Israeli President Isaac Herzog met Tuesday morning with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is visiting Israel. This is the fifth meeting between the two since the outbreak of the war. Blinken arrived in Israel on a visit to Arab capitals aimed at strengthening ties in the region after the end of the crisis in the Gaza Strip. "I know about the efforts of the people, for many years, to build better connectivity and integration in the Middle East and I think there are real opportunities here," Blinken told Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz. Blinken is apparently alluding to a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia and the expansion of the Abraham Accords to other countries.
"We thank you for your support and your steadfast commitment to Israel's security and victory in this war, because this is a war that also affects international values and the values of the free world as a whole," the president told the American guest.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of a hearing expected on Thursday at the International Criminal Court in The Hague on Israel's conduct in the war. South Africa sued Israel for genocide. "There is nothing more horrific and ridiculous than this claim. In fact, our enemies, Hamas, in their charter call for annihilation. For the destruction of the State of Israel, the only nation-state of the Jewish people, President Herzog said."
The Convention Against Genocide was enacted by the international community in the wake of humankind's worst atrocities, such as the Holocaust, which was specifically directed against the Jews, with the aim of eliminating the Jewish race, the Jewish people. Hamas' charter is almost identical in many ways. And now, in the face of South Africa's hypocrisy, we will be there at the International Court of Justice proudly presenting our side of using self-defense under the most inherent right in international humanitarian law, in which we do our utmost in the most complicated circumstances to ensure that there are no unforeseen consequences and no civilian casualties.
We warn, we call, we show, we send leaflets, we use all the means that international law allows us to keep people away, so that we can bring down this huge city of terror below, in people's homes, living rooms and bedrooms, mosques and shops and schools. Yesterday, we destroyed a huge terrorist enterprise under the humanitarian corridor that Israel operates to help the citizens of Gaza.
Secretary of State Blinken: "I have just come from a number of countries in the region – Turkey, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia; And I want to share with the President what I heard from the leaders of the countries, and later today I will also share with the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.
"We will have the opportunity to sit down with some of the families of the abductees and discuss our relentless efforts to bring everyone home to their families. And there's a lot to talk about – especially the rest of the way. I look forward to these conversations, as always. Thank you so much."
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