Yitzhak Herzog
Yitzhak HerzogMiriam Alster/Flash 90

Hope for Israel is in the ability to change leaders, Labor Chairman Yitzhak Herzog stated Thursday - and hailed the results of a Channel 10 poll which placed Labor with a clear lead over Likud. 

Herzog blamed current Prime Minister and Likud Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu for the deterioration of US-Israel relations, saying there is "a clear link between international isolation and disturbing way that [the Palestinian Authority] takes Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, and the deterioration of our relations with the United States."

Herzog also addressed Sunday's counter-terror solidarity rally in Paris. 

"Just because Netanyahu marched in Paris with international leaders does not mean that they march with him," Herzog fired. "Just two weeks ago France led a move for the Palestinian draft resolution at the UN [Security Council]." 

According to him, the damaged relations with the United States will compromise Israel's national security. He opined that Netanyahu failed to realize developments in American politics and neglected his relationship with US President Barack Obama.

"He neglected his relationship with the president and the government, and put all trust in relations with the Congress and the Senate," Herzog said. "However, throughout the history of the State of Israel, important decisions were made by the US President." 

Just how Herzog would appease Obama is a topic that he has hinted to on various occasions, saying he supports dividing Jerusalem and creating a Palestinian state in the Biblical heartland of Israel.

"International isolation is a strategic threat to Israel," he continued. "There is an international campaign against us, in the form of the campaign that was against South Africa [referring to accusations of apartheid and boycotts - ed.]." 

"It affects all of us, even if we do not feel it now," Herzog added. "The unilateral steps that the Palestinians are leading now, they are very serious...the way to combat this is in conjunction with the United States, but for that we must restore our relationship with them." 

Herzog's remarks follow an explosive report in Yedioth Aharonot that the US Consulate in Jerusalem views itself not as "the US Consulate in Israel," but rather the "US Consulate in Palestine," and has been slowly replacing its Israeli security guards with Palestinian Arabs who may have criminal records - all in flagrant violation of Israeli law. 

In addition, several weeks ago, Consulate officials entered the Samaria community of Adei Ad with guards armed with M-16s without permission - and nearly caused an international incident