Israeli prosecutors announced on Thursday that a 73-year-old woman from Tel Aviv, who is reportedly terminally ill, has been charged with planning to assassinate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu using a rocket-propelled grenade.
According to details contained in the indictment, the woman—an outspoken anti-government protester whose name has not been disclosed—resolved to take violent action against the country’s leadership after receiving a fatal medical diagnosis.
The indictment claims that she made the decision to “sacrifice” her own life in order to “save” the State of Israel from what she views as the harmful policies of the current government, quoting her as making that declaration during investigations.
As part of her alleged plan, she confided in a fellow activist and solicited his help in acquiring a rocket launcher for the attack. Additionally, she reportedly asked him to gather intelligence on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s daily schedule, travel patterns, and existing security arrangements.
Prosecutors revealed that the man refused to take part in the plot and initially tried to convince her to abandon the idea. However, realizing she was determined to carry it out, he informed the authorities, which led to her arrest.
Given the nature of her statements and her willingness to become a “martyr,” prosecutors have asked the court to keep the woman under house arrest for the duration of the trial, arguing that she still represents a threat despite her medical condition.
This incident is not the first time threats have been made against the Israeli prime minister. Last year, another Israeli citizen was detained after making online threats to kill Netanyahu.
Political violence has left a lasting mark on Israel’s history. One of the most notable events occurred in 1995, when Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a far-right Israeli extremist in response to his support for the Oslo Accords aimed at peace with the Palestinians.
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This case has drawn attention due to the extreme nature of the alleged plan and the suspect’s willingness to sacrifice herself.
It also underscores growing tensions in Israel’s political landscape, where dissent against the government has, in some cases, escalated beyond protests into threats of violence.
