The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad issued a rare public threat on Tuesday against an Israeli politician, overtly warning of his assassination amid escalating violence between Israel and Palestinians.
The threat comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assembles a coalition government in alliance with far-right politicians including Itamar Ben Gvir, long considered a fringe figure due to his extreme policy positions that include relaxing the rules of engagement for Israeli soldiers confronting “terrorists,” and dismantling the Palestinian Authority. Ben Gvir is widely expected to become Israel’s next security minister.
Tariq Ezz El-Din, a spokesman for the Islamic Jihad Movement for the West Bank, warned in a statement Tuesday that Ben Gvir would meet a similar fate to a far-right former tourism minister who was killed by Palestinian militants more than 20 years ago.
