Israeli President Isaac Herzog forcefully defended democracy in his country on Wednesday before the US Congress despite the controversy over judicial reform, warning those who criticize Israel at the risk of falling into anti-Semitism.
“I am not insensitive to criticism among friends, including that expressed by respected members of this Assembly,” he said in a speech before the two chambers of Congress meeting in plenary session.
“But criticism of Israel should not go so far as to deny the right to exist of the State of Israel. Calling into question the right of the Jewish people to self-determination is not legitimate diplomacy, it is anti-Semitism,” he added to loud applause from parliamentarians.
Democratic “drift” in Israel, according to elected Democrats
President Herzog, a respected figure with an essentially ceremonial role, is much less divisive than Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but his visit to the United States nonetheless causes a stir within President Joe Biden’s Democratic Party.
Elected Democrats have thus denounced the in Israel as well as the continuation of the colonization of the occupied Palestinian territories. Some boycotted the Israeli president’s speech, and nine of them voted on Tuesday against a resolution adopted by the House of Representatives, with a Republican majority, condemning anti-Semitism and assuring the United States’ unfailing support for Israel.
The resolution was put to a vote by House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy in response to a left-wing Democratic Party member Pramila Jayapal, who recently called Israel a “racist state.” Under pressure, she retracted and apologized, but the Republicans are up in arms and demand that she be removed from the head of the progressive parliamentary group in the lower house.
Judicial reform criticized
Isaac Herzog’s visit comes as thousands of Israelis are mobilizing almost daily to denounce the judicial reform project carried by Netanyahu’s government, seen as a threat to democracy, and which Washington is watching with concern.
US President Joe Biden, who received his Israeli counterpart at the White House the day before, himself again urged the Israeli government on Wednesday not to “rush” its reforms and to proceed with caution.
In his address to Congress, Herzog again spoke of an “intense debate” in his country, “the clearest tribute to the fortitude of Israeli democracy”. “Although we face painful issues, just like you, I know our democracy is strong and resilient. Democracy is in Israel’s DNA,” he said.
“Unwavering” support from Washington
His visit, as Israel celebrates its 75th anniversary, was an opportunity for all of Washington to highlight its “unwavering” support for the Israeli ally, which Mr. Herzog welcomed.
He also spoke of his “deep desire” to achieve peace with the Palestinians while deeming “morally shameful” the celebrations of terrorist attacks against Israelis, and called on the international community to stand up against Iran, “the greatest challenge facing” the two countries.
After his speech in Congress, Herzog is due to meet the elected members of the Abraham Accords parliamentary group, set up last year in support of the normalization of relations between Israel and certain Arab countries, which he again called for in his speech.