Anti-government activist charged with conspiring to commit act of terror over plot to kill PM

State prosecutors today filed charges against an anti-government activist arrested for allegedly plotting to assassinate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The defendant, in her 70s, decided to assassinate the premier after she was diagnosed with a terminal illness and realized she only had a short time to live, prosecutors say.

The woman’s identity remains barred from publication under a court-issued gag order. She is charged in the Tel Aviv District Court with conspiring to commit a terrorist act.

Prosecutors say the defendant sought to die as a martyr and “sacrifice her life” for the anti-government struggle, thereby “saving” the State of Israel.

Police were notified of the plan via one of her fellow activists in the anti-government movement, whom she tried to rope into her assassination plot.

She told her friend about her plan in late June, to which he immediately objected. He asked her to hold off for a few days on carrying out the plan, in an apparent effort to dissuade her.

A few days later, the defendant invited him again to her home, requesting he help her obtain an RPG rocket launcher to kill Netanyahu. She also tried to enlist him in gathering intelligence regarding the premier’s schedule, movements, whereabouts and security detail. She ensured that phones were kept outside of the room during these conversations.

After realizing that he would be unable to dissuade the defendant, the activist contacted a lawyer, who informed police of the assassination plot.

Alongside the indictment, state prosecutors also requested the court keep the defendant under house arrest until the end of legal proceedings against her, saying that she still may attempt to carry out her plan against Netanyahu if freed.