Nadav Argaman, the head of the Shin Bet, published a rare warning over the weekend about the serious escalation of inciteful speech in recent days.

“We’ve recently identified an increase and extreme radicalization in violent and inciteful discourse, especially on social media,” Argaman wrote. “It’s a discourse that includes extreme statements using inciteful terms and even calls for violence and physical harm.”

“As the head of an organization dedicated to safeguarding the security of the state, its democratic government and its institutions, I’m warning that this discourse may be interpreted among certain groups or individuals as permitting violent and illegal actions that could, chalilah, even result in bodily harm.”

“Along with the responsibility of the Shin Bet and other law enforcement agencies, elected officials from across the political spectrum, opinion leaders, religious leaders, educators, and all citizens of Israel bear a serious responsibility during these times. It is our duty to issue a clear and unambiguous call for an immediate cessation of the inciteful and violent discourse. We all bear the responsibility to calm the tensions and moderate the discourse.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)