(Communicated by the President’s Spokesperson)
President Isaac Herzog met this morning, (Wednesday, 12 February 2025), at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, with Estonian President Alar Karis, who is on an official visit to Israel.
During their visit, President Karis and his delegation placed the yellow ribbon pin on their lapels, in solidarity with the hostages and their families.
President Herzog said, “We are very touched by the fact you have the pin, remembering our hostages every moment of the day. We want to see them back home, and this touches our hearts.”
President Herzog welcomed President Karis and his delegation in an official welcome ceremony before the two leaders went on to hold a bilateral meeting addressing the key challenges facing the region – including the vital need to return the hostages – as well as ways to advance cooperation between the two countries.
Ahead of the bilateral meeting, President Herzog said, “I’m very happy and glad that you initiated this visit. This is a visit that means a lot to the people of Israel in these dire and complicated times.”
He added, “I know that you strive for peace. You’re here in very complicated and challenging days because we are extremely anxious about our hostages who are in Gaza, in the worst of situations. We have terrible reports from hostages who came out. We are getting reports about our hostages being in duress, tortured, and in the worst of conditions that any human being can sustain, and we want to see all of them back as soon as possible, and we insist that all of them come back as soon as possible. It is a stain on humanity, a stain on a family of nations, and the family of nations has to take a very clear and unequivocal position in bringing all of them back home – that can also be the key to a future change in our region, for a better future.”
He concluded, “I hope your visit will strengthen the relationship between our peoples. You have a beautiful country, and I hope to be visiting Tallinn as well to reciprocate. Thank you very much, dear President, and Shalom.”
President Karis thanked the President for the warm welcome and said: “Times are very difficult, we look around us, there are countries and friends, and conflicts and wars everywhere, so you have to be there as well to discuss the matter, as you mentioned already, to find a peaceful solution also here in this region. There has been a long history as we all know, but it can’t go on forever, so there should be a solution – and from our side, we’re already also trying to give some effort to make it happen.”
He added, “Of course, it’s not only military issues we’re going to discuss, but also we have very good relations in innovation and also education. I’m going to meet a number of of people and institutions, and also going to the Knesset. So it’s going to be quite a tight schedule. And again, you are you’re welcome to Estonia.”
