With election over, Herzog urges political leaders ‘to lower the flames’

With another election campaign now over, President Isaac Herzog calls on political leaders to tamp down the rhetoric, as he speaks at an official memorial ceremony for assassinated former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin.

“Once again, accusations of treason were spread and again comparisons to Nazis were heard, and again the public sphere — including social media — was filled with dangerous violence. This is the time to lower the flames, to show responsibility,” he says in a speech at his official residence.

He adds: “To the leaders of the Israeli public from across the spectrum, from the the expected coalition to opposition, I call on and you and request: We have attacked enough, we have fought enough, we have cursed enough.”

Herzog says it’s possible to “deeply and profoundly disagree” while doing so respectfully, “with the understanding that we are all part of a whole, that no one is going anywhere.”

“Let me stress: Racism, violence and hate have no place among us. The State of Israel is committed to the Declaration of Independence,” he adds.

“The State of Israel is Jewish and democratic, obligated to the rule of law and to respecting human rights; Israeli society needs to fight to maintain it like this, against anyone who tries to ignite the flames of hatred and division.”