President Rivlin: The election campaign filled us with fear
In an event dedicated to the memory of Israeli author Amos Oz, Rivlin expressed his hope for next government will work from a sense of civic responsibility
President Reuven Rivlin spoke at a Bible study event dedicated to the memory of renowned Israeli Author Amos Oz who died last year.
The president expressed his concern at the direction the latest election campaign has taken saying: "too many films and words and reports filled us with a feeling of fear. Fear of each other, fear of the future. I think we can learn from it that, even if we are sovereign, our sense of sovereignty is not absolutely established".
Rivlin told the gathering that included President of the Supreme Court Esther Hayut, members of the Oz family, leading authors and others: "At this point in time, I would like to say a few words about the difference between sovereignty and the understanding of sovereignty that the existence of sovereignty is not sufficient. When it exists in isolation, we are busy marking out enemies in order to to prove our sovereignty to ourselves, even when there is no need.
"I hope and believe that on the day after the elections, the new government – whatever its composition – will also work from a sense of sovereignty, from a sense of civic responsibility for our unique Jewish and democratic state.
