Israel’s Interior Minister Aryeh Deri has called to up Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security detail, citing “alarming incitement” against the Premier and his family.
“As a former member of the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's government, I cannot sit idly by vis-à-vis the alarming incitement and calls to physically harm Netanyahu and his family,” Deri said in a letter to Shin Bet security agency Director Nadav Argaman.
“In recent weeks we have seen growing incitement against the prime minister, including calls for harming his family and his assassination,” the letter read.
“I’m aware of the fact you (Argaman) and the Shin Bet are making great efforts to protect the Premier and his family, but I will be remiss in my public duty if I do not warn of what may come and do everything to ensure we spare no effort to prevent such a catastrophe,” he stressed.
Rabin was shot dead by radical right-wing activist Yigal Amir on Nov. 4, 1995, in Tel Aviv.
Amir later cited his extreme objection to Rabin's policies, particularly the signing of the 1993 Oslo Accords, as the reason for the murder.
A campaign of intense and tense discussions has been seen on social media over the government policy. Some defend Netanyahu and his policy while others attack him along with other politicians.
However, the rhetoric is deteriorating and some are threatening to kill political figures they disagree with.
This threat has been directed at Chairman of the Arab Joint List alliance Ayman Odeh, Head of its bloc MP Ahmad Tibi, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, as well as other politicians.
The police have arrested a number of suspects who have been making these threats. In recent demonstrations against government policy, other threats were made against Netanyahu, and some extremists attempted to storm his residence in West Jerusalem.
Deri has stressed the importance of putting limits on freedom of expression.
Freedom of protest and expression “are fundamental principles of democracy and we must preserve them,” he said, noting that “leveling scathing criticism (at elected officials) is legitimate, but incitement to violence against the prime minister and his family cross a red line.”
Netanyahu has filed several police complaints over the past few weeks over threats made against him, and many experts have warned of the danger of threats turning into murder and assassination.
