Indictment filed against protester who allegedly planned to assassinate Israeli PM Netanyahu

The State Prosecutor’s Office filed an indictment today (Thursday) at the Tel Aviv District Court against a woman in her 70s from Tel Aviv, who allegedly planned to harm Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu using an explosive device. She is charged with attempted conspiracy to commit a terrorist act (aggravated attempted murder).

According to the indictment, the woman, who has been involved in political protest activities against the Israeli government, was recently diagnosed with a severe illness and may have only a short time to live. “Therefore, she resolved in her heart to assassinate the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, thereby ‘sacrificing’ her life for the struggle against the government and thus ‘saving’ the State of Israel,” the indictment reads.

“To carry out the plan,” the document continues, “she decided to conspire with other protest activists, and at the end of June, met with one such activist at her home and shared her plan. He objected, told her he would not participate, and asked her to wait a few days in an attempt to dissuade her.”

“A few days later, she asked him to come again. During the meeting, while he tried to dissuade her from carrying out the plan, she asked him to help her acquire an RPG to assassinate the Prime Minister and to gather information about Netanyahu’s schedule, movements, location, and security arrangements.”

“During their meetings, she made sure mobile phones were left outside the room. After realizing he couldn’t deter her from carrying out the plan, the activist reported the matter to a lawyer, who in turn contacted the security authorities.”

Alongside the indictment, the prosecution filed a request to keep the defendant under full house arrest until the end of legal proceedings. In the motion, the prosecution emphasized the danger she poses, citing her statements that she is willing to die as a “martyr” and sacrifice her life for the cause.

Speaking about herself, the indicted protester added, “I’m a sick woman. I have delusions. I’ve been politically active for eight years. I never planned to harm anyone. I never spoke against the Prime Minister. I don’t hold radical views.”