From the Liveblog of
Thursday, October 12, 2023
Herzog spars with foreign journalists over retaliatory Gaza strikes
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleAmy Spiro is a reporter and writer with The Times of Israel
President Isaac Herzog has several markedly contentious exchanges with foreign journalists during a briefing at his residence in Jerusalem.
The generally mild-mannered leader reacts angrily to questions from CNN and the UK’s Channel 4 about the IDF’s ongoing bombing of the Gaza Strip.
Asked by CNN anchor Becky Anderson about Israel’s “collective punishment” of Gazan civilians, calling it a “war crime,” Herzog raises his voice in response.
“I’m quite disappointed that what’s you’re asking me instantaneously, haven’t you seen [the carnage in southern Israel]? You’ve all seen it. So now we’re starting with the rhetoric about war crimes. Really? Truly?” Herzog reiterates that “Israel abides by international law, operates by international law.”
Channel 4’s Matt Frei says he is “confused” by Herzog’s responses considering that “you seem to hold the people of Gaza responsible for Hamas.”
The president cuts off his question angrily: “With all due respect, if you have a missile in your goddamn kitchen and you want to shoot it at me, am I allowed to defend myself? That’s the situation.”
Herzog later rejects a question from Anderson about whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bears responsibility for the failure to thwart the attack, saying “we are at war, I’m not dealing with this issue at all.”
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