With civil unrest boiling over, the Israel Police said it arrested a man on suspicion of threatening to murder Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The man, a 31-year-old Ramla resident, was arrested near the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem for making vocal threats against the prime minister and his wife, and had two knives and a plastic gun in his possession. The Jerusalem Magistrate Court extended his remand in custody until Sunday, August 2.
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The suspect, being homeless, "frustrated, and hungry," said through his lawyer that he and his family were suffering economically.
Netanyahu took to Twitter to implore the public to "lower the level of flames and uphold civil order" – as another protest in Tel Aviv Tuesday night escalated into street violence.
Anti-government protesters who took part in a demonstration near the Tel Aviv home of Public Security Minister Amir Ohana were attacked by suspected far-right assailants and said they were assaulted by an organized group and claimed police failed to respond to their pleas for help.
Tuesday's protest targeted Ohana after he called on police to crack down on recent anti-government demonstrations in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and said Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit was not taking the threats to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his family seriously.
In a recording published by public broadcaster Kan, Ohana is heard telling Jerusalem's police chief to challenge a Supreme Court ruling allowing the protests to continue, and called the demonstrations "vandalism that you shouldn't put up with."
In video from the scene, the attackers were seen hitting demonstrators with glass bottles, clubs, and chairs and spraying them with mace. Organizers of the protest said five people were hospitalized, including two with stab wounds to their backs.
The police said in statement that it takes "violence of any kind seriously, whether directed at citizens and whether directed at police officers. [Tuesday] night multiple marches took place across the city of Tel Aviv which were not coordinated with the police in advance. In one instance, police forces identified a brawl and arrested one suspect for hurling a rock."
Video: Ben Netzer
Following the ensuing public outcry over the police's failure to protect the demonstrators, four suspected attackers were arrested.
Netanyahu wrote on Facebook: "The investigation of the incident in Tel Aviv is underway. I expect the police to get at the truth and bring to justice those responsible. There's no room for violence for any reason."
He added, "At the same time, there's no room for incitement or threats of murder – explicitly or implicitly – against me and members of my family, including the shameful threat of crucifixion made today in Tel Aviv."
The premier mentioned Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, accusing him of "supporting anarchist groups whose purpose is to disrupt civil order and undercut the fundamentals of Israeli society."
Lapid had said earlier Wednesday that Netanyahu's "incitement" had led to the attacks on the anti-government protesters and that the premier had "blood on his hands."
"The violence and blood spilled yesterday in Tel Aviv is on the hands of Netanyahu and his messengers. One who sows incitement will receive blood in return. Calling protesters spreaders of disease and inciting against civilians who protest is leading Israel into a civil war," Lapid said.
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Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel also spoke out on Wednesday, tweeting: "We cannot tolerate the images from [Tuesday night]. I expect a heavy hand and punishment against those who act with violence. Forgiveness toward extremists is a lesson we've already learned in history… Our historic mission is to never allow a civil war."
Minister for Cyber and National Digital Matters David Amsalem, a close Netanyahu ally, said in response: "Ladies and gentlemen, you are inciting against the prime minister on a daily basis. You started this schism among the people; you and all the systems that support you from the State Attorney Office."
