Israeli police investigate woman over suspected plot to kill Netanyahu
JERUSALEM - An anti-government activist in her 70s has been placed under investigation on suspicion of plotting to assassinate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, police said on Wednesday.
The suspect is accused of having expressed her intent to kill Netanyahu and sought assistance from other activists to obtain weapons and gather information about the prime minister's security arrangements, police said.
The National Unit for Serious and International Crime Investigations and the Shin Bet internal security agency have passed their evidence on to the State Attorney's office pending possible formal charges.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz, quoting sources familiar with the case, said the woman had recently fallen ill and told people she planned to "take Netanyahu with her".
Several people who heard her remarks contacted police, prompting the opening of the investigation. She was arrested around six weeks ago and has been released to house arrest.
Haaretz said the woman, who comes from Tel Aviv and was not identified, was suspected of wanting to target Netanyahu with an explosive device or rocket-propelled grenade.
In 1995 the then Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was killed by a right-wing extremist opposed to his peace efforts with the Palestinians. In 1957, Israel's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, narrowly escaped a grenade attack by a mentally ill man. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
12 minutes ago
- Straits Times
What is the status of US tariff negotiations?
Find out what's new on ST website and app. On July 27, the US struck a framework deal with the EU, imposing a 15 per cent US import tariff on most EU goods, half the threatened rate. WASHINGTON - US tariff negotiations with key trading partners have shifted into high gear as economies race to avoid steeper duties before an Aug 1 deadline. Many of these tariff hikes were part of a package first announced in April, under which dozens of economies were due to face higher levies - up from a 10 per cent level – over their trade surpluses with the United States. The twice-postponed deadline for duties to take effect is now Friday, Aug 1 . But Washington has expanded its group of targets coming up against these tariffs, while announcing agreements with the European Union, Britain, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines. A deal with the European Union unveiled on July 27 sees a 15 per cent tariff imposed on European exports to the United States, down from the 30 per cent that Mr Trump earlier threatened. Where do other US trade talks stand? South Korea: Heightened pressure Seoul is racing to reach a deal with Washington, as Tokyo's success in landing an agreement has 'amped up the pressure for South Korea,' a government source told AFP. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Not feasible for S'pore to avoid net‑zero; all options to cut energy emissions on table: Tan See Leng Singapore With regional interest in nuclear energy rising, S'pore must build capabilities too: Tan See Leng Singapore Sewage shaft failure linked to sinkhole; PUB calling safety time-out on similar works islandwide Singapore Workers used nylon rope to rescue driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole Singapore New Mandai North Crematorium, ash-scattering garden to open on Aug 15 World Three dead, several injured after train derails in Germany World US and EU clinch deal with broad 15% tariffs on EU goods to avert trade war Opinion Vaping, Kpods and teenage risk-taking: An old problem in a new world Local media reported that Seoul was preparing to propose more than US$100 billion (S$128 billion) in investment as part of a broader agreement, with expected participation by major firms such as Samsung and Hyundai Motor. The South Korean government did not confirm this. But South Korean officials have outlined proposals to deepen collaboration in sectors like shipbuilding, semiconductors and batteries. National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lak has told reporters that the two countries are in 'the final and most crucial phase of negotiations' to avert Mr Trump's proposed 25 per cent duty. India: Cautious optimism Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal told Bloomberg Television on July 24 that he was optimistic his country could reach an agreement with the United States to avert Washington's 26 per cent tariff threat. Mr Goyal insisted there were not any sticking points in the US-India relationship or in trade talks, and clarified that immigration rules – including those around H-1B visas for skilled workers – had not come up in negotiations. Despite Mr Goyal's remarks, local media reported the prospects of an interim deal before Aug 1 had dimmed. Taiwan: Working hard Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai said on July 24 that officials are 'working hard' on negotiations, amid worries that an unfavorable tariff level could hit the self-ruled island's economy. Vice-President Hsiao Bi-khim said Taipei's negotiating team was 'working almost 24 hours a day to achieve trade balance and Taiwan's industrial interests, and even to further deepen cooperation'. Canada, Mexico: Deal unclear Although Canada and Mexico were spared from Mr Trump's 'reciprocal' tariffs announced in April, goods from both countries entering the United States generally face a separate 25 per cent duty if they fall outside a North American trade pact. This figure stands to jump to 30 per cent for Mexico come Aug 1, while the level for Canada was set at 35 per cent. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her administration was 'doing everything' possible to avert the duties and that she would speak with Mr Trump if necessary to try to reach a pact. Mr Trump told reporters on July 25 that there was no deal with Canada so far. Brazil: Political nature Brazil is girding for a virtual trade embargo on its planes, grains and other goods if Mr Trump's threatened 50 per cent tariff on its exports takes effect on Aug 1. The United States runs a trade surplus with Latin America's biggest economy, which was not originally expected to face steeper tariffs under Mr Trump's 'reciprocal' duties plan. Mr Trump has not attempted to hide the political motivation in targeting Brazil, citing a judicial 'witch hunt' against his right-wing ally, former president Jair Bolsonaro, when he unveiled the tariff rate. The political nature of the spat makes a last-minute deal appear less likely. AFP
