Israeli President Herzog claims the alliance with the US and the strength of the Israeli Supreme Court

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 enthusiastic applause.. Despite divergences, he declared, “when America is strong, Israel is stronger. When Israel is strong, America is more secure.”

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 dodge this thorny issue that has been shaking his country with demonstrations for 28 consecutive weeks and dividing 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 that 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.”

On social networks, activists participating in the protests against the government accuse Herzog of not having directly denounced Netanyahu and “the proposed revolt of the democratic regime camouflaged in the so-called reform.”. Supporters of the plan promoted by the Minister of Justice, Yariv Levin, for their part, assure that “the reform will correct the imbalance in the relationship between the executive power and that of the judges, who have unprecedented strength compared to other democracies.”

As the script marks in this type of act, the Israeli leader warned of what many in his country consider “existential threat. “Perhaps the biggest challenge for Israel and the US is Iran's nuclear program. Iran is the only country on the planet that publicly calls, plans and develops means to annihilate another country: Israel.”. The one who did not remain indifferent was Netanyahu when he pointed out that “the president's speech was important and expressed our firm and energetic position against Iran.”

Herzog thanked the US for its decisive intervention in achieving the peace agreements with Egypt (79) and Jordan (94) and in the normalization of relations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco (2020) as well as its current mediation with Saudi Arabia. If this last scenario of which he says “pray” for it to arrive, “it would be a huge change in the course of history in the Middle East and in the world.” “My deepest wish is that Israel one day make peace with our Palestinian neighbors,” he declared before warning that “Palestinian terrorism against the Israelis undermines the possibility of a future of peace between our peoples.”

To avoid criticism from Netanyahu, who has not yet been formally invited to the White House, and to show that US support remains bipartisan, Herzog declared before leaving for Washington that his visit was due to “an invitation from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Democrat) and current Speaker Kevin McCarthy (Republican).”

“America has an unbreakable bond with Israel. Our commitment to Israel's security is ironclad,” Vice President Kamala Harris said after witnessing his speech.. Later they met and announced a joint initiative of 70 million dollars for an investment related to high technologies, innovation and the climate crisis in countries of the Middle East and Africa.

Five congressmen, known for their support of the Palestinian cause and opposition to Israel, boycotted Herzog's speech. Among them, Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib who accuses the Israeli authorities of applying “an apartheid regime”. The anti-Israeli position of the current located furthest to the left in the Democratic Party contrasts with that of Biden, who maintains a very different position from that of the current Government in Jerusalem but represents the generation of leaders who have always supported the Jewish State.. Questioning the Jewish people's right to self-determination is not legitimate diplomacy but anti-Semitism,” he stated in his most important speech due to the setting and moment in his country's history.