Rivlin warns fourth elections would be 'hard, painful and unforgivable blow'
"It is untenable that we will continue to deal with such a possibility as if it was some kind of logical scenario, at a time that we are counting our dead."
By GREER FAY CASHMANPresident Reuven Rivlin with Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel , August 11, 2020(photo credit: MARK NEYMAN/GPO)
President Reuven Rivlin at a meeting on Tuesday with Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel decried all talk of the possibility of a fourth election.“It is impossible,” he declared. “It is untenable that we will continue to deal with such a possibility as if it was some kind of logical scenario, at a time that we are counting our dead.”Rivlin, who was opposed to both the second and the third elections over the past two years, cautioned that if the elected representatives of the nation in their various parties permit a fourth election, it will be a severe, painful and unforgivable blow to the state, and will take it to the lowest level that it has ever been.In addition to discussing the political future of the country, the two also discussed the need to ensure continued freedom of the press and continued freedom of expression. Rivlin, a former communications minister, as well as a former speaker of the Knesset, has been a consistent champion of press freedom. Hendel is a former journalist.On this occasion, both Rivlin and Hendel were also concerned with protecting journalists from physical harm when covering demonstrations and other events in which there are clashes between the police and the public, or when the public gets out of hand.During the recent spate of demonstrations against public figures, several journalists have been attacked and injured, and in the case of press photographers and television camera crews, their equipment has been damaged.Both Rivlin and Hendel condemned the volatile behavior, threats and violent language that was unbecoming to civilized public discourse.With regard to the possibility of yet another round of elections, Hendel said: “Unity is ideal but not essential. Nonetheless, Israel does not need elections at this unprecedented time of crisis.”Rivlin responded that it is not a matter of Right or Left or this camp or that, but of an attempt to silence opposition and the abuse of power in communication and sowing of an atmosphere of hatred that prevents civilized dialogue, in which all sides can express their views.
