Israeli President Yitzchak Herzog, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, admitted that his long-standing support for a two-state solution has been deeply shaken following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Herzog, a former leader of the Labor Party and a long-time advocate of the two-state solution, described the massacre as a �wake-up call� that has forced him to reassess the feasibility of peace under current circumstances.

�I supported the two-state solution many times in the past,� Herzog acknowledged, �but after October 7, I need to hear my neighbors clearly condemn such acts of terror. It is unacceptable under any norms.� He noted the trauma Israelis have experienced and the unrealistic nature of expecting the nation to withdraw from settlements without significant guarantees for security. �It doesn�t make sense to Israelis. They need to see something that provides a sense of personal safety,� he said.

Herzog suggested that future discussions should focus on normalization agreements with Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, while addressing the Palestinian issue as a central part of these dialogues.

On international relations, Herzog touched on the return of Donald Trump to the White House, highlighting the urgency of confronting Iran. �Iran will be a main issue on his agenda very soon,� Herzog said. �Iran cannot have nuclear capabilities and must stop supporting its proxies and its axis of evil.� He warned that Iran is �working day and night� to achieve nuclear weapons, making it a pressing threat.

Herzog also commented on the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, currently structured in three phases. Despite significant challenges, he expressed cautious optimism about the agreement�s potential to reach its final stage. �There is a clear desire to move to the second phase. We meant it when we signed the agreement,� Herzog said.

However, Herzog criticized the disparity in the terms of the ceasefire, highlighting Israel�s release of over a thousand convicted terrorists in exchange for 33 Israeli civilians, women, and children held hostage. �We are asking to release women and children, and for that, we are paying with barbaric terrorists,� he said.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)