On November 10, 1987, Haim Herzog became the first Israeli president to address both houses of the United States Congress. The celebration of Israel’s 75th anniversary has made his son Isaac the second president to address the representatives of his country’s great ally. Although the reason and circumstances of the hosts’ invitation are different, the guest’s goal is the same: to strengthen relations with Israel’s main diplomatic and military umbrella.
“We are proud to be the closest partner and friend of the United States. We are grateful for the necessary means that you have provided us to maintain our qualitative military advantage and allow us to defend ourselves,” Herzog said in a speech interrupted several times by applause.
The former Israeli labor leader, with excellent relations on Capitol Hill and the White House where he met with President Joe Biden on Tuesday, deploys all his rhetoric and diplomatic experience inherent in his family (his uncle was the famous diplomat Abba Eban and his brother Mike is the current ambassador to Washington) on his visit to the US to ensure that the alliance is not affected by the tensions between the Biden Administration and the right-wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the conflict with the Palestinians and the monumental internal crisis as a result of the judicial reform project. Herzog did not avoid this thorny issue that shakes his country with demonstrations for 28 consecutive weeks and divides his people beyond what the legislative proposals mean.
“The momentous debate in Israel is painful and deeply disconcerting because it highlights the cracks in the whole,” he commented, adding: “I am aware of the imperfections of Israeli democracy but as President of Israel, I am here to tell the American people that I have great confidence in Israeli democracy. I know it is strong and resilient, Israel has democracy in its DNA.”
Herzog called for dialogue to agree on the reform proposed by the Government and was clear in the face of attempts to weaken the judiciary: “Israel prides itself on its vibrant democracy, the protection of minorities, human rights and civil liberties, as determined by its Parliament and as preserved by a strong Supreme Court and an independent judicial system”.