Assassin of Sharon ready to strike
Security minister: Extremist Jews planning 'to kill the prime minister'
Posted: July 7, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Aaron Klein
© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com
The next assassin of an Israeli prime minister is ready and looking for the opportunity to strike, according to Israel's General Security Services.
"There are people who have already taken the decision that, come the day they are going to 'save Israel', that they are going to kill the prime minister. … I have no doubt that they are out there," Internal Security Minister Tzahi Hanegbi told Israel TV last night.
Sharon told a group of ministers yesterday he is disturbed by threats to his life that he has received from Jewish extremists, and said inflammatory comments by right-wing rabbis and leaders cannot be tolerated.
Last week, Avigdor Nebenzahl, prominent rabbi of the Jewish Quarter in Jerusalem's Old City, declared that anyone giving away a part of the land of Israel is a "rodef" – someone whom it is permissible or required by Jewish law to kill before he kills.
Similar rabbinic proclamations were heard following the signing of the Oslo Accords, which some say may have been a motivating factor for Yigal Amir, the man who assassinated Prime Minister Yizhak Rabin.
"It pains me that someone who has devoted his entire life to protecting Jews now must be defended from Jews," said Sharon, referring to himself.
Asked by a minister if he wears a bulletproof vest, Sharon joked that none are made in his size.
Sharon said he is determined to see his unilateral withdrawal plan through in its entirety despite threats from settler groups.
A small group of leaders held a series of meetings over the past few weeks to discuss plans to disrupt the withdrawal in 2005, including some actions that could start as early as this month.
The plans include causing traffic jams in protest, agreement to stop paying taxes, cutting down fences the IDF puts up to keep settlers out, and disobeying orders from the Israeli authorities.
Settler leaders warned the planned revolt could easily turn violent.
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