President Herzog at UN General Assembly on International Holocaust Memorial Day: ‘UN Institutions Enable Anti-Semitic Views Against Israel’

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, speaking at the United Nations’ annual special event for International Holocaust Remembrance Day, criticized the UN for siding with terrorist organizations and also sent a stern message to Iran.

President Herzog began his speech referring to the 90 hostages still held by Hamas, saying, “Although the Israeli people have been overcome with emotion seeing seven of our daughters at last emerge heroically from hell – still, ninety Israelis and foreign nationals remain in Hamas captivity. We are anxiously awaiting six more to be freed this week, and awaiting all others.” the President said.

Herzog further mentioned the condition of the hostages, saying they are “being held in inhuman conditions, without basic and essential medical care, without visits from the Red Cross, and in violation of international law, treaties, and agreements.”

In his speech at the UN, President Herzog also attacked the UN institutions, saying: “Today, we find ourselves once again at a dangerous crossroads in the history of the United Nations. Instead of fulfilling its purpose and courageously fighting the global plague of murderous, jihadist terror, this assembly has repeatedly demonstrated moral bankruptcy. International forums and institutions like the International Criminal Court choose to hypocritically protect perpetrators of atrocities. They blur the distinction between good and evil and create a distorted symmetry between the victim and the monstrous murderer.”

The President voiced harsh criticism of many in the international community saying. He questioned, “How is it possible that international institutions, which began as an anti-Nazi alliance, are allowing antisemitic genocidal doctrines to flourish uninterrupted in the wake of the largest massacre of Jews since World War II?”

 
“How is it possible that the moral compass of so many in the family of nations has become so disoriented, that they no longer recognize the clear truth: That just as terrorists use civilians as human shields, they also weaponize the international institutions, undermining the most basic, fundamental reason for their establishment? How is it possible that the same institutions established in the wake of the greatest genocide in history – the Holocaust – are manipulating the definition of genocide for the sole purpose of attacking Israel and the Jewish people?”

Herzog also noted that terrorists who carried out the atrocities of October 7th took their inspiration from Nazism and Hitler.

The President stressed that 80 years after the liberation of Auschwitz, antisemitism was still present, intensifying and taking on new forms. He said, “This is an urgent wake-up call for all of humanity: antisemitism, savagery, cruelty, and racism are still thriving on our planet.”

Regarding Iran, the President pointed out the absurdity of Iran, as a UN member, threatening another member state without unequivocal condemnation. “The world cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the threat posed by Iran to the entire world, and especially to the State of Israel,” he said, adding, “This is a moment of truth for us all: We either bow our heads – or unite and take action to halt the danger.”  

The President stated that while criticism of Israel is legitimate, “It is time to acknowledge: Challenging our right to exist is not diplomacy, it is plain antisemitism.”