Israel's President, Reuven Rivlin, has declared his society "ill".
Speaking this week at a conference on xenophobia, he told the audience: "The tension between Jews and Arabs within Israel has risen to record heights, and the relationship between all parties has reached a new low. We have all witnessed the shocking sequence of incidents and violence taking place by both sides."
He said the "epidemic of violence" was everywhere - it "permeates every area". He elaborated: "There is violence in soccer stadiums as well as in the academia. There is violence in the social media and in everyday discourse."
He then surprised his audience by stating: "It is time to honestly admit that Israeli society is ill - and it is our duty to treat this disease."
