Israeli woman arrested on suspicion of 'plot to kill Benjamin Netanyahu'

AN ISRAELI woman has been arrested over an alleged plot to assassinate Benjamin Netanyahu, according to reports.

Israeli state broadcaster KAN claimed that the woman, identified as an "anti-government activist" in her 70s, was plotting to kill the Israeli prime minister.

Reports of the assassination attempt appear in other Israeli and international media outlets, including Reuters, which said the woman had sought assistance from other activists to obtain weapons and gather information about Netanyahu's security arrangements.

Benjamin Netanyahu (Image: Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) According to the news agency, Israel's National Unit for Serious and International Crime Investigations and the Shin Bet internal security agency have passed on their evidence to the State Attorney's office, pending possible 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 the woman's remarks reportedly contacted police, prompting the opening of the investigation.

She was arrested around six weeks ago, according to Reuters, and has since 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.

The news comes as French president Emmanuel Macron announced that France will officially recognise Palestine as a state.

In a statement on Thursday evening, Macron said: "Consistent with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine.                       "I will make this solemn announcement before the United Nations General Assembly this coming September."

Netanyahu responded to the announcement with anger, stating: "We strongly condemn President Macron’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state next to Tel Aviv in the wake of the October 7 massacre. Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. 

"A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel – not to live in peace beside it. Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel."

A total of 147 countries recognise the state of Palestine – the UK is not one of them.