From the Liveblog of
Thursday, January 18, 2024
In Davos, next to photo of Kfir Bibas, Herzog says Israelis unable to think about peace talks now
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, next to a photo of one-year-old hostage Kfir Bibas, President Isaac Herzog says that Israelis are not able to think about a peace process with the Palestinians right now.
“Nobody in his right mind is willing now to think about what will be the right solution of the peace agreements,” he says. “Everyone wants to know that he will not be attacked in the same way from north or south or east.”
“Israel lost trust in the peace processes because they see that terror is glorified by our neighbors,” says Herzog.
The president stresses that the “the war is not only between Israel and Hamas.”
“The world has to face it point blank: There is an empire of evil emanating from Iran,” says Herzog, adding that such activities are going to “undermine any peace process and any stability in the world.”
Herzog says the Hamas terror group must be uprooted to “enable a better future for the Palestinians who are our neighbors.” He continues by saying that Israel is also fighting for the entire free world, and that Europe and the United States are next.
Herzog calls for “a very strong coalition” to come together to face Iran and its proxies.
He accuses the world of “not giving a damn” about Israeli terror victims in the years before October 7.
Asked about the day after the war, Herzog says he envisions a “coalition of nations who are willing to commit to rebuilding Gaza” in a way that enables the safety of Israelis and Palestinians, and a different future for Gaza.
He says the coalition would be made of “strong Western forces, strong regional forces,” in dialogue with Gazans and the Palestinian Authority.
Herzog also reveals that he met with officials from the Red Cross in Israel two days ago, “to discuss the dire medical situation of the hostages, the clear and present danger to our hostages.”
“We are praying that all the medication… will reach them, but that’s only the beginning,” he adds.
