British journalist and author Douglas Murray was honored with special recognition by President Isaac Herzog and the Diaspora Affairs Ministry for his advocacy on behalf of Israel.
A ministry statement acclaimed his “notable efforts since the October 7 massacre.”
In a ceremony on Tuesday evening, Herzog and Amichai Chikli, Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister, extended this accolade to Murray, a British journalist and author.
Murray remarked, “People who are so enamored with death stand no chance against those who cherish life. It’s an extraordinary privilege for me to align with the State of Israel, to stand with you, and I hope, to stand with us.”
According to the statement, “Since the war’s outbreak, Murray has spent approximately 19 weeks in Israel, making two visits to the Gaza Strip. He has met with the prime minister, the president, ministers, and Knesset members, engaged with families of captives and those returned from captivity, and has explored communities around Gaza, in the North, and in Judea and Samaria.”
His contributions include numerous articles, opinion pieces, social media posts, and extensive reporting, all advocating for Israel. “He has been a steadfast ally in countless international press interviews,” the ministry said.
Chikli praised Murray’s integrity and insight, stating, “Douglas stands as a fearless truth-teller amidst a symphony of lies, a beacon of light in these dark times. He quickly grasped that the conflict we’re engaged in transcends the future of Gaza, the State of Israel, or the Middle East. It’s an existential fight for the future of the West, the future of humanity, rooted not just in intuition but in years of meticulous study and deep investigation. We’re fortunate to have intellectuals like Douglas Murray by our side in this fight, a fight that requires, more than anything, faith.”
The event, at the President’s Residence, hosted by journalist Lital Shemesh and musically accompanied by Idan Raichel, was attended by around 150 leading figures in public diplomacy, researchers, and government officials.
Reflecting on the broader implications of Murray’s work, Herzog noted, “Since the swearing-in in October, the rise in antisemitism globally and the surge of hatred against Jews have debunked the myth that there’s a practical difference between toxic anti-Zionism and toxic antisemitism. But we, the Jewish people, and our friends worldwide, did not remain silent. Douglas Murray has been at the forefront, articulating a coherent, intelligent, and persuasive defense of Israel, and of the truth and our shared values. And for that, expressing our gratitude is both right and appropriate.”
Who is Douglas Murray?
Murray,44, is a British author and conservative commentator. He founded the Centre for Social Cohesion in 2007, which later merged with the Henry Jackson Society, where he served as associate director until 2018. Murray is an associate editor at The Spectator. He is known for his critical views on immigration and Islam, detailed in works like "Neoconservatism: Why We Need It and The Strange Death of Europe."
“There is no reason why the IDF or Israel’s political or military class should listen to the opinions of people with little to no skin in the game,” Murray recently wrote for Sapir Journal. “Whenever Israel is involved in a conflict, international observers of all varieties waste their energies shouting into the whirlwind.”