Herzog said Shin Bet warned him of internal, external threats to Israel's 2026 elections

ByMAYA ZANGER-NADISJULY 21, 2026 21:41Updated: JULY 21, 2026 22:15President Isaac Herzog said that he was warned about "various threats to the integrity of the elections, both internal and external," in a Tuesday speech. Herzog claimed that Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) head David Zini and Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg warned him of the threats to Israel's upcoming elections in a recent meeting. "In the age of social media, the dangers are great. All of us must be thoughtful, careful, and responsible in the content we consume, and all the more so in the content we broadcast,"said Herzog. "I call on all of the law enforcement authorities to stand firmly and effectively against these threats." The presidents called on Israeli citizens to pay attention to the election and make informed decisions when voting.“I call on the people of Israel, in a clear voice: remember that elections are not a civil war.”President Isaac Herzog addresses the Israeli people at the beginning of the 2026 election campaign on July 21, 2026. (credit: Kobi Gideon/GPO)Herzog tries to bridge divisions within Israeli societyHerzog then acknowledged the sharp divisions within Israeli society and urged citizens not to allow these divisions to endanger the democratic process."In recent days," he explained, "we have once again seen dangerous violence rearing its head across the country.I turn to elected representatives, activists, and all candidates from all parties, and demand that you do not cross red lines! Do not turn rivals into enemies!"Ahead of Tisha B'av on“Baseless hatred destroyed our home,” he says. “Twice in the history of our people, we merited independent sovereignty in our land. Twice we failed. We must not repeat the mistakes of the past.”Follow us on Google