Israeli President Isaac Herzog praised the United States for its support of the Israeli government over the last seven decades, lauding the relationship as an "ancient promise fulfilled" through democracy, the Israeli leader said in a speech to Congress on Wednesday.
Herzog’s address comes at a crucial time as President Joe Biden seeks to navigate the sometimes-complicated relationship with Israel, a crucial ally in the Middle East that has worked closely with the U.S. for over 75 years. The speech also coincides with the 75th anniversary of Israel’s statehood and marks the first time an Israeli president has addressed Congress in a joint session in more than 35 years. (The last president to do so was President Chaim Herzog, Isaac Herzog’s father, in 1987.)
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"Standing here today, representing the Jewish democratic state of Israel, in its 75th year at the very podium from which my late father President Chaim Herzog spoke, is the honor of a lifetime and I thank you all for it," Herzog said.
Herzog reflected on the U.S.-Israel relationship, which he noted began with President Harry Truman becoming the first world leader to recognize the state of Israel just 11 minutes after it was founded. The Israeli leader thanked Congress for its continued support, expressing confidence the relationship should continue.
"We are grateful to the United States for the necessary means you have provided us to keep our qualitative military edge and to enable us to defend ourselves by ourselves," Herzog said. "This reflects your ongoing commitment to Israel's security. We're also tremendously proud that ours is a two-way alliance in which Israel has been making critical contributions to the national security interests of the United States of America in numerous ways."
Herzog also called on lawmakers to stand against Iran, which the Israeli president accused of spreading "hatred, terror, and suffering throughout the Middle East" — a statement that was met with a standing ovation in the House chamber.
"[Iran is] adding fuel to the disastrous fire and suffering in Ukraine," Herzog said. "The world cannot remain indifferent to the Iranian regime's call to wipe Israel off the map. Tolerating this call and Iran's measures to realize it is an excusable moral collapse. Backed by the free world, Israel and the United States must act forcefully together to prevent Iran's fundamental threat to international security."
The House chamber was filled with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, demonstrating bipartisan support for the critical ally at a time when the U.S. government has delicately balanced its relationship with Israel despite tensions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Several lawmakers made displays of support, including Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), who held an Israeli flag as Herzog spoke.
The address comes one day after the House passed a GOP-led resolution affirming congressional support for Israel, a vote that was meant to act as a rebuke to progressive Democrats who have denounced the Israeli government’s treatment of Palestinians.
The resolution came in direct response to comments made during a panel discussion with the progressive Netroots Nation over the weekend, during which Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) emphasized their shared goal of “fighting to make it clear that Israel is a racist state.” The statement elicited immediate backlash from Republicans and Democrats alike, prompting Jayapal to later retract the statement.
Only nine Democrats voted against the measure, including Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Cori Bush (D-MO), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) — the same group of members who boycotted Herzog’s address. Jayapal was also not present for the address due to a "scheduling conflict," a congressional aide told the Hill.
Herzog referenced the Palestinian relationship in his address, noting that although his government would continue to take "bold steps toward peace," the country would not tolerate attacks against the Israeli population.
"Israel has taken bold steps towards peace and making far-reaching proposals to our Palestinian neighbors," he said. "However, true peace cannot be anchored in violence, notwithstanding the deep political differences and the numerous challenges that surround the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and relations. I do not ignore them. It should be clear that one cannot talk about peace while condoning and legitimizing terror implicitly or explicitly. True peace cannot be anchored in violence."
Herzog referred to Democratic disapproval of the Israeli government, noting he is not "oblivious to criticism among friends.
"But," he said, "criticism of Israel must not cross the line into negation of the state of Israel's right to exist.
"Questioning the Jewish people's right to self-determination is not legitimate diplomacy. It is antisemitism," he said, which was met with a roar of applause from members of Congress.
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House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) invited Herzog to speak to Congress earlier this year, touting the countries’ alliance as leaving the world “better off.” The speech comes two months after McCarthy addressed the Israeli Knesset, making him only the second speaker in history to meet with the Israeli government.
Vice President Kamala Harris attended Herzog's speech and is set to meet with him after the address. President Joe Biden met with his Israeli counterpart the day before in a meeting meant to showcase U.S. commitment to Israel.