The next is a transcript of an interview with Isaac Herzog, president of Israel, on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that aired on Sept. 22, 2024.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That was our Chris Livesay from Tel Aviv, we flip now to the President of Israel. Isaac Herzog, Welcome again to “Face The Nation.”
PRESIDENT OF ISRAEL ISAAC HERZOG: Thanks, Margaret, good morning,
MARGARET BRENNAN: Mr. President, prior to now few days, Israel carried out a groundbreaking operation towards hundreds of Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon. The U.S. was solely given 20 minutes discover forward of time. Since then, Israel additionally carried out a strike in Beirut that killed senior commanders of Hezbollah. What is that this technique right here, and is Israel making an attempt to escalate right into a full blown struggle with Hezbollah?
PRESIDENT HERZOG: Completely not. We didn’t need this struggle. We’re not searching for struggle. This struggle was waged upon us by the proxies of the empire of evil of Iran, on October 7 by Hamas, and on October 8 by Hezbollah. And ever since, from Lebanon within the north, and, after all, from Hamas within the south and all around the Center East, the proxies of Iran are attacking and attacking now. Hezbollah has been attacking us each day, demolishing Israeli villages and cities, mainly resulting in the eviction of 100,000 Israelis from their houses. Life has been shattered in our northern border. I do not suppose any American would have accepted it as a form of a establishment scenario in the USA. And on the finish, there are issues that should be executed. The obligation of a authorities or a nation is to maintain its residents and convey them again residence.
MARGARET BRENNAN: however on the problem of what is occurring within the north of Israel proper now, the White Home argues {that a} struggle in Lebanon just isn’t the best way to convey these 100,000 Israelis again into their houses. They need a diplomatic settlement about that blue line. Do you suppose that the present authorities of Israel needs a diplomatic settlement?
PRESIDENT HERZOG: We by no means stated that we do not desire a diplomatic settlement. Quite the opposite, there’s a very ready American envoy, Amos Hochstein, the President’s advisor, who’s making an attempt to trip between us and the Lebanese. We help and welcome the efforts by the USA of America and the administration. Really. We respect it tremendously. However on the finish of it, okay, Mr. Hochstein leaves Israel, and so they carry on firing and firing, and that can’t go on ceaselessly, as a result of our residents should return residence, as a result of the man in Lebanon, Mr. Nasrallah, thinks he that he needs to hyperlink it to Gaza. And in Gaza there’s one other arch terrorist, Mr. Sinwar within the dungeons, who does not wish to get to a deal, refuses to get to a deal. That is jihadism at its finest, and that is what we’re preventing. And I want, really, and I say it because the President of Israel formally, and I say it outright, as a result of I do know we do not need struggle, but when it is waged towards us, we go all the best way.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, you say you don’t need struggle, Mr. President, Israel moved its 98th division to the north of Israel this week. Your protection minister says the middle of gravity is shifting in direction of Lebanon. What’s the intention of these navy strikes, if to not put together for struggle?
PRESIDENT HERZOG: As a result of these guys who we eradicated on Friday, have been gathering collectively of their condo in Beirut with a purpose to plan one other October seventh. They developed this faculty of thought, of swarming into Israel, of making an attempt to take hostage, of butchering–
[CROSSTALK]
MARGARET BRENNAN: –Do you’ve gotten proof?
PRES. ISAAC HERZOG: –raping, burning, abducting
MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you’ve gotten proof that an assault was imminent?
PRES. ISAAC HERZOG: We’ve got sufficient of dangers right here to take care of-Pardon?
PRES. ISAAC HERZOG: So I am unable to go into all the knowledge itself, however it’s assumed that they have been planning an assault. You see at this time. This morning, they took out a barrage of assaults on Israeli cities, cities and villages all around the northern a part of Israel. Pounding with enormous bombs and missiles on the northern a part of Israel. Why would any nation settle for it? Why would any respectable nation settle for it? We’re virtually a 12 months in such a scenario of a form of a vicious cycle. We wish to get out of this vicious cycle.
MARGARET BRENNAN: This previous week, the AP put out graphic footage shot within the West Financial institution the place Israeli troopers pushed the our bodies of Palestinians off the roof of buildings there, the White Home says they need an investigation, that that is “abhorrent and egregious” conduct. How do you reply to those considerations from certainly one of your closest allies that Israel could also be including to escalation threat?
PRES. ISAAC HERZOG: So we, after all, hearken to our closest ally overtly and albeit. That is if- if it occurred as reported, and it’s below investigation, as a result of we’re a nation of the rule of regulation. We are going to, after all, take all crucial motion. We are going to condemn it, and use all the- you already know, the authorized steps that must be taken towards it, however we’re finding out it as a result of we’re a severe military and a severe folks, and we research and examine ourselves as a lot as we are able to.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Earlier than I allow you to go, do you suppose that President Biden’s efforts to barter that hostage deal is simply wishful considering at this level? Will this be an issue for the subsequent American president?
PRES. ISAAC HERZOG: So really, I might say that I’ve enormous respect for President Biden’s effort, and we supported the whole- wholeheartedly. However because the spokesperson of the Nationwide Safety Council, Common Kirby, simply stated the opposite day, we’re not getting any optimistic indicators from Hamas in any respect. From Sinwar, he is on the market within the dungeons taking, you already know, I mean- no matter we predict in our line of considering as free, loving, nations and peoples. He thinks the opposite means. However I might say that the- really the decision for the household of countries on this present disaster, which is boiling sizzling, is definitely maybe the chance to go ahead and alter the scenario by discovering the best exit and bringing the hostages again residence.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Mr. President, thanks to your time this morning.
PRES. ISAAC HERZOG: Thanks very a lot.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll be proper again.
