Daniel Herzog: "Act of War But We Want Peace". Really?

The President of Israel Daniel Herzog is President in name only. Unlike say someone like President Biden, Herzog's role is a ceremonial role like the British Monarch. Herzog has views on certain things and no doubt, he discusses them with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Many countries have political or royal heads of state who wield no power. The real power lies in the hands of the Prime Minister, in this case, Bibi Netanyahu.

Mr. Herzog was addressing the Iranian attacks on Sky News that took place on Saturday. The Iranians plus Hezbollah in Lebanon, The Houthis in Yemen, and supporters of Iran in Syria and Iraq fired over 300 drones and missiles at Israel. However, despite the onslaught, little damage was done to Israel. Apart from an airbase that launched fighter jets to take out an Iranian facility in Syria. Iron Dome, Jacob's Sling, and The Arrow missile system took care of most of the Iranian airborne attacks. Israel was also assisted by the US, UK, and France. By and large, the attack appears to have been a huge failure unless the Iranian response was measured. Israel and its war cabinet are currently discussing how to respond to the Iranian attack.

On 1 April, Israel attacked and destroyed a building opposite the Iranian Consulate in Syria. This attack took out top Iranian officers of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. Attacking the diplomatic presence of a country in another country is illegal under international law. It was inevitable Iran would hit back. Iran took time to consider how to hit back. Now we know how Iran hit back from its territory and also with supporters around the region. As I said, whether Iran's attack failed because of Israel's superior anti-aircraft/anti-missile systems or Iran's attack was intentionally light, may never be known. However, this is the first time Iran has attacked Israel directly from its soil.

Iran and Israel have been fighting a shadow war since the Iranian revolution of 1979. Since the Hamas-Israel War kicked off tensions between Iran and Israel have been tense. Israel as well as acting against Hamas in Gaza has also been fighting Hezbollah in the north. The Houthis have been attacking Israeli ships or ships with a link to Israel. Iranian- backed militias have been attacking US bases in Syria and Iraq as they see the US as a supporter and friend to Israel. Israel, the US, the UK, etc, has responded by bombing targets in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. Now we may be on the brink of an all-out war between Iran and Israel. Many fear Israel could try to drag the West into a full-scale conflict with Iran, especially the US.

President Daniel Herzog described the Iranian attacks as an "Act of war" but then contradicted himself by saying "We want peace"! So are these mixed messages from Herzog? While on the other hand, the embattled Netanyahu, wants to continue the war and expand it. Can you believe anything the Israelis say?

One could argue that had Israel not attacked the Iranian consulate in Syria Iran would not have reacted. Just as if Hamas had not attacked Israel on 7 October would not have brought forth the horrible actions of the Israeli Defence Forces in Gaza.

If it's going to be tit for tat between Israel and Iran, we are indeed, on dangerous ground. Every action reacts, and this expansion of the war may not just involve the two belligerents of Israel and Iran. It may drag in the US and other nations. That then could bring in Iran's Allies Russia, China, and North Korea. Then after that, all bets would appear to be off.