DAVOS (RAHNUMA): Israeli President Isaac Herzog urged the international community on Thursday to “give the peace plan a chance,” saying the emerging proposal for Gaza could pave the way for stability, reconstruction, and renewed regional diplomacy.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Herzog said the plan had the potential to deliver a historic “Marshall Plan”-style rebuilding effort for Gaza. He added that the technocratic government proposed for the enclave — already accepted by Israel — would ultimately be judged by its ability to improve daily life for Palestinians.
The statements are in stark contrast to calls from ministers within the government requesting a return to total war, annexation and continued Israeli attacks in Gaza. These attacks have killed 383 people since the ceasefire came into effect in October, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Herzog, whose presidential position in Israel is non-political and largely ceremonial, emphasized that the success of the peace plan would also influence broader regional dynamics, including the prospects for normalization with Saudi Arabia.
He described the Kingdom as “a very important nation,” calling it his “dream” to eventually see an agreement signed between the two countries as part of a wider push to expand the Abraham Accords.
Saudi Arabia has made clear that any normalization would hinge on credible, irreversible steps toward a Palestinian state. Responding to questions from CNN anchor Fareed Zakaria, Herzog said he believed a political horizon and eventual Palestinian statehood were possible and would likely become a key issue in Israel’s upcoming election.
The current Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, firmly opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state and has repeatedly reinforced this position across multiple diplomatic contexts. It has also sought to expand settlements in the West Bank and weaken the Palestinian Authority, further undermining the possibility of a two-state solution.
On regional security, Herzog warned that Israel still believed Iran and Iran-backed Hezbollah were “regrouping and rebuilding.” He argued that Iran’s long-term future “lies in regime change,” and said Israel continued to place significant trust in the US regarding security arrangements for Gaza.
Herzog added that Israel’s ultimate strategic goal was to “live peacefully with Syria,” though he declined to comment on ongoing diplomatic deliberations.
