Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel, is extremely
pleased with the ‘overwhelming reaction’ to Kanye West’s anti-Semitic remarks,
he told CNN during an interview with Wolf Blitzer. The response comes after
American rapper Kanye West was widely criticised on social media and elsewhere
for his anti-Semitic remarks. Herzog’s comments came after he met United States
President Joe Biden at the Oval office on Wednesday.

Blitzer referred to the Israeli President’s discussion
with Biden about the rise in anti-Semitism in the United States recently seen
in the comments by Kanye West, now known as Ye, and asked Herzog how his discussion
on this with President Biden went.

Herzog said: “We are all concerned by anti-Semitism
all over the world, and of course, anti-Semitism here and everywhere and the
President (Biden) was crystal clear on targeting fighting anti-Semitism with
all tools possible.”

“It’s anti-Semitism, its racism, xenophobia, these are
the challenges of the era. But unfortunately, history teaches us that usually
it starts with hating Jews, with blaming Jews. With terrible rhetoric that
people say, ‘you know okay he said it.’ And that’s why I am extremely pleased,
objectively, as an Israeli, as a Jew, as a human being, I am extremely pleased
to see this overwhelming reaction against the comments by Kanye West.”

While Kanye West has been criticised for making
anti-Semitic remarks, his most recent comments drew immense response on social
media. Brands such as Balenciaga and Adidas distanced themselves from the
rapper.

Also Read | Kanye West no longer a billionaire after Adidas, GAP sever ties

The rapper had tweeted: “Going Defcon 3 ON JEWISH
PEOPLE,” later going on to add he wasn’t “Anti-Semitic because black people are
actually Jew also.”

“You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball
anyone whoever opposes your agenda,” he added.

The tweet was later removed.

West’s tweet drew a response from the American Jewish
Committee (AJC). “Although some have tried, there is no rationale, no
explaining Kanye West’s rants on social media for anything else than what they
are: vicious antisemitic statements that pose a clear and present danger to
every Jewish person,” said AJC CEO Ted Deutch.

Also Read | Kanye West anti-Semitic remarks: 3 times Ye crossed the line

Kanye’s ex-wife Kim Kardashian tweeted: “Hate speech
is never OK or excusable. I stand together with the Jewish community and call
on the terrible violence and hateful rhetoric towards them to come to an immediate
end.”