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Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) President Morton A. Klein released the following analysis:
ZOA was delighted to see the fabulous bipartisan reception that Congress gave to Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s speech on Wednesday.
We also strongly praise and thank the U.S. House of Representatives for overwhelmingly (412-9-1) passing a resolution condemning and exposing the Jew-haters and Israel-haters who absurdly, falsely, embarrassingly and ignorantly call Israel a racist or apartheid state as vile bigots. The resolution also rejected all forms of antisemitism and declared that “the United States will always be a staunch partner and supporter of Israel.”
There were many important positives in President Herzog’s speech that the ZOA strongly praises — Most notably:
- Herzog provided a stirring reminder of the Jewish people’s history – from the Almighty promising the land to the first Jew, Abraham; to Moses leading the Jewish Israelites to the promised holy land; to the Jewish people mourning the loss of Jewish sovereignty after the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem; to two millennia of national exile throughout which Jews continued to long to return to their ancestral homeland; to the Jewish people returning home and the rebirth of Israel 75 years ago; and to the rebuilding of the democratic Jewish Israeli nation that gathered in the Jewish exiles from over 100 nations, and that has remained peace-loving despite having to defend itself from radical Arab enemies.
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Herzog also powerfully made the critically important case for strong action to stop Iran’s nuclear capability, instead of relying on diplomacy, saying, among other things: “Allowing Iran to become a nuclear threshold state, whether by omission or by diplomatic commission, is unacceptable. The world cannot remain indifferent to the Iranian regime's call to wipe Israel (and America) off the map. Tolerating this call and Iran's measures to realize it is an excuse -- is an inexcusable 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.”
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Another important message Herzog conveyed is that the impediment to peace is Palestinian Arab terror against Israelis, and the celebration, glorification and payments of lifetime pensions to the Arab murderers of Jews. Herzog noted: “My deep yearning, Mr. Speaker, is for Israel to one day make peace with our Palestinian neighbors. Over the years, Israel has taken bold steps towards peace and made far-reaching proposals to our Palestinian neighbors. However, true peace cannot be anchored in violence . . . It should be clear that one cannot talk about peace while condoning and legitimatizing terror implicitly or explicitly. True peace cannot be anchored in violence. Palestinian terror against Israel or Israelis undermines any possibility for a future of peace between our peoples. Israelis are targeted while waiting for buses, while taking a stroll on the promenade, while spending time with their families. At the same time successful terror attacks are celebrated, terror is glorified and the families are financially rewarded for every Israeli they attack. This is inconceivable; it is a moral disgrace. Terror is not a bump in the road. Terror is hatred and bloodshed;, it contradicts humanity's most basic principles of peace. Israel cannot and will not tolerate terror and we know that in this we are joined by the United States of America.”
There were a few concerns ZOA had with the speech however:
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When discussing Palestinian terror, Herzog should have specified and named President Mahmoud Abbas’ Palestinian Authority as inciting murder of Jews, and glorifying and paying the Arab terrorists’ families – and to then insist that the U.S. must stop funding the Palestinian Arab projects ($800 million by the Biden administration) that help the PA until the PA stops its reprehensible “pay to slay” payments. Similarly, when discussing Hamas’ evils, Herzog should have called for ending U.S. funding of $700 million to Hamas-allied UNRWA, which promotes violence against Jews. Herzog should have specifically named and condemned Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh for regularly publicly praising the Arab Jew-killers as heroes and martyrs; visiting the Jew-killers’ families to praise them, while glorifying and disseminating posters of them; and naming schools, streets and sports teams and children’s camps after them. Omitting this was a missed opportunity to make more clear that Israel is fighting a monstrous, despicable Nazi-like enemy.
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