President Isaac Herzog today, Monday, addressed the United Nations General Assembly special session marking International Holocaust Memorial Day, at the UN Headquarters in New York.
The event commemorated 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz.
President Herzog began by noting the yellow ribbon pin on his lapel, and said, “I stand before you as president of a nation that is determined and proud, and yet - anguished and incomplete. Although the Israeli people have been overcome with emotion seeing seven of our daughters at last emerge heroically from hell - still, ninety Israelis and foreign nationals remain in Hamas captivity. We are anxiously awaiting six more to be freed this week, and awaiting all others. I call on all representatives in this General Assembly, all who consider themselves part of the civilized world, to throw your weight to ensure our hostages return to their homes - every single one of them. Bring them home now!”
In his speech the President voiced harsh criticism of many in the international community saying. He questioned, “How is it possible that international institutions, which began as an anti-Nazi alliance, are allowing antisemitic genocidal doctrines to flourish uninterrupted in the wake of the largest massacre of Jews since World War II?”
He challenged the international community:
“How is it possible that the moral compass of so many in the family of nations has become so disoriented, that they no longer recognize the clear truth: That just as terrorists use civilians as human shields, they also weaponize the international institutions, undermining the most basic, fundamental reason for their establishment? How is it possible that the same institutions established in the wake of the greatest genocide in history – the Holocaust - are manipulating the definition of genocide for the sole purpose of attacking Israel and the Jewish people?”
The President stressed: “Rather than fulfilling its purpose, and fighting courageously against a global epidemic of jihadist, murderous, and abhorrent terror, time and again this assembly has exhibited moral bankruptcy. International forums and institutions such as the International Criminal Court opt for outrageous hypocrisy and protection of the perpetrators of the atrocities. They blur the distinction between good and evil, creating a distorted symmetry between the victim and the murderous monster.”
He noted that terrorists who carried out the atrocities of October 7th took their inspiration from Nazism and Hitler.
The President stressed that 80 years after the liberation of Auschwitz, antisemitism was still present, intensifying and taking on new forms. He said, “This is an urgent wake-up call for all of humanity: antisemitism, savagery, cruelty, and racism are still thriving on our planet.”
Regarding Iran, the President pointed out the absurdity of Iran, as a UN member, threatening another member state without unequivocal condemnation. “The world cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the threat posed by Iran to the entire world, and especially to the State of Israel,” he said, adding, “This is a moment of truth for us all: We either bow our heads – or unite and take action to halt the danger.”
The President stated that while criticism of Israel is legitimate, “It is time to acknowledge: Challenging our right to exist is not diplomacy, it is plain antisemitism.”
He also called for the expansion of the circle of peace in the Middle East, which would benefit the entire world.