According to reports, the Israeli police detained a student from a Jewish religious school after he sent a text message to Yair Lapid, the leader of the opposition, proposing the assassination of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Justice Minister Yariv Levin last month.
The Times of Israel reported on Wednesday that the police stated this threat was intended to ‘trap Lapid’ and was not a serious proposal for Netanyahu’s assassination.In his message the student asked ‘What if (by coincidence) something happens to Yariv Levin or even Bibi?’ He further added ‘Perhaps—God forbid—something might happen to his family… Just between us right?’ This message was deleted shortly after it was sent.
The individual was arrested at a gas station on Highway 6 and was released the same day after several hours of interrogation. During questioning he emphasized that he had no intention of carrying out any terrorist act claiming that his goal in sending the message was to ‘trap Lapid’ and provoke him into endorsing violence against his political rivals.