Straits Times
12 minutes ago
- Straits Times
For Trump, EU trade deal was badly needed
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Both parties agreed on July 27 to a broad-brush trade deal that sets a 15 per cent tariff on most EU goods. EDINBURGH, Scotland - For months, President Donald Trump's penchant for overhyping the speed at which he could negotiate complex trade deals has been the butt of Washington jokes. 'Ninety days ago, Donald Trump promised the world that his tariffs would lead to 90 deals in 90 days,' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, said in July, adding: 'By my count, he's about 88 trade deals short.' So on July 27, when Mr Trump announced a trade agreement with the European Union, it was not only his biggest trade deal to date, but also, politically, his most badly needed. After going months without securing deals, Mr Trump is now coming off his most productive stretch of trade negotiations, landing agreements in recent days with the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia as well as the European Union, which represents 27 countries. The deal with the European Union, at least upon first impression, seemed to give Mr Trump much of what he wanted. 'I'm very surprised how the European Union gave in to Trump's demands,' said Professor Douglas Irwin, a professor of economics at Dartmouth College. 'I thought the EU would be the most prone to retaliation. And yet, they didn't do it. They really gave in to most of what Trump wanted.' Though many details of the agreement were unclear, the European Union and the United States agreed on July 27 to a broad-brush trade deal that sets a 15 per cent tariff on most EU goods, including cars, averting what could have become a painful trade war with a bloc that is the United States' single biggest source of imports. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Not feasible for S'pore to avoid net‑zero; all options to cut energy emissions on table: Tan See Leng Singapore With regional interest in nuclear energy rising, S'pore must build capabilities too: Tan See Leng Singapore Sewage shaft failure linked to sinkhole; PUB calling safety time-out on similar works islandwide Singapore Workers used nylon rope to rescue driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole Singapore New Mandai North Crematorium, ash-scattering garden to open on Aug 15 World Three dead, several injured after train derails in Germany World US and EU clinch deal with broad 15% tariffs on EU goods to avert trade war Asia Displaced villagers at Thai-Cambodian border hope to go home as leaders set to meet for talks The European Union also agreed to purchase US$750 billion (S$960 billion) of US energy, which Ms Ursula von der Leyen, president of the EU's executive branch, said would be spread over three years. That, she noted, is roughly the length of Mr Trump's remaining term in office. The bloc also agreed to increase its investment in the United States by more than US$600 billion. The two sides agreed to drop tariffs to zero on a range of goods including aircraft, plane parts, certain chemicals, certain generic drugs, semiconductor equipment and some agricultural products, Ms von der Leyen said. She acknowledged that the tariffs could prove tough for some European businesses, but defended the deal in light of higher tariffs Mr Trump had threatened. 'Fifteen percent is not to be underestimated, but it is the best we could get,' she said. It was a positive political development for Mr Trump on a number of fronts. Economists have mostly been sour on the idea of his sweeping tariffs, warning of dire consequences including inflation and rising unemployment. And even as many criticised the wisdom of Mr Trump's economic policies, his administration came under added fire over its struggle to negotiate deals. The agreement with the European Union, the America's largest trading partner, may tamp down some of the criticism. The agreement may also offer Mr Trump a way to divert the news cycle from his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files , a controversy that has dogged him for weeks. At a news conference on the trade deal, a reporter asked Mr Trump whether he had rushed the agreement forward in an attempt to knock the Epstein story line out of the news. 'You've got to be kidding,' a frustrated Mr Trump responded. 'That had nothing to do with it.' Trade negotiations are famously complex and time-consuming, so most analysts doubted that Mr Trump could have much success in quickly striking deals. The Peterson Institute for International Economics said in a 2016 analysis that negotiations for a single trade deal can take more than a year, with implementation taking multiple years. That did not stop the White House from issuing bold predictions. Within days of the April 2 announcement of tariffs on countries across the globe, White House officials said about 70 countries were calling to strike deals. Mr Trump's trade adviser predicted 90 agreements in 90 days. As the deals proved tougher to negotiate than advertised, Mr Trump lamented the pressure he was under. 'Everyone says, 'When, when, when are you going to sign deals?'' he said in May. At one point, he said, 'We don't have to sign deals.' The agreements Mr Trump has announced in recent days contain mostly top-line figures. They are not the detailed, complex documents that the United States has historically negotiated, which can number in the hundreds of pages. And the new deal with the European Union could still run into trouble. The Trump administration faces nearly a dozen lawsuits seeking to have its tariffs declared illegal on the grounds that Mr Trump does not have the authority to impose them without the consent of Congress. Should those suits succeed, Mr Trump would be back to square one. Mr Andrew Hale, a trade policy analyst for the conservative Heritage Foundation, cautioned against reading too much into the deal with the European Union until the text is released, and the lawsuits are resolved. 'These are not comprehensive free trade agreements,' he said. 'Let's make that very clear. And much of this may evaporate.' NYTIMES
