President Reuven Rivlin addressed the Jerusalem Post Diplomatic Conference in Jerusalem's David Citadel Hotel on Thursday, speaking about the rising wave of Arab terrorism and appraising the danger - to Israel's democracy.

"I have heard and read, so much in the last weeks and months about 'the health of Israel's democracy'...they say that, Israel's democracy is 'under pressure,' that Israel's democracy 'is fading,'" said Rivlin.

The president continued saying "it is true that we had a very difficult year in Israel. We have fought a painful battle against Hamas in Gaza. We have seen an increase in terror attacks, across the country. We have seen a serious increase in tensions between Jews and Arabs.

"However, as one who has lived here all his life, let me reassure you: the State of Israel, has dealt with difficulties in the past, and has overcome them. In its short history, Israel's democracy has stood firm in the face of so many challenges," said Rivlin.

Rivlin's comments about democracy come on the background of a raging debate about the proposed Jewish State Law, which would enshrine Israel's status as the nation-state of the Jewish people in law and give the Jewish nature of the country preference, a move many argue would greatly aid in efforts combating terrorism and illegal infiltration that have often been shot down by the High Court. Rivlin has bashed the law in the past.

"Our commitment to our democratic values is born directly out of our Jewish values," claimed Rivlin. "Israel's Basic Law on Human Dignity and Liberty is no less Jewish, than it is democratic."

Rivlin continued "I am concerned by the violence that has raised its ugly head, in our society. I am concerned by the public and political atmosphere which brought us the Jewish Nation State bill. ...I am very worried, that...some within the Arab Israeli population, support the worst of our enemies, and seek to attack the very state in which they live."

While Rivlin in attacking the Jewish State Law claimed there is no contradiction between Israel's democratic and Jewish nature, many have argued there is a very real contradiction which Israel must face.

Leading the push to face this question was former MK Rabbi Meir Kahane hy''d, who posed the question of whether Arab citizens have the right to become the majority in Israel and vote the Jewish state out of existence. As Rabbi Kahane argued, according to democracy Arab citizens certainly have that right, but according to Judaism no such right exists.