President Herzog: Israel fights Iran to remove 'existential threats' and defend the free world

In an interview with the Times of Israel this week, President Isaac Herzog said that Israel is fighting back in a “war against the Jews” led by Iran.

“Look, the Iranians have direct plans to annihilate Israel,” Herzog said following the Iranian missile attack on the Beersheva hospital. “They say it, and we know that they have them. That’s their aim. We should be very much aware of it.”

The president added that Israel's current military operation, "Rising Lion," is about removing the existential threat to Jews, both in Israel and throughout the diaspora.

“What we’re doing now is a heroic campaign to remove the real existential threats on the State of Israel to enable Jews to come here and thrive here, to enable them to thrive in their communities the world over without threats, without these terror cells of the Iranians and their proxies, without threats on Israel and without moving to the (nuclear) bomb, which is the most dangerous development in humankind,” Herzog stated.

He stressed that Israel has the capacity and ability to succeed.

Israel has “many capabilities,” he said, adding, “We haven’t shown everything yet,” without going into further details.

Herzog stressed that the war, while existential for Jews, is being fought by Israel on behalf of the West and the free world.

“That’s what people don’t get,” he said. “They love to criticize Israel automatically, but we’re actually defending the West. We’re defending Europe,” adding that while the Islamic regime planned its war against Israel, “the next ones in line are the Europeans and all who are ‘infidels,’ as they call them.”

Herzog spoke about the Iranian missile barrages against Israel and the Iranian regime’s deliberate targeting of Israeli civilians.

“I think it’s disgusting and horrendous. We know that it was an Iranian-instigated attack on the hospital because they want to… weaken our backbone emotionally,” Herzog said about Thursday’s Iranian attack on Beersheva hospital in the south of Israel.

The president said it had been a divine miracle that nobody was killed during the attack, while also praising Israel’s air defense systems and instructions of the Home Command.

“Thank God, like a total miracle, nobody was killed,” Herzog said. Hospital staff had moved patients out of several areas in the building just moments before the hospital was hit by the Iranian missile.

Herzog also spoke about the “immense resilience” of Israeli society and the value placed on life in Israel, pointing out the stark contrast to the death cult of Hamas, saying, “Their way of thinking is, ‘We don’t care about dying.’ But we care about life.”

At the end of the interview, Herzog called for rabbis to continue their prayers on Israel's behalf.

“Remember, your brothers and sisters are under fire here, protecting and defending the free world,” he said. “If it weren’t for us, Europe and the United States would be next. What we are doing is a historic move to change the reality in the Middle East and offer peace for the future.”

He also appealed to Jewish diaspora communities to remain steadfast and strong.

“Tell everybody, don’t be afraid, and fight back. Use all the means you have, legal, public, everything else. Many more people than you think are with you,” Herzog said. “I know there are risks. I don’t shy away. I know there’s pain.”

He especially praised Jewish students worldwide for their commitment at a time when anti-Jewish sentiment and racism has exploded on university campuses.

“I want to tell all our dear Jewish students. You know, there were many periods in Jewish history where students could not express their views and opinions,” he said.

“Be together, fight back. You’re stronger than you think. Many people support you. Don’t shy away,” he said, adding, “These enemies will go away, and we shall prevail and overcome. Am Yisrael Chai [the People of Israel live].”