Israel's president says he is 'extremely pleased' with consequences for Kanye West after his anti-Semitic remarks

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(CNN) --

Israel's President Isaac Herzog said Wednesday that he is "extremely pleased" with the "overwhelming reaction" to recent anti-Semitic comments by rapper and fashion designer Ye, also known as Kanye West.

“We are all concerned about anti-Semitism around the world.

It's anti-Semitism, it's racist, it's racism, xenophobia - these are the challenges of the age, but history teaches us that it usually starts with hating Jews, blaming Jews, terrible rhetoric using the people," Herzog told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on "The Situation Room" when asked about anti-Semitism in the United States and the situation surrounding the West.

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“And that is why I am extremely pleased, objectively, as an Israeli, a Jew, and a human being.

I am extremely pleased to see this overwhelming backlash against Kanye West's comments," he continued.

Herzog's response followed a bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden earlier Wednesday, during which, the White House said, Biden "condemned the persistent scourge of anti-Semitism," and came amid corporate backlash against Ye. for anti-Semitic comments and for wearing a T-shirt with the slogan "White Lives Matter."

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In recent weeks, retailers, social media platforms, celebrities, and fashion and entertainment companies have all moved away from business alliances with the rapper.

In early October, West wore a "White Lives Matter" T-shirt and dressed several black models in clothing with the same phrase at his YZY show at Paris fashion week;

the slogan has been linked by the Anti-Defamation League to the Klu Klux Klan.

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Ye also recently said, "I can say **** anti-Semitic and Adidas can't let go," during a tirade against Jews on the Drink Champs podcast.

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Adidas and others have since ended their associations with him.

Herzog told Blitzer on Wednesday that when it comes to anti-Semitism, "the lessons are clear."

"It's a global problem," he said.

“We see it in many places.

We also assume that every time there is an energy crisis, another economic crisis, the first culprits, unfortunately, throughout history, are the Jews.

The lessons are clear."

“We raise our voice loud and clear on this issue.

It is an issue of morality that goes far beyond any other issue of the relationship we have with other nations.

We raise our voice loud and clear on this issue."

CNN's Ramishah Maruf contributed to this report.

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