President Isaac Herzog on Sunday sharply condemned Israeli settler violence in the West Bank as “brutishness” carried out by an “anarchist mob,” while appearing to take a shot at far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir over the treatment of prisoners in Israeli custody.

“We are witnesses to a wave of terrible violence that is being carried out by an anarchist mob,” Herzog said in a speech at a ceremony granting the Jerusalem Unity Prize, describing the near-daily acts of violence by Jewish extremists as “acts that defile and violate every basic moral, legal, and Jewish norm.”

“There are elements on the fringes of our society that have normalized violence, and, sadly, some go even further — celebrating it and taking pride in it,” he added.

“We must not tolerate this brutishness that comes from the margins of society and threatens us all,” Herzog continued, lamenting that Israeli security forces in the West Bank often spend “most of their time” dealing with Jewish extremist violence.

“Our people are a magnificent people, with tremendous strengths, but we must draw red lines,” he said. “I stand here and say it out loud: Unity begins with humanity.”

“We are exposed to degrading and ugly behavior by extremists against Christians and Muslims living among us,” Herzog added, saying it is as if “basic morality” and Jewish commandments “mean nothing to us.”

*חדשות הסקופים*הרצוג: ״אסור להתעלל בעצירים, נתעבים ככל שיהיו. אסור לקחת את החוק לידיים״. עוד אמר כי ״תהליך של........

© The Times of Israel