Israeli intelligence foils plot to assassinate Netanyahu, Jerusalem Mayor, other officials

The Israel Security Agency said a plot to assassinate the PM, orchestrated from Syria, also targeted Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat. 

By: World Israel News Staff and AP

Shin Bet, Israel’s national security agency, said Tuesday that in recent weeks it thwarted a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

A  Palestinian living in east Jerusalem is in custody for his purported complicity in the plot, which was supposedly orchestrated from Syria, to harm Netanyahu and another high-profile political figure – Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat – the Shin Bet said.

Muhammad Jamal Rashdeh, 30, a resident of the Shuafat, is the suspect. Rashdeh is said to hold a blue Israeli ID card and has a record of terrorist activities.

Rashdeh is suspected of collecting information for Syria in preparation for attacks on the US Consulate in Jerusalem and against Canadian officials who were providing Palestinian Authority forces in Judea and Samaria with training, the Shin Bet said.

A Jordanian operative is suspected of being involved in the plot.

Additional suspect were reportedly arrested and, under interrogation, confirmed Shin Bet suspicions.

“No threat will intimidate us,” Barkat said, adding that he was kept abreast of the developments of the investigation.