Israelis are alarmed over the threat of political violence. Can it be averted?
Ben Sales is a news editor at The Times of IsraelWhen an assailant vandalized the office of Channel 12 news last week, smashing the door and leaving a note reading, “Someone will die,” it drew condemnations from the outlet, media advocacy organizations and politicians, including some who accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of inciting attacks against the press.The shock, however, shouldn’t be mistaken for surprise. This was the latest in a string of physical assaults on press outlets that frequently air criticism of Netanyahu. Channel 12 had been attacked earlier in July, possibly by the same man, and so had the Haaretz newspaper, whose door was likewise smashed. Channel 13’s office was graffitied with the slogan “The blood of the traitors will be cleared for publication,” paraphrasing a term generally used by the IDF when it announces the deaths of soldiers.The attacks — and their death-threat rhetoric — also…
Israel is experiencing growing alarm over political violence and increasingly toxic public discourse, as evidenced by recent attacks on news outlets and death threats. President Isaac Herzog warned against turning “rivals into enemies,” stating, “elections are not a civil war” and highlighting “dangerous violence rearing its head across the country.” A recent poll indicated that 39% of Israelis view “violent conflict between groups” as a leading threat. Both sides of the political spectrum blame the other for the escalating tensions, with some experts, like Yuval Eylon, suggesting the discourse is “much more violent” than before the 1995 Rabin assassination. The upcoming October 27 election has intensified these concerns, with calls from opposition leaders for unity and a new era of discourse, while others caution that legislative changes alone may not be enough to heal the country's deep divisions.
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