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, and whose body is still held by Hamas.
President Herzog then met privately with additional families of hostages.
President Isaac Herzog will attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday for a two-day visit. He will participate in the main plenary.
Jerusalem, 18 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — President Isaac Herzog will travel to Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday to attend the World Economic Forum. During the two-day visit, Herzog will participate in the Forum’s main plenary session, hold diplomatic meetings, and represent Israel in international discussions.
Israeli President Herzog warns ministers' threats to defy Israeli court rulings pose a "real danger" to the nation's democracy and social order.
By Pesach Benson • January 14, 2026
Jerusalem, 14 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — President Isaac Herzog sharply warned on Wednesday that refusing to follow court rulings poses a “real danger” to Israel and its democracy, calling such defiance “destructive” for the country.
Herzog’s remarks come amid repeated threats by senior cabinet ministers to ignore potential judicial orders, and after Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara said Monday that the government continues to violate a court order enforcing military conscription for Orthodox (Haredi) men.
Speaking at a yeshiva high school in Kfar Etzion, Herzog said, “We need to know that without a legal system we could not exist as a society and as a state. It is unthinkable that anyone would consider disobeying a court ruling. When one disobeys a court ruling, or when one calls for disobeying a ruling — one endangers the State of Israel, Israeli society, social order, and our ability to live together.”
He added, “To think that a court order should not be obeyed, or that it is forbidden to obey the court, or to say that one should not obey a ruling, is a disaster, and it is a great danger to the state. It is a real danger, and therefore I warn against it in the strongest possible terms. Do not go there, and do not speak of it. Debate, yes — debate is legitimate. But God forbid that we cast doubt on our ability to respect court rulings.”
Herzog’s warning follows a letter from three senior cabinet ministers to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, stating that he should ignore a potential High Court order to remove National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from office for violating court directives on police practices. Signatories included Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and Coalition Whip Ofir Katz, as well as Ben-Gvir.
The letter insisted that attempts to remove “a senior minister constitute an attempted coup against democracy.”
The Attorney General argues that Israeli law distinguishes a minister’s policy-setting powers from the police’s sole authority over operational, investigative, and enforcement decisions. The governing coalition is trying to oust Baharav-Miara from her position.
On Tuesday, United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni called on the government to disobey potential High Court of Justice rulings against efforts to legislate exemptions from army service for Israel’s Haredi community.
In recent weeks, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the government would “trample” Supreme Court President Isaac Amit, while Justice Minister Yariv Levin labeled the justices as “extremists” and called their rulings “political.”
Israeli President Herzog and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu met in Jerusalem to discuss Gaza peace plan implementation, hostage return, and regional.
Jerusalem, 12 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — President Isaac Herzog met with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu in Jerusalem, on Monday, where they discussed the implementation of U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza.
Herzog called for the urgent return of the last hostage held in Gaza, Police Staff Sgt. Ran Gvili, and stressed the need for regional stability and disarming Hamas.
The two also discussed advancing bilateral cooperation in technology, science, security, and tourism.
