Meretz MK Tamar Zandberg and Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman both received death threats on Tuesday, as negotiations over a coalition seeking to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit the final stretch.
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The threats against Zandberg began after an old bill Meretz had presented seeking to bar Chabad activists from approaching unaccompanied minors on the street or outside schools with religious propositions surfaced on social media.
The posts, however, included misinformation suggesting the bill sought the make such moves by Chabad punishable by jail time – an issue the original legislative proposal, which was sponsored by Meretz as a faction and not by Zandberg personally, and has been shelved for years, never included.
Zandberg reported getting dozens of furious text messages, including threats of bodily harm. Her partner said he, too, had received death threats, as well as threats to harm the couple's children.
Later on Tuesday evening, Yisrael Beytenu's election headquarters received several calls threatening staffers as well as Lieberman with bodily harm and even murder.
One caller threatened to "put a bullet in his [Lieberman's] heart," while another said, "God willing, he will be stabbed to death."
Yisrael Beytenu filed a complaint on the matter with Knesset Security Chief Maj. Gen. Yosef Griff.
Threats against political figures trying to oust Netanyahu have been growing steadily over the past week.
On Tuesday, the Israel Security Agency increased the protection afforded to Yamina leader Naftali Bennett and his No. 2, MK Ayelet Shaked, citing the growing threats against them, now classified as Level 5 – just one level shy of the gravest possible threat.
The Shin Bet, which is responsible for providing elected officials with security details, has already increased the two's security on Sunday after they began receiving death threats over Yamina's plan to join Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid's coalition.
Acceding to Channel 12 News, the Shin Bet now provides both with a 24/7 personal security detail, guards at their homes, and extra police presence during what has become daily protests outside their residences.
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