Herzog says Israel must always pursue peace

Opposition leader Isaac Herzog, speaking at the Netanya military cemetery, says Israel must always pursue peace.

“From the early days of the State of Israel, we upheld a principle that the founders of our nation dictated: One hand will always be on the trigger, to defend the security of the state and its citizens in the face of the enemy, while the other hand will be extended in peace,” says Herzog.

“We must ensure this principle continues to exist today,” he adds. “Peace is central to security and does not contradict it. The pursuit of it is our moral obligation to those who laid down their lives for the State of Israel. It is our obligation for the next generations. The price of peace is not easy, but the tombstones in front of us are evidence that the cost of war is beyond comprehension.”