Supreme Court president warns of physical violence against legal figures after vebal attacks

Supreme Court President Isaac Amit warned on Wednesday that verbal attacks from public officials and on social media could lead to physical violence against judges and lawyers, urging restraint as Israel's election campaign escalates. Amit stated that verbal violence often precedes physical attacks, as observed following the killing of attorney Arbel Feldman at his office in Rishon Lezion last month.

He emphasized that the killing represented a broader pattern of threats and violence targeting legal professionals due to their work.

Amit noted that violence against legal professionals doesn't occur in isolation, as degrading public discourse about judges can infiltrate courtrooms and affect lawyers working within them. He described the incident as part of a growing period of verbal and physical violence against legal professionals, which risks not only harming the targeted individuals but also discouraging lawyers from taking difficult cases or representing clients effectively.

In response to concerns about disturbances, some courts have closed proceedings to the public and utilized live broadcasts. In more serious cases, court security personnel have escorted lawyers and litigants to their vehicles. Amit also cited the June riot outside the home of Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg, where protesters damaged the house and car while members of Sohlberg's family were present.

Dozens were detained in connection with the disturbance, which was intended to intimidate Sohlberg and other judges over their judicial work.

The Supreme Court President highlighted the heightened responsibility of public figures during election campaigns, advising them to choose their language carefully. He stressed that an election campaign is a period of disagreement, criticism, and struggle over ideas and the country's direction, and that all individuals must act with restraint during such times.

At the conference, the Israel Bar Association and five other professional organizations signed a joint charter called "Workers Without Fear." The organizations committed to establishing a permanent forum to address violence against workers and professionals, promoting legislative changes and reporting mechanisms, and coordinating with government authorities, Knesset, police, and other enforcement agencies.

The signatories included representatives from various professions, including teachers, nurses, social workers, public-health physicians, and public-transportation drivers. The Bar Association head, Amit Becher, called Feldman's killing the most severe expression of an expanding pattern of threats and violence against lawyers, calling for stricter enforcement, deterrent penalties, and measures to protect lawyers facing credible threats.