President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday extended Ramadan greetings to the people of Iran while sharply condemning what he described as Tehran’s “reign of terror,” during a visit to the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat.
“I want to send the people of Iran best wishes for the month of Ramadan,” Herzog said. “I truly hope and pray that this reign of terror will end and that we will see a different era in the Middle East.”
During his tour of the CMCC, Herzog was briefed by senior military officials, including Maj.-Gen. Yaki Dolf, the IDF commander of the center, and Maj.-Gen. John “Brad” Bowlin of the US Army, who serves as its director.
The CMCC brings together Israeli, US, and other international representatives for joint civil-military coordination. Herzog described the facility as an example of unprecedented international cooperation.
“I just completed a very interesting tour at the CMCC headquarters here near Kiryat Gat. This is an amazing scene. You see representatives from various nationalities from all over the world, strong cooperation in the civil and military arenas with the Israel Defense Forces, the US army, and various other groups and forces as well,” he said.
Herzog expresses hope for the people of Gaza
Addressing Gaza, Herzog expressed optimism about what he called a new diplomatic and security framework following decisions by the “Board of Peace,” the rollout of US President Donald Trump’s 20-Point Peace Plan, and a recent UN Security Council resolution.
“We are looking forward to a future of hope in Gaza following the decision of the Board of Peace and the implementation of the 20-Point Peace Plan of President Trump and the UN Security Council Resolution,” Herzog said.
“You see something being created. You see something new. You see hope in the air, and you see very serious plans that can offer a different avenue for the people of Gaza,” he added.
He described the work underway at the CMCC as tangible and transformative.
“What we are seeing here are facts, projects, implementations, and I truly believe that this is a game-changer for the future of the Middle East and for world peace,” he said.
A Ramadan message 'to our neighbors'
As the Muslim holy month begins, Herzog also extended greetings to Muslim citizens of Israel and to Muslims across the region and beyond.
“As we enter the month of Ramadan, allow me to send best wishes to the Muslim citizens of Israel, to the Muslims in the region, all over, to our neighbors, and to our allies all over the world and friends. We wish them a month of peace, a month of recovery, and a month of hope for the people of this region and the people of Gaza,” he said.
Additionally, he accused the Iranian regime of brutal repression in recent weeks. Reports suggest the regime may have killed tens of thousands of protesters during its crackdown on nationwide demonstrations last month.
“The Iranian regime has butchered and slaughtered tens of thousands of Iranians in recent weeks. They have clearly employed a ruthless regime all over Iran, causing huge suffering,” Herzog said.
He concluded by expressing hope for a regional shift away from Iranian-backed proxies and toward a more stable future.
The IDF has been escalating its strikes on terror targets in Lebanon in recent days in preparation for another round of war with Iran, which Israeli officials have said could be imminent.