In first speech as president, Herzog says he’ll seek to ‘rebuild hope’

7 July 2021, 5:38 pm

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In his first speech as president, Isaac Herzog promises to represent Israel’s interests and its viewpoint on the international stage.

He speaks of the need for a more moderate tone in Israel’s politics, and says Israeli internal unity and shared values “are more brittle than ever.” He says hatred between different groups in society “exacts a heavy price.”

He calls for greater integration of minorities in society, and says the Israeli majority must show greater care for coexistence with those minorities. He particularly singles out violent crime in Arab society and the heavy toll it has taken.

“My mission, the [central] task of my term, will be to do everything to rebuild hope” for Israeli society, he says.