Herzog to Blinken: We must finish ‘eradicating’ Hamas before pursuing normalization opportunities

President Isaac Herzog meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

In public remarks before the meeting, Blinken says the US is “doing everything possible” to return the hostages held by Hamas and stresses the Biden administration is “thinking, as we always do, about Israel’s security both today, but also for every day, for the long term.”

“We’re thinking of the suffering of people caught up in the middle of conflict, including the Palestinian men, women and children in Gaza,” he says. “We’re thinking as well of the genuine opportunities that lie before us for a better, more secure future for Israelis, Palestinians and all of our friends in the region. There’s a lot of work to be done to move toward that future, but I’m grateful for President Herzog and our work to not only think about it, but to help realize it.”

Responding to Blinken, Herzog hails US support for Israel “in these dire moments” and says bringing back the hostages “is at our top priority.”

“We want them back and we’re working with the international community. We are working with you and the international community on the issue of the humanitarian supply, making sure to upgrade it according to the rules of international humanitarian law whenever and wherever is necessary,” he says.

The president also addresses Blinken’s “opportunities” comment.

“I heard your remarks today, and I think that I find them very interesting. I think there are opportunities; they need to be studied in depth. However, first and foremost, Israel’s security must be preserved, and for this, we have to complete the work of undermining and eradicating the basic infrastructure of Hamas,” Herzog says.