Netanyahu Escapes Assassination as Israeli Woman’s Bomb Plot Foiled

JERUSALEM — Israeli authorities have arrested a woman accused of plotting to assassinate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu using an improvised explosive device, Israel’s internal security agency Shin Bet said Wednesday.

The woman, whose identity has not been publicly released, was taken into custody two weeks ago and later released under restrictive conditions, including a ban on approaching government institutions and Netanyahu himself. An indictment is expected Thursday, charging her with conspiracy to commit a crime and to carry out an act of terror.

The arrest marks the latest in a string of thwarted attempts against the Israeli leader amid heightened political tensions in the country.

The incident comes nearly a year after a video surfaced on social media showing a protester at a Tel Aviv anti-government demonstration calling for Netanyahu’s assassination. In the video, filmed on Kaplan Street, a man asks a group of demonstrators what should happen if Netanyahu refuses to resign.

“We will see to it that they kill him,” one protester responds. Police were urged at the time to open an investigation into the individual, whose identity was not disclosed.

In a separate incident in September last year, Israeli authorities said they foiled another assassination plot involving a man suspected of working with Iran. The suspect, described as a businessman with ties to Turkey, had allegedly been smuggled into Iran twice and was paid to carry out missions, including an attempt on Netanyahu’s life.

A month later, in October, Netanyahu accused Iran of attempting to assassinate him and his wife after a drone launched from Lebanon struck a house in Caesarea, near the prime minister’s private residence. No injuries were reported, and Netanyahu's office confirmed the couple was not home at the time.

“Iran's agents who tried to assassinate me and my wife today made a bitter mistake,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “This will not deter me or Israel from continuing the war of revival against our enemies to ensure our security for generations.”

Authorities have not indicated whether the latest plot is linked to previous threats against the prime minister. Investigations are ongoing.

GAROWE ONLINE