(Communicated by the President’s Spokesperson)
President Isaac Herzog today (Monday, 28 April 2025) at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, addressed a delegation of over 30 ambassadors to the United Nations, led by Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon. The delegation, representing a diverse range of countries, from Europe, Africa, the Pacific, Asia-Pacific and Latin America, were visiting Israel. During the visit, they had also visited the communities of Southern Israel to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of the October 7, 2023 attacks.
Speaking to the Ambassadors, President Herzog said, “We have always to remember that we have to be very strong together with our allies and keep on pursuing the hope for peace in our region, with our neighbors the Palestinians, hopefully with the Saudis, so that we can open the road to rapprochement for Jews and Muslims. Here in Israel, we live together with Muslims, Christians, and, of course, a Jewish majority in an incredible, unique relationship and a vibrant democracy.
“The fact is that we were attacked from seven different corners of the earth by the same empire of evil, and that’s why we have to knock it hard so that they are not able to have nuclear capability and also stop fighting.”
The President said, “You’ve seen the kibbutzim, you saw where the October 7 massacre happened — the most tranquil, peaceful communities in the region, pursuing peace with their Palestinian neighbors, living in harmony and on a recognized international boundary. Then we saw barbarism at its worst: abducting, kidnapping, raping, burning and taking hostage of our brothers and sisters. I raise their plight, the need for the immediate return of our brothers and sisters from the dungeons of Gaza, immediately, and I think that has to be a top priority of the world.”
He noted, “As somebody who has great respect for the international institutions, we expect major change in the behavior of the international institutions, an end to hypocrisy, and much more fairness. That is our demand. That’s all we demand. We know how to admit failures when we make mistakes, but we are defending ourselves according to our inherent right to protect and defend ourselves.”
