President Herzog Emphasizes Loyalty to Israeli People and Law Amid Constitutional Crisis

Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed the ongoing constitutional crisis in Israel during a National Security College graduation ceremony on Wednesday evening. Herzog stressed that the country's security and law enforcement bodies owe their loyalty not to any individual or political faction, but to the sovereign people of Israel, the Israeli legal code, and the values of a Jewish and democratic state. He described this principle as the essence of statehood.

Herzog urged the graduates to rise above the deep societal divisions, focusing instead on unity under the national flag. He emphasized that state institutions and laws belong to and serve all citizens equally, regardless of community, sector, or ideology, while maintaining the state's hierarchical values where the nation is the sovereign framework.

His remarks followed a speech by Shin Bet chief David Zini, who explained that he accepted his role because of his ability to remain loyal to the elected leadership regardless of political views. Zini recounted his initial hesitation but ultimately agreed to serve, highlighting his commitment to the mission.

Later, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir delivered a strong message to the government amid the ultra-Orthodox recruitment crisis. Zamir warned that the Israel Defense Forces are at their minimal operational size relative to current threats, a situation exacerbated since the October 7 attacks. He called for a significant expansion of the military to meet all assigned missions, framing military service as both a strategic necessity and a moral Zionist duty.

Zamir reflected on the 1,000 days since October 7 as a painful but guiding compass, underscoring the heavy cost of failures borne by fallen soldiers, hostages, the wounded, and their families. He acknowledged unprecedented operational achievements against enemies and the removal of existential threats, while noting that the conflict continues in a new form. Zamir outlined a new security doctrine focused on preemptive strikes, threat removal, and protecting civilians by creating demilitarized zones along enemy borders.