Herzog praises Israel-Lebanon deal as key step for regional peace

Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed the Romanian Parliament on Monday during a state visit to Bucharest, praising Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump for their leadership in the war against Iran, and hailing the recently signed Israel-Lebanon memorandum of understanding as a major step toward regional peace.

Speaking at the Palace of Parliament, Herzog said: "The Americans and the Israelis went to war against Iran to prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons, and to prevent this empire of evil and its proxies from threatening all peace-loving nations in the Middle East. I commend U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for their leadership in this war."

Herzog gave prominent place to the memorandum of understanding signed in Washington days earlier. "The recent memorandum of understanding between Israel and Lebanon, signed in Washington a few days ago, is a significant breakthrough for peace and can serve as a cornerstone for the path ahead," he said. "It requires the removal of Hezbollah and makes it possible to create the basis for a genuine peace agreement between the two countries."

He thanked U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the American administration for leading the diplomatic effort, and called for broader international backing. "I call on the EU and the international community to support it, to support Lebanon's stability and economy, and to support Israel's security," he said.

Herzog warned that "Iran's aspiration to become a nuclear-threshold state is a real and present threat to Israel," and that "Iran's presumption to dictate Lebanon's future undermines any possibility of advancing toward peace and security." He argued the Iranian threat extends beyond the region, endangering global stability, freedom of navigation, and democratic governments worldwide.

He also stressed Israel's openness to a negotiated end to the conflict. "Israel does not oppose a diplomatic solution to the war. On the contrary - we seek peace. We dream of peace on all our borders. This is our most cherished hope and the deepest wish of our hearts," he said.

Before his parliamentary address, Herzog met with Romanian Senate President Mircea Abulescu, Chamber of Deputies Speaker Sorin-Mihai Grindeanu, and other senior officials. Talks centered on bilateral relations and regional developments.

Herzog also paid tribute to Romania's response to the October 7 Hamas attack. "When the most barbaric attack against the Jewish people since the Holocaust occurred on October 7, Romania's response was clear and unequivocal. Romania's leadership condemned the Hamas massacre immediately and without reservation, and stood as a lighthouse of humanity and a ray of hope in our darkest hour," he said, also noting Romania's expressions of solidarity regarding the Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

The visit carried historical weight as well. Herzog recalled that in the Romanian city of Iași, Jewish poet Naftali Herz Imber wrote the first draft of what would become Israel's national anthem, "Hatikvah." "He carved these words into the national story of the Jewish people and into the conscience of all humanity, arguing that our hope is not yet lost," Herzog said.