AsiaOne
12 minutes ago
- AsiaOne
Israel announces daily pauses in Gaza fighting as aid airdrops begin, World News
JERUSALEM/GAZA — Israel on Sunday (July 27) announced a halt in military operations for 10 hours a day in parts of Gaza and new aid corridors as Jordan and the United Arab Emirates airdropped supplies into the enclave, where images of starving Palestinians have alarmed the world. Israel has been facing growing international criticism, which the government rejects, over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and indirect ceasefire talks in Doha between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas have broken off with no deal in sight. US President Donald Trump, on a visit to Scotland, said Israel would have to make a decision on its next steps in Gaza, and said he did not know what would happen after the collapse of ceasefire and hostage-release negotiations with Hamas. Military activity will stop daily from 10am to 8pm local time until further notice in Al-Mawasi, a designated humanitarian area along the coast, in central Deir al-Balah and in Gaza City, to the north. The military said designated secure routes for convoys delivering food and medicine will also be in place between 6am and 11pm starting from Sunday. The United Nations food aid agency needs quick approvals by Israel for its trucks to move into Gaza if it is to take advantage of Israel's planned humanitarian pauses in fighting, a senior World Food Programme official said on Sunday. United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher said on Sunday that some movement restrictions appeared to have been eased by Israel in Gaza on Sunday after Israel decided to "support a one-week scale-up of aid." Initial reports indicate that more than 100 truckloads of aid were collected from crossings to be transported into Gaza, Fletcher said in a statement. "This is progress, but vast amounts of aid are needed to stave off famine and a catastrophic health crisis," he said. In their first airdrop in months, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates parachuted 25 tons of aid into Gaza on Sunday, a Jordanian official said, but added that it was not a substitute for delivery by land. Palestinian health officials in Gaza City said at least 10 people were injured by falling aid boxes. Work on a UAE project to run a new pipeline that will supply water from a desalination facility in neighbouring Egypt to around 600,000 Gazans along the coast would also begin in a few days, the Israeli military said. Dozens of Gazans have died of malnutrition in recent weeks, according to the Gaza Health Ministry in the Hamas-run enclave. The ministry reported six new deaths over the past 24 hours due to malnutrition, bringing the total deaths from malnutrition and hunger since the war began in 2023 to 133, including 87 children. On Saturday, a 5-month-old baby, Zainab Abu Haleeb, died of malnutrition at Nasser Hospital, health workers said. "Three months inside the hospital and this is what I get in return, that she is dead," said her mother, Israa Abu Haleeb, as the baby's father held their daughter's body wrapped in a white shroud. The Egyptian Red Crescent said it was sending more than 100 trucks carrying over 1,200 metric tons of food to southern Gaza on Sunday. Some had been looted in the area of Khan Younis after entering Gaza, residents said. Aid groups said last week there was mass hunger among Gaza's 2.2 million people, and international alarm over the humanitarian situation has increased. A group of 25 states including Britain, France and Canada last week said Israel's denial of aid was unacceptable. The military's spokesperson said Israel was committed to international law and monitors the humanitarian situation daily. Brigadier General Effie Defrin said there was no starvation in Gaza, but appeared to acknowledge conditions were critical. "When we start approaching a problematic line (threshold) then the IDF works to let in humanitarian aid," he said. "That's what happened over the weekend." Israel cut off aid to Gaza from the start of March to pressure Hamas into giving up dozens of hostages it still holds, and reopened aid with new restrictions in May. Israel says it has been allowing in aid but must prevent it from being diverted by militants and blames Hamas for the suffering of Gaza's people. Hope, uncertainty Many Gazans expressed some relief at Sunday's announcement, but said fighting must end. "People are happy that large amounts of food aid will come into Gaza," said Tamer Al-Burai, a business owner. "We hope today marks a first step in ending this war that burned everything up." Health officials at Al-Awda and Al-Aqsa Hospitals in central Gaza said Israeli firing killed at least 17 people waiting for aid trucks. Israel's military said it fired warning shots at suspects endangering troops and was unaware of any casualties. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would continue to allow the entry of humanitarian supplies whether it is fighting or negotiating a ceasefire and vowed to press on with the campaign until "complete victory". Hamas said Israel was continuing its military offencive. "What is happening isn't a humanitarian truce," said Hamas official Ali Baraka. The war began on Oct 7, 2023, when Hamas-led fighters stormed southern Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel's offencive has killed nearly 60,000 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health officials, reduced much of the enclave to ruins and displaced nearly the entire population. [[nid:720630]]
