Herzog says he told US Congress that terror 'undermines' regional peace three months before Oct. 7

President Isaac Herzog said on Monday he told the United States Congress in July 2023 that the terror threat was what prevented peace in the Middle East, three months prior to the October 7 attacks.

“I said to both sides of the aisle that terror is what undermines the future of peace in the region; that’s the truth," Herzog said in an interview with Fox News, noting that Israel wishes for peace with its neighbors.

"We did not seek that war (in Gaza); it was waged upon us by horrific, barbaric terrorists who raped, butchered, abducted, and killed our citizens," he emphasized.

Herzog noted Israel's response to the Hamas attack was part of the country's “inherent right to self-defense,” saying that the IDF "changed the route of the Middle East."

"All the rest is bashing and attacking around us, all over the place, blaming Israel for all the faults, but the truth of the matter is that Israel is protecting the free world by its activities,” Herzog said.

He noted the ceremonies taking place in Israel marking the third anniversary of the massacre.

“We have a whole week of ceremonies; huge agony, pain, and sorrow, reminiscing and memory, but also learning, a lesson to all of us," he said. "We must fight terror together.”

Herzog: Flydubai investigation 'very intense,' must determine 'gaps' in security

The Fox interview also addressed reports that Israeli security officials were unaware that the co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073, which he attempted to hijack, was barred from his previous employer, Oman Air, amid concerns over his radicalization.

“This is a very intense investigation also in Israel,” Herszog stressed. “Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanayhu announced that our National Security Council Head Shmuel Ben-Ezra and his team will review this and investigate it in depth in order to see where the gaps were and what faults there were."

He said Israeli authorities are cooperating with "all the relevant agencies of our neighbors and the Emiratis as well,” describing the flydubai incident as a "clear example of how we need to tighten the cooperation when it comes to all issues, especially aviation.”

“We are seeing clear evidence of a terror attack… which could have changed the world, literally, and definitely the region,” said Herzog. “Above the miracles… There is also the need to repair and be better next time.”

Trump 'easy way or the hard way' comments on Iran 'exactly true,' Herzog says

The conversation further addressed recent comments made by US President Donald Trump regarding Iran, with him describing the regime as "decimated," saying that an agreement can be reached "the easy way or the hard way.”

The Israeli president called Trump’s comments “exactly true,” saying there are "really two choices here."

"One thing that President Trump repeats all the time correctly is that we are dealing with an empire of evil which wants to really radicalize the world, conquer the free world, get all the way to Europe and the United States; that’s the jihadist regime philosophy, that's what Tehran is doing, and that is why they must not have any access to nuclear capabilities at all," Herzog said. "That's the debate; that's the issue."

The president noted that regional states "feel the same" about Tehran, even if they are not always "outspoken" about the issue.

"Underneath the surface, there is an effort to cooperate together and prevent this empire of proxies from tilting the balance," he stated.

He also addressed the issue of Yemen's Houthi terrorists, which he described as a "small tribe" managing to block a "main artery of world trade, [the] Bab al-Mandab."

"It costs each and every American," he noted. "And that’s the issue at stake, meaning, are we going to cave into terror, harassment, blackmail, or not? That's why the war with Iran is so essential.”