Herzog: ‘Growing Hatred and Racism’ in Israel is Encouraged by Right-wing

Isaac Herzog, Labor Party leader in Israel. (Photo: via Ma’an)

Israeli opposition leader, Isaac Herzog, warned of what he called “growing hatred and racism” in Israel encouraged by right-wing politicians, adding that it could pave the way for further deadly violence, Hebrew-language news site NRG reported on Monday.

“We are on the verge of an uprising of hatred, racism, darkness and upcoming killings and assassination based on the overwhelming internal hatred here,” NRG quoted Herzog as saying during a speech at a Zionist Camp parliamentary bloc session.

Herzog, the Labor Party leader, added, “We hear hatred at every turn’ in reference to the recent appointment of Eyal Karim, the new chief rabbi of the Israeli army, who has implicitly justified the rape of women in times of war.

Herzog went on to blame the current Israeli government, saying: “…the seeds of the uprising of hatred are planted, which will lead to a civil war. This hatred is being carried out by the full support and cover of those in the government”.

Herzog continued, “Whoever heads this government remains silent about the uprising of hatred,” adding, “They have forgotten that protecting the weak is a major condition of being Jewish, in addition to tolerance and protecting democracy, values and morals. It seems that Netanyahu has forgotten the meaning of being Jewish”.

Earlier this month, Herzog denounced the passage of legislation requiring that Israeli NGOs reveal the sources of their public foreign funding, a law which has been denounced as an attack on left-wing Israeli organizations working to denounce Israeli occupation practices against Palestinians.

At the time, Herzog slammed the law for “symbolizing the budding fascism that is rising and flourishing in Israeli society.”

(MA’AN, PC)

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