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[[Israeli President Isaac Herzog marked the 75th year of Israeli independence Wednesday in an address to the U.S. Congress. His visit to Washington comes amid concerns about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial judicial overhaul plan and Israel’s continuing conflict with Palestinians. VOA’s Congressional Correspondent Katherine Gypson has more.]]
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptUS CONGRESS ISRAEL (TV)
HEADLINE: Israeli President Affirms US Relationship Amid Domestic Turmoil
TEASER: Iran is the greatest mutual threat, Isaac Herzog tells US Congress
PUBLISHED AT: 07/19/23, 5:34p
BYLINE: Katherine Gypson
PRODUCERS: Katherine Gypson
CONTRIBUTING: Anita Powell
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, Bowman
VIDEO SOURCE (S):
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:53
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE:
((Intro))
[[Israeli President Isaac Herzog marked the 75th year of Israeli independence Wednesday in an address to the U.S. Congress. His visit to Washington comes amid concerns about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial judicial overhaul plan and Israel’s continuing conflict with Palestinians. VOA’s Congressional Correspondent Katherine Gypson has more.]]
((Narrator))
Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Washington, addressing Congress at a key point in the U.S.-Israel relationship, telling lawmakers Iran is the greatest threat to the two countries.
((Isaac Herzog, Israeli President))
“Iran is building nuclear capabilities that pose a threat to the stability of the Middle East and beyond.”
((Narrator))
Herzog’s visit comes amid conflict over ongoing construction in West Bank Jewish settlements — a move Herzog defended, saying Israel would not discuss peace while threatened by terrorists.
((Isaac Herzog, Israeli President))
“True peace cannot be anchored in violence.”
((Narrator))
Earlier this month, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said Lebanese land under the control of Israel must be liberated.
((Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Leader of Hezbollah)) ((Arabic))
“This is Lebanese land. The Israelis reoccupied it. Not only reoccupied it, but fenced it off and built a wall.”
((Narrator))
Prior to the address, some members of Congress expressed concern about the Israeli government’s treatment of Palestinians. Herzog said denial of the Jewish state is anti-semitism but recognized there is room for criticism.
((Isaac Herzog, Israeli President))
“A new generation of Israelis and Americans are assuming leadership roles, a generation that was not privy to the hardship of Israel’s formative years. A generation that is less engaged in the roots that connect our peoples. A generation that, perhaps, takes for granted the U.S.-Israel relationship.”
((Narrator))
Herzog also addressed massive ongoing protests over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to revise Israel’s judicial system — which many see as a move toward authoritarianism.
((Isaac Herzog, Israeli President))
“The intense debate going on back home, even as we speak, is the clearest tribute to the fortitude of Israel’s democracy. Israel’s democracy has always been based on free and fair elections, on honoring the people’s choice, on safeguarding minority rights, on protection of human and civil liberties, and on a strong and independent judiciary.”
((Narrator))
A representative of reform Judaism in the U.S. told VOA the removal of checks and balances in the Israeli government is a cause for concern.
[[Radio track: Rabbi Jonah Pesner:]]
((Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism))
((Skype))
“It's incredibly problematic what this prime minister and his incredibly problematic coalition [have] proposed. They want to do everything from change the way that judges are selected so that they could handpick their judges to in essence ending judicial review.”
((Narrator))
U.S. President Joe Biden has invited Netanyahu to visit the United States this fall.
((Katherine Gypson, VOA News, Washington))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Washington D. C.
Embargo DateJuly 19, 2023 17:44 EDT
Byline
Katherine Gypson, VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
