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President Herzog: "I would love to openly visit Saudi Arabia" Israel today

2022-05-02T08:13:31.356Z


Surprising political signal from the president • Herzog to "Israel Today": "Priesthood advantage - Israel's integration in the region" • "Allow the integration of Arab society at the top of the state" • "The loss in 2015? I put it in a bottle and threw it into the sea"


"The Saudis should join the family of the Abrahamic Accords, and I would certainly be happy to attend an open meeting in Saudi Arabia in the future," said President Yitzhak (Buzi) Herzog in an Independence Day interview with Israel Today's editor-in-chief, Amar Lachmanovich.

The president adds that "the process of joining depends not only on Israel, but also on the internal processes in Saudi Arabia and on Saudi-US relations."

In an interview, which will be published in full on Wednesday in the Independence Day supplement of "Israel Today", Herzog talks about his working relations with Prime Minister Bennett and Foreign Minister Lapid, in light of his significant political involvement, which was reflected in recent visits to Turkey and Jordan.

"The Prime Minister and I are excellent collaborators. I came to the presidency with a pool of political connections and extensive political experience, so I contribute it to the system in full coordination and in good spirits. In my opinion, the advantage of my tenure is In the area ".

Herzog.

"To enable the integration of Arab society also at the top of the state," Photo: Oren Ben Hakon

The president expresses concern about the nationalist incitement on social media, which is also evident in the current wave of terrorism - especially around the al-Aqsa Mosque.

"Networks present unfiltered products and allow for a distorted interpretation of reality," he says.

The president adds: "I have full faith in the power of the nation and the state to meet any challenge, and we must thank the IDF, the Shin Bet, the Mossad, the Israel Police and the other security forces - and we pray that they will continue to do so and stop all evil."

"Everything for stability"

Herzog refers to the political crisis in Israel since 2019 and notes: "I will do everything to contribute to stability, not in the political vision of who will lead, but in ensuring a healthy political process. Instability directly affects our quality of life, the cost of living and our children's education."

Riots in al-Aqsa last month.

"Networks allow for a distorted interpretation of reality," Photo: AFP

Regarding the integration of Arab parties in the coalition, the president says: "This is a political question, but the natural process of integrating factors from Arab society at the decision-makers' table was expected on the timeline, and this integration should be allowed to happen at the top. It happens in all nations."

In an interview with him, Herzog also returns to his feelings after losing the 2015 election to Netanyahu and clarifies: "This episode is behind me, I closed it in a bottle and threw it into the sea - in the sense that I do not hold a grudge, and understand that there was a legitimate result I respected.

"I hurt this result personally, but I kept going, even if from time to time something flashes in my subconscious. Today I am somewhere else, also in the political function. I can not be a camper."

"The loss in 2015? I put it in a bottle and threw it into the sea."

Herzog, Livni and Michaeli, Archive, Photo: Dudi Vaknin

Herzog even went so far as to describe the will left to him by his father, Haim Herzog, when he tore up the UN General Assembly resolution in 1975, which stated that "Zionism is racism," and hinted at what text he himself might publicly tear up.

He also talks about the inspiration he received from his grandfather, Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac Halevi Herzog, and the love of the book and literature that has been passed down in the family for generations.

He also tells of his close relationship with his mother, Ora, who passed away this year, and describes the first "Yizkor" prayer without her, on the seventh holiday of the last Pesach.

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Source: israelhayom

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