October 24, 2026
Israeli President Isaac Herzog issued a strong warning about the dangers of political incitement and violence, just five days before the 26th Knesset elections. Herzog’s statements came during the official ceremony commemorating the assassination of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and his wife Leah Rabin, which was held today, Thursday, at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, in the presence of his wife Michal, the President of the Supreme Court, and the Speaker of the Knesset, according to a report prepared by journalist Anna Persky in the Israeli newspaper “Maariv.”
In his speech, Herzog stressed that Rabin’s killer must spend the remainder of his life behind bars without any pardon or commutation of his sentence, considering this a red line that Israeli society must adhere to. He stressed by saying: “I stand here and warn: words kill,” calling on leaders, candidates, opinion makers and commentators to take responsibility for their statements and not cross the red lines in democracy.
The Israeli President explained that the elections “are not a civil war,” stressing that rejecting the crime of assassination is not related to political affiliation, but rather is a test of shared national responsibility. He added that the ability to protect the state from internal disintegration and political violence is no less important than protecting it from external enemies.
Herzog called on all participants in the political process and citizens to remember Rabin’s last will, which affirms that disputes are resolved through democratic selection boxes, not through violence. He concluded by emphasizing that today’s political opponent remains tomorrow’s neighbor, partner, and brother, stressing the necessity of defending the rule of recognizing the other’s right to win elections.
