Appealing for unity, Herzog warns ‘history won’t forgive those who dismantle Israel from within’

In his address at the official state ceremony at Yad Vashem for Holocaust Remembrance Day, President Isaac Herzog issues an appeal for national unity.

Herzog says he often meets with Holocaust survivors, who share their horrific personal stories, but they all conclude with the same message: “President, please, we beg, we demand — the division within us is terrible. Let there be unity in the people.”

“History will not forgive those who behave irresponsibly and dismantle us from within,” Herzog says. “We must not allow the poison of social media, and the experts in smearing and polarization, to take over the soul of the people and destroy us from within.”

Herzog says he views the survivors’ stories as a victory for the Jewish people.

“I find myself saying – sometimes silently – to myself, sometimes aloud – to them, ‘Here – you won. Here – we won.'”

Calling for collective reflection during the 10 days leading to Independence Day, Herzog says, “Let us lower the flames. Let us mend our hearts.”

He also says that while nothing compares to “the scale and systematicness” of the Holocaust, “it’s impossible not to be exposed to the terrifying testimonies from the heart of the horror on October 7… and not be shocked by the echoes of that historical catastrophe.”