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Herzog Warns Against Isolating Israel, Says It Aids Extremists
At German Unity Day event, Israel’s president urges Europe to maintain cooperation and resist calls for boycotts.
President Isaac Herzog cautioned that isolating Israel would only serve the interests of extremists bent on destabilizing the free world. Speaking earlier this week at a German Unity Day event in Herzliya, hosted by German Ambassador Steffen Seibert, Herzog emphasized that strengthening ties with Israel is in Europe’s own strategic interest.
“Isolating Israel plays directly into the interests of extremists who seek to destabilize and harm the free world,” Herzog declared.
Highlighting the breadth of current cooperation, he said: “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 stressed the economic dimension of ties, warning that “both Israel and Europe have everything to gain from economic ties between us. And everything to lose from weakening them.”
Herzog pushed back against growing calls within Europe to exclude Israel from cultural and sporting arenas over the war in Gaza. “Europe must understand: Turning its back on Israel at this time is turning its back on Europe’s own interests. And we will all pay the price.”
His comments come amid intensifying pressure. Several European countries, including the Netherlands, Ireland, and Slovenia, have threatened to boycott Eurovision 2026 if Israel participates. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez recently went further, calling for Israel to be banned from international sports competitions.
Herzog’s remarks underscore Israel’s determination to remain engaged with its European partners despite international criticism. For Jerusalem, continued collaboration is not only about shared history but also about ensuring that democracies stand united in the face of extremist threats.
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