Overview
- Speaking at Yeshiva University’s Hanukkah dinner, where he received an honorary doctorate, Isaac Herzog called Zohran Mamdani’s rhetoric outrageous and said he “makes no effort to conceal his contempt” for Israel.
- Herzog argued that questioning Jews’ right to make aliyah delegitimizes Jewish ties to their homeland, legitimizes violence, and undermines freedom of religion.
- Citing the disruption of a Nefesh B’Nefesh event at Park East Synagogue, he condemned the mayor-elect’s response that suggested prospective immigrants were violating international law.
- Warning of a surge in antisemitism, Herzog pointed to institutional bias, Holocaust inversion, conspiracy theories, and the recasting of slurs under anti-Zionism.
- He credited President Donald J. Trump with helping secure the return of all but one Israeli hostage, urged the release of Ran Gvili, and honored the family of fallen soldier Omer Neutra.