Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed a special joint session of Congress on Wednesday, telling lawmakers that despite vigorous debates within Israel, or occasional differences with the U.S., “we will always be family.”
Chip Somodevilla / Gettyto America’s own internal debates about democracy, and to occasional policy disagreements between the U.S. administration and Israeli governments.
The bonds that united both sides, he said, both within nations and between them, were unbreakable. He said: Dear friends: It’s no secret that over the past few months, the Israeli people have engaged in a heated and painful debate. We have been immersed in voicing our differences, and revisiting and renegotiating the balance of our institutional powers in the absence of a written constitution. In practice, the intense debate going on back home, even as we speak, is the clearest tribute to the fortitude of Israel’s democracy.
I am well affair of the imperfections of Israeli democracy, and I’m conscious of the questions posed by our greatest of friends. The momentous debate in Israel is painful and deeply unnerving because it highlights the cracks in the whole, within the entire whole. As president of Israel, I am here to tell the American people, and each of you, that I have great confidence in Israeli democracy. Although we are working through our issues, just like you, I know our democracy is strong and resilient.
Herzog also addressed the issue of antisemitism, in the wake of criticism by Progressive Caucus chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal , whoMr. Speaker, I’m not oblivious to criticism among friends, including some expressed by respected members of this house. I respect criticism, especially from friends, although one does not always have to accept it.But criticism of israel must not cross the line into negation of the State of Israel’s right to exist.
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