Herzog says, talk peace even in days of war

Israelis must consider ways to reach peace with the Palestinians even in days of national hardship, opposition head MK Isaac Herzog (Labor) says, defending his appearance at a conference sponsored by Haaretz.

“If I were Israel’s prime minister, I would deal a very heavy blow to Hamas, and then drive to Ramallah, enter the Muqata and continue to talk with Abu Mazen,” he says, referring to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. “I would put a deal on the table.”

“Zero tolerance for terror, zero tolerance for missiles,” he adds.

Now is indeed the time to hit Hamas and to restore Israeli deterrence, Herzog says, but Israel should look to build alliances with moderate states in the region to fend off the threat of Islamist extremists. As the United States gradually reduces its involvement in the Middle East, countries such as Jordan and Turkey, but also the Palestinian Authority, “are our partners for a historical process,” he says.

“There is a partner for peace. He’s not easy, he’s difficult, he’s annoying,” Herzog says, referring to Abbas. “But he’s our partner. We need to look him in the eyes and talk to him and understand his distress so that he will understand our distress.”

Israel’s greatest challenge is not the “tactical threat that exists currently because of Hamas,” but rather the strategic threat that looms for Israel if it fails to remain a Jewish and democratic state by implementing a two-state solution.