Israeli president acknowledges Diaspora concern, defends country’s democracy

Isaac Herzog told Jewish media he understood the concern about the new government and wanted to assure Jews around the world that Israel’s democracy remains strong.

President Isaac Herzog has acknowledged Diaspora concern about the incoming Israeli government, assuring the international community that Israeli democracy remains “vibrant and strong”.

The president was speaking to journalists at the Jewish Media Summit in Jerusalem last week, the day after he received a late-night phone call from incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, advising him that Likud had signed a coalition agreement the Haredi parties United Torah Judaism and Shas and the far-Right Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit and Noam.

The coalition agreement requires legislative changes to increase ministerial powers. The first of these will give the new national security minister, ultranationalist Itamar Ben-Gvir, more powers over the police. Another change will allow Aryeh Deri, head of Shas, to become finance minister and minister of interior, despite his recent conviction for tax fraud.

The new government also plans changes to give a Knesset majority power to override Supreme Court decisions.

“It’s no secret that the outcome of the recent elections in Israel has raised many real questions from people around the world and, of course, Jewish communities, including people who have approached me,” the president said.

“Like my fellow Israelis, Jews around the world care deeply about Israel and want to know that they can still find their place in our collective. I hear these concerns and I understand them.

“I would like to reassure you that Israeli democracy is vibrant and strong. The many voices that compose us do not point to the weakness of our democracy but to its strength. Through the flow of freedom of speech, human and civil rights always have been and always will be pillars of our Jewish and democratic state. I know that if we can stay open to hearing each other we will find that we share much more than we might think.”