Herzog Warns of European Scapegoating of Jews in Newly Released Remarks

President Isaac Herzog warned that Jews and Israel were being scapegoated in France and Europe, in remarks released by his spokesperson on October 12. He addressed a visiting Consistoire delegation in Jerusalem on Sunday, led by Élie Korchia and joined by France’s Chief Rabbi Haïm Korsia. Herzog distinguished legitimate criticism of Israeli policy from blaming Jews for Europe’s frustrations, which he said endangered Jewish communities. He argued that boycotts and sanctions harm Palestinian livelihoods while relieving Hamas’s leadership of responsibility for its crimes. He also called for closer French–Israeli cooperation in culture, academia, science, education and business.