Israel's president, Isaac Herzog, delivered an unusually forceful condemnation of rising violence within Israeli society, warning of a dangerous moral decline. Speaking at a Jerusalem award ceremony, he pointed to mob attacks by Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and abuse of detainees in Israeli custody as signs of what he described as a process of brutalization.

Herzog cautioned that extremist behavior is becoming normalized and, in some cases, celebrated. He also highlighted increasing gun violence within Israel's Arab community and condemned hostility toward Christians and Muslims. However, he directed his sharpest criticism at radical settlers, describing their attacks as lawless and morally corrosive.

The remarks amounted to a rare public rebuke from a largely ceremonial figure who traditionally seeks to unify the nation. Herzog's comments appeared to reflect frustration with the current government, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his coalition have downplayed settler violence. The speech drew swift backlash from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who accused the president of maligning Israeli citizens.