A delegation of 18 federal judges from across America met with President Isaac Herzog on Tuesday as part of an intensive visit to Israel under the auspices of the World Jewish Congress.
As a lawyer and the son and husband of lawyers, the president was particularly interested in comparing American and Israeli legal systems and also dwelt briefly on the International Court of Justice, which appears to be ill-disposed towards Israel.
After explaining the judicial appointments system in the Jewish state and moving on to the ICJ, he said there is no trust in the judges, “and it’s becoming more difficult.”
“I truly have faith in national leadership and national law and promoting the Charter of Human Rights, but it’s now become a political game,” he said during the meeting at the President’s Residence.
Herzog quoted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who lamented in a recent speech that other democratic countries are unwilling to listen to Israel’s voice.
“We are here protecting the West and the free world,” the president said, adding that Israel finds itself trying to keep hold of an incredible democracy, “which is the only one in the region.” He also mentioned that the events of the past year or so have slightly changed the perception of the Jewish state in the eyes of her neighbors.
The conversation moved to the hostages in Gaza and what can be done to secure their release. This is an all-encompassing topic for Herzog, who raises it at meetings with large and small groups, heads of state, and other influential figures.
Concern for Israel and Jewish students in US universities
One of the judges asked whether Israel was concerned it might be losing in the battle of worldwide ideas. The president conceded that there is concern, not for Israel alone, but for Jewish students in American universities who are constantly suffering harassment. “It’s a wake-up call. Unbelievable! Shocking!” he declared.
Also mentioned in the conversation were the country’s minority groups and the heroism of both soldiers and civilians.
Although the meeting was mostly serious, it did have its humorous moments, such as when Herzog asked his guests to introduce themselves and where they came from. After everyone had introduced themselves, Roy Altman, the leader of the group, said he came from a much better place than any of his colleagues – Miami, which he said is just like Tel Aviv.
“We’ve got Jews, we’ve got Zionists, and we’ve got Cubans.”
Altman, who was born in Caracas, Venezuela, is an alumnus of Columbia University and Yale Law School. At Columbia, he was a quarterback on the football team and a pitcher on the baseball team.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Altman, noting that Herzog is the second president in his family and the first one born in Israel after the establishment of the state (and the fourth altogether, counting presidents Yitzhak Navon, Chaim Weizmann, and Reuven Rivlin), asked him who the better president was – he or his father?
Herzog unhesitatingly replied, “My father,” then went into a brief review of his father’s diverse talents and accomplishments, adding that he was, however, honored to have been voted president.
The next stop for the delegation was the Supreme Court, and Herzog advised the Americans that they should make every effort to meet the chief justice, Isaac Amit.