Israeli President Isaac Herzog said during an interview over the weekend that despite some remarks from various Israeli officials, Israel does not want to forcibly displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.
The remarks from Herzog came during an interview on Sunday with Kristen Welker on NBC News’ “Meet The Press” while discussing Israel’s ongoing operations to hunt down the Palestinian terrorists responsible for massacring 1,200 Israelis on October 7.
Welker asked Herzog if “forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza” was the official position of the Israeli government.
“Absolutely not,” he responded. “Totally not agreed or is not the position of the Israeli government, or the Israeli parliament, or the Israeli public. But we are a democracy, and in democracy, you have a variety of ideas. And in a variety of ideas, and in a society – society where free speech is the basis of our national DNA, people can say whatever they want. So, in a Cabinet of 30 ministers where it’s not the security Cabinet, a minister can say whatever he wants. I may not like it, but this is Israeli politics. And, by the way, you have in America people who say things which you don’t like. But that doesn’t mean it’s the policy of the administration. So, same goes here.”
“I’m saying outright, officially and unequivocally, this is not the Israeli position,” he added. “We should remember, however, the national psyche here. We are in deep trauma. In the last three months, we have – we have seen – we have seen so much agony, pain, and sadness. And may I remind all that we still have over 130 Israelis from babies, from toddlers, one of them due to celebrate one year old in a week’s time, all the way to 85-year-olds, as well, including people with Holocaust background. So, because of that, our nation – our nation is bereaving, is worried, is agonized, and we are doing whatever we can to do whatever it takes to bring back these hostages.”
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