President Herzog received Muslim religious leaders

President Isaac Herzog hosted a meeting today, Thursday, at the Presidential Residence in Jerusalem with Muslim religious leaders and influential imams from Israel's Arab communities.

Considered key influencers in Arab society, imams and religious leaders serve as civil servants and often act as mediators in their communities, aiming to reduce violence and promote peace in Arab cities and towns.

Since the outbreak of the war, The imams have taken on the mission of strengthening coexistence between the various religions and communities of Israel, promoting tolerance, dialogue and reconciliation, driven by the belief that this is the basis of a stable, shared Israeli society.

During the meeting, the imams expressed their deep concern about the increasing violence and crime in Arab society. One of them expressed fear for his life, saying: “Every day, someone from our community is killed. We try to carry on as usual, but our situation is unnatural and unacceptable. I have no words. All of us here are threatened. Each and every one of us.”

Another imam shared his anguish: “I am conveying to you my pain as an Arab Muslim, hoping that this pain will reach the whole world through you.”

The President responded: “The rise in crime and violence within Arab society is alarming and deeply painful. It is a national challenge that requires us to continue working together until this phenomenon is eradicated.”

“The pain is twofold: along with violence, terrorism also claims victims from all sectors of Israeli society. Therefore, we must continue to cooperate for a better future,” he added.

One of Rahat’s leading imams spoke about efforts to promote women’s social mobility in the Arab community, sharing: “I managed to establish a women’s empowerment center. Today, nearly 300 women who were previously illiterate come to the center to learn. I taught them mediation techniques and they now mediate between women in their communities. I also gave them first aid training. These women feel as if they have been reborn. Women who previously did not leave their homes now have a place to go and have truly blossomed.”

The President thanked the participants, listened to the many initiatives they are promoting in Arab society, and said: “I am a man of faith. I sincerely and deeply believe in God. I have great esteem and respect for religious leaders, especially those who promote religious dialogue and have such a significant social influence. One of the challenges is that the Israeli public does not understand the role of an imam or his importance. They are often exposed to frightening images from other spheres that have no relation to them.”

“It is crucial to communicate how essential the role of the imam is. When we visit Arab communities, there is always an imam who comes to speak to us. It is an honour for us, as their influence extends deeply into the community and its surroundings. Now is the time to strengthen the imams, support them and stand by them. This is a cause I will personally champion. The issue of crime is deeply worrying and horrifying – it affects everyone. It is a terrible and devastating plague,” he said.

And finally, he closed by saying: “Thank you very much to all of you. Inshallah, we will see days of peace, good news, salvation and comfort. Let us pray together for the return of the hostages. This is the key to everything. Intense negotiations are underway that could influence the entire region. Perhaps we will then see a diplomatic process with Saudi Arabia, which, in my opinion, could transform the entire dialogue between the descendants of Abraham.”