Israeli Security Chief Warns of Assassination
Israel’s domestic security agency is “very concerned” that extremists in the country might attempt to assassinate an Israeli leader to disrupt peace talks with the Palestinians. Yuval Diskin, head of Israel’s Shin Bet security service, released the news to the Israeli Cabinet, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. His comments came just two days before the 13th anniversary of the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
Rabin was shot by an Israeli who opposed the signing of the Oslo Accords, which set the framework for the Israeli and Palestinian peace talks.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni gave up efforts to form a new coalition government last month and is now working on February’s general election. Ehud Olmert will continue as Israel’s interim prime minister until a successor assumes power or a coalition is formed. However, it is not clear whether he will be able to arrive at a deal with Palestine before he leaves office.
Jamie Hughes
