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

Ninety-eight days before the upcoming Israeli elections, President Isaac Herzog delivered a special address highlighting serious threats to the integrity of the electoral process. He revealed that Shin Bet chief David Zini and Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg had informed him of attempts to undermine election purity from both internal and external sources. Herzog emphasized the need for unified support for the Central Elections Committee and security agencies to counter these threats effectively.

Herzog cautioned against election-related violence, stressing that "elections are not a civil war" and urged all Israelis to engage responsibly in the democratic process. He called on law enforcement to act decisively against those threatening election integrity, especially in the age of social media where misinformation can spread rapidly. The president opened his speech by referencing the upcoming Tisha B’Av fast, a day commemorating the destruction of the Jewish Temples, as a reminder of the dangers of division and hatred.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also addressed concerns about election interference, accusing Iran and Qatar of investing billions in harmful influence campaigns within Israel. He criticized some Israeli political parties for spreading similar divisive rhetoric internally. During a recent meeting at the President’s residence, Herzog, Zini, and Sohlberg discussed these challenges, with Herzog underscoring the national importance of maintaining election integrity and societal cohesion.

Opposition leader Yair Golan responded to Herzog’s speech by rejecting any equivalence between those who incite violence and those defending democracy. Golan described the threats as a direct attack on Israeli democracy and vowed to uphold election purity and the rule of law without compromise. Herzog’s warnings come amid rising political tensions and incidents of violence, underscoring the fragile state of Israeli society ahead of the elections.