Herzog Warns Elections Are Not Civil War

President Isaac Herzog told the Herzliya Conference that Israel is entering a civic state of emergency as elections approach, warning that ballots change governments, not the people. The official transcript, JNS, Ynet, Channel 13 and Walla all report that he called for renewing the shared Israeli contract, rejecting lawlessness, political violence and the habit of treating opponents as enemies. Herzog said one law must bind every group and urged Israelis to vote, accept results and argue without hatred. In wartime and campaign season, that is a practical Zionist warning: national debate must strengthen the Jewish state, not fracture it.