Israeli President Herzog Warns of Internal and External Threats to Election Integrity

Ninety-eight days before the upcoming elections, Israeli President Isaac Herzog delivered a special address on Tuesday evening highlighting serious threats to the integrity of the electoral process. Herzog revealed that Shin Bet chief David Zini and Central Elections Committee chairman Judge Noam Solberg informed him of threats originating both internally and externally. He emphasized the importance of maintaining election purity and warned against violence during the campaign period.

Herzog stressed a unified front in safeguarding the elections, pledging support and backing for the Central Elections Committee as well as all security and law enforcement agencies. He called on all legal authorities to act decisively and efficiently against these threats. Highlighting the dangers posed by social media, Herzog urged citizens to be prudent, cautious, and responsible regarding the content they consume and share.

Addressing concerns about potential violence, Herzog reminded the public that elections are not a civil war. He underscored that disagreement and criticism are vital to democracy, but collective responsibility for the country's future must prevail. Herzog opened his speech by referencing the upcoming Tisha B'Av fast, a day commemorating the destruction of the Jewish Temples, drawing a parallel to the dangers of division and hatred within society, especially during election times.