A 73-year-old terminally ill Israeli woman has been charged with plotting to assassinate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu using a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), Israeli prosecutors revealed on Thursday.
According to the indictment, the woman, an anti-government activist from Tel Aviv whose identity has not been disclosed, allegedly planned the assassination as a final act before her death. She reportedly told prosecutors that she was prepared to “sacrifice” her life to “save” the State of Israel from what she viewed as a destructive administration.
Authorities said the woman shared her intentions with another activist, seeking his help to obtain an RPG and gather intelligence on Netanyahu’s schedule, movements, and security arrangements. While the man refused to participate and tried to dissuade her, he ultimately reported her to law enforcement after realizing she was determined to follow through with her plan.
Following her arrest, prosecutors have requested that the woman remain under house arrest for the duration of the legal proceedings. They cited her willingness to die as a “martyr” as evidence of the continued threat she poses. Despite her age and terminal illness, officials emphasized the seriousness of the allegations and the potential danger had her plan succeeded.
This incident is the latest in a series of threats against Netanyahu, who remains a deeply polarizing figure in Israeli politics. Last year, another Israeli man was detained after threatening the Prime Minister on social media.
Political violence in Israel has a dark precedent. In 1995, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a far-right extremist opposed to Rabin’s support of the Oslo peace accords with the Palestinians. The shocking event remains one of the most significant moments in Israeli history and a sobering reminder of the risks faced by public figures in a deeply divided society.
As the case against the 73-year-old woman unfolds, it has sparked debate over the role of political extremism, mental health, and national security in a country already grappling with rising tensions and internal divisions.
