Warns that “questioning the right of the Jewish people to self-determination” is “anti-Semitism”
MADRID, July 19 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The president of Israel, Isaac Herzog, praised this Wednesday before the United States Congress the “unbreakable” relationship between the two countries, despite the fact that this link can sometimes be “challenged”.
“Israel and the United States will inevitably disagree on many issues, but we will always remain a family. Our bond can be challenged at times, but it is absolutely unbreakable,” he said.
Herzog, who has appeared before a joint session of senators and representatives on Capitol Hill, has described the United States as Israel’s “greatest partner and friend”, although he has lamented the criticism from some progressive lawmakers.
“I am no stranger to criticism among friends, including some expressed by respected members of this House (…) I respect criticism, especially from friends, although it is not always necessary to accept it,” Herzog said.
In this sense, the Israeli president has warned that criticism of his country should in no case cross “the line towards the denial of the right to exist of the State of Israel”, since “questioning the right of the Jewish people to self-determination (. ..) is antisemitism”.
Herzog’s intervention comes less than 24 hours after the House of Representatives approved by a large majority -412 votes in favor and only nine against- a resolution to reaffirm the support of the United States to Israel, collects CNN.
Some of the most critical progressive legislators with Israel, such as the representative from Washington, Pramila Jayapal, denounced then that Israel was “racist”, and others like the prominent Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez announced that they would not attend the session before Herzog.
“I am very aware of the imperfections of Israeli democracy and I am aware of the questions raised by our best friends,” said the Israeli president during his speech in the US Congress, where he asserted that Israel has “democracy in its DNA” .
“As President of Israel, I am here to tell the American people, and each one of you, that I have great confidence in Israeli democracy. Even though we are working through problems, just like you, I know that our democracy is strong and resilient.” , has added.
When recounting the main challenges shared between the United States and Israel, Herzog has paid special attention to Iran and its nuclear program, an issue that he has classified as “the greatest challenge” for both.
“Let there be no doubt: Iran is not striving to obtain nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Iran is building nuclear capabilities, which pose a threat to the stability of the Middle East and beyond,” he explained.
Finally, the Israeli president has shown his gratitude to the US authorities for “working to establish peaceful relations between Israel and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”, a country that he has classified as “a leader in the region and the Muslim world”.
