Herzog praises ‘settlement’ as Israel’s defensive shield, drawing rebuke from Peace Now

President Isaac Herzog praises “settlement” as a “cornerstone of Zionism and Judaism,” and describes them as “Israel’s defensive shield” in a video message to a conference about Israeli settlements in the West Bank settlement of Ofra.

“Every time anew in my visits around the country, especially in Judea and Samaria [the West Bank]… my understanding of just how much settlement is a positive, wonderful, and thriving project, and how much settlement is Israel’s defensive shield in the full meaning of the word, is strengthened,” says Herzog in his prerecorded message.

“Settlement is one of the cornerstones of Zionism and of the Jewish story from ancient times. This is all the more correct at this time when the challenges of the moment in the realm of settlement are very great, and therefore we expect from all relevant officials to fully get on board for the benefit of the security of settlement around the entire country,” he adds.

The Peace Now organization, which campaigns against the settlement movement, strongly criticizes Herzog for his remarks, describing the settlements as a “burden” on Israel and accusing him of siding with far-right politicians.

“The Israel Defense Forces is our defensive shield. The settlements are a burden on Israel, as are you apparently,” says the organization.

“The government is leading to a full occupation of the Gaza Strip and the establishment of settlements at the expense of the hostages, and you are joining [Finance Minister Bezalel] Smotrich, [Settlements Minister Orit] Struck, and [right-wing commentator Shimon] Riklin,” says Peace Now.