Israel’s President has praised the defiance shown by British Jews and thanked them for their staunch support for Israel in the face of a wave of antisemitism in the UK.

Speaking to the JC, President Isaac Herzog said his country values “every bit of support” coming from the diaspora in “Israel’s darkest days”.

Herzog, the son of former Israeli president, Chaim Herzog, with roots in the UK and Ireland, spoke of his appreciation for the efforts of Jews in the UK to support his country.

“I don’t think British Jews are scared,” he said. “I am proud of UK Jews, they are doing tremendous work such as demonstrations, they should keep on doing it and not be afraid.

“I want to thank them for their mobilisation and support. We need every bit of support we can get in these times.”

Since the outbreak of war, the usually reserved Herzog has been fiery in his defence of the IDF and his country, and in his criticism of the international media
coverage.

“Israel is treated differently,” he said.

“I feel the BBC reporting is atrocious, the fact that the BBC does not recognise Hamas as a terror organisation requires a complete legal battle and public battle. It’s unbelievable.

“What other type of other torture do they want before they decide it was a terrorist organisation?”

Herzog also took pains to stress that “Israel operates entirely within international law”, highlighting its extensive efforts to avoid civilian casualties.

The president has repeatedly called on Hamas to release the Israeli hostages it abducted and appealed for other countries to echo his words.

He said: “The international community must do more,” he said. “Hamas’s political army is in Qatar. So much incitement and lies that come out of Al Jazeera that is based in Qatar.”

The president continued: “I’ve seen the booklet that each of those terrorists received. Each one is instructed to go into an innocent village and kibbutz or city and immediately torture whoever is abducted.

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Isaac Herzog showing a terrorist manual on CNN (CNN)

“I have seen scalps. I have seen horrific pictures; children being shot and incredibly painful stories of entire families wiped off the face off the Earth.

“What else do they need in order for them to admit that we are dealing with the worst terrorist organisation in the world?”

He added: “What we have seen in the last weeks has changed our lives forever. We are fighting a terrible enemy. We are fighting for humanity.”