Herzog urges dialogue over judicial reform during memorial for late President Peres

'Israeli society is stronger than any crisis,' says Israeli president

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog took part in a state memorial ceremony at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem on Wednesday to mark the seventh anniversary since the death of the late former Israeli President Shimon Peres .

In his address, Herzog paid tribute to Peres as “a leader of vision and hope” and a leader who “built Israel's security.”

Peres’ political career spanned some 70 years. He served as the eighth prime minister of Israel from 1984 to 1986 and from 1995 to 1996 and as the ninth president of Israel from 2007 to 2014.

He was first elected to the Knesset in November 1959 and went on to become its longest-serving member, repeatedly re-elected until becoming president in 2007.

During his speech, Herzog reiterated his call to dialogue and mutual respect to solve the judicial reform crisis, which he said has “dangerously shaken the society, the economy and especially the security of the State of Israel.”

Israel's politicians should be responsible and “act in every way to reach a broad consensus,” Herzog said.

“The vast majority of the public wishes to see an end to this crisis, oust this controversy from the daily agenda and start working together on the things that truly matter. Especially today, when polarization and division are at a high point, and it seems that some of us find it difficult to imagine a shared and hopeful future,” the Israeli president said.

He went on to describe the Peres’ outlook on life, “that even at the height of anxiety, we must focus on calmly finding a way out of the crisis through dialogue. Together.”

“I call on all of us to learn this great lesson from Shimon Peres. Even and especially at this time, we must remember the State of Israel is stronger than any crisis. Israeli society is stronger than any crisis,” President Herzog concluded.