Supreme Court President Isaac Amit said on Wednesday that recent violence against lawyers and judges has been fueled by “verbal violence” against legal professionals by public officials and on social media.

Amit made his comments during an “emergency conference” held by the Israel Bar Association to combat violence against lawyers and legal professionals in the wake of the recent murder of attorney Arbel Feldman by a client.

“Sadly, it appears that this incident is part of a broader phenomenon that has emerged in recent times, in which we have witnessed violence — both verbal and physical — directed at lawyers and legal professionals solely because they are carrying out their duties,” Amit said.

He referenced a riot by ultra-Orthodox men at the home of Supreme Court Deputy President Noam Sohlberg in June, saying the attack was designed to deter Sohlberg from carrying out his duties, and pointing to recent verbal attacks against other judges as well.

The June 3 riot at Sohlberg’s home in the West Bank settlement of Alon Shvut saw ultra-Orthodox anti-draft protesters smash windows and flowerpots and damage a vehicle while Sohlberg and members of his family were inside. Police detained 62 suspects. Amit said at the time that the rampage constituted “an attack on the entire judicial system and on the rule of law in the State of Israel.”

“The line was crossed between protest, however harsh, and an attempt to harm the security and sense of security of a judge and his family, and to deter him from carrying out his duties,” Amit said. “This crossed a red line.”

“Sadly, it seems that media attacks on judges over rulings they have issued are becoming........

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