Public Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev revealed Monday that he has been assigned round-the-clock protection after coming under threats from Jewish extremists.
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He also accused members of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's Yemina party of contributing to the fraught atmosphere by panting him out to be an "enemy of the settlers."
Barlev sparked controversy earlier this month when he discussed settler violence with a top US official visiting Israel.
"I will continue to fight Palestinian terrorism as if there is no extremist settler violence – and extremist settler violence as if there is no Palestinian terrorism," he said at the time.
The Palestinians were quick to capitalize on the statement saying that, coming from an Israeli cabinet member, it represented an admission that ostensibly condones the settler's conduct.
Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told the WAFA news agency on Sunday that "Israel's policies in the Palestinian territories is like playing with fire and [they are] unacceptable. We will not allow it to continue."
He further urged the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, "to intervene urgently to provide international protection for the Palestinian people, as Israel cannot continue to act as a state above the law."
Right-wing Israeli politicians, including members of the coalition, lashed out at Barlev, while Bennett downplayed settler violence as the actions of a "marginal" few. Opposition politicians have gone further, saying his comments have invited Palestinian violence.
In a Twitter post on Monday, Barlev said he was now under 24-hour protection. "I'm threatened by Israeli Jews," he wrote.
He did not specify the nature of the threats or who had made them, saying, "Following my determined campaign against the Arab crime families, I hoped that the moment would not arrive when one of them would threaten me personally. But that is not the case. I am not under threat from Arab criminals – I am threatened by Israeli Jews."
In an apparent reference to Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked, Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana and Communications Minister Yoaz Handel – who lambasted him for his comments, Barlev said, "They [right-wing MKs] came out against me and made me out to be the enemy of all the settlers, one who doesn't understand security and terrorism by Palestinians against Israeli citizens."
Speaking with reporters later on Monday, Barlev said he was not concerned for his safety.
Settler violence was becoming an issue on the international stage, he noted, adding that his critics should "look in the mirror."
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