Israeli President Herzog warns: 'Elections are not a civil war' amid rising political tensions

Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed the nation in a televised speech on Tuesday, calling on Israelis to reduce the increasingly heated rhetoric that has marked the early days of the election campaign.

“In recent days, we have once again seen dangerous violence rearing its head across the country,” he lamented. “I turn to elected representatives, activists, and all candidates from all parties, and demand that you do not cross red lines. Do not turn rivals into enemies. I call on the people of Israel, in a clear voice: Remember that elections are not a civil war.”

Referring to a recent meeting with Shin Bet Director David Zini and Central Elections Committee Chairman Noam Sohlberg, Herzog said the officials presented him with “various threats to the integrity of the elections, both internal and external.”

“We presented a unified front on this issue, and we committed to supporting and backing the Central Elections Committee and all our security and law enforcement bodies,” he added. “I call on all of the law enforcement authorities to stand firmly and effectively against these threats.”

“In the age of social media, the dangers are great," Herzog said, "All of us must be thoughtful, careful, and responsible in the content we consume, and all the more so in the content we broadcast.”

Herzog also urged the public to “take an active part in these elections: to listen, to make your voice heard, to show respect, and to vote,” calling elections “the pinnacle of a democracy.”

He then reminded Israelis of Tisha B’Av, the day on the Hebrew calendar that begins Wednesday evening this year and which has historically been associated with several tragedies that befell the Jewish people, including the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. According to Jewish tradition, Herzog said, these disastrous events fell upon the nation because of internal divisions.

“Baseless hatred destroyed our home,” the president said. “Twice in the history of our people, we merited independent sovereignty in our land. Twice we failed. We must not repeat the mistakes of the past.”

In recent weeks, political tensions in Israel have intensified, including protests by Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men over IDF conscription and increasingly aggressive campaign messaging from various political factions. Several recent election campaigns have been marked by sharp personal attacks, negative advertising and tactics that some voters say have contributed to growing frustration with the tone of public discourse.