“Isolating Israel plays directly into the interests of extremists who seek to destabilize and harm the free world,” President Isaac Herzog said at a German Unity Day event in Herzliya this past week.
Speaking at the event, hosted by German Ambassador Steffen Seibert, Herzog stressed the important collaborations between the Jewish state and Germany, as well as with the rest of Europe.
“The collaboration in the present between Israel and Germany, and also between Israel and Europe at large, across science, research, culture, and so much more, serves the mutual interests of all partner countries. And it is important to state in these times: It must continue,” the president said, adding, “I have no doubt that both Israel and Europe have everything to gain from economic ties between us. And everything to lose from weakening them.”
Herzog criticized calls from within Europe to isolate or exclude Israel.
“Europe must understand: Turning its back on Israel at this time is turning its back on Europe’s own interests,” he said. “And we will all pay the price.”
Calls from Europe to exclude Israel
The president’s speech comes amid a growing discourse on excluding Israel from collaborative efforts in Europe due to the ongoing war in Gaza.
One example of this is Eurovision, with several countries saying they will boycott the song contest if Israel participates in 2026.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also called recently for Israel to be banned from international sports competitions because of the war in Gaza.
Hannah Brown contributed to this report.