National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said on Monday that among the anti-government protesters there are those who plan to assassinate him or Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on political grounds.
In an interview with Kan Reshet Bet, the Otzma Yehudit leader said that "it is forbidden to generalize, most of [the protesters] are good and clean people, but there are those among them who are planning the next murder, who say that Ben-Gvir, Sara Netanyahu should be taken down, that Benjamin Netanyahu should be murdered.
"I see the intelligence materials," he added.
"It is, indeed, on the fringes, and it is good that it [remains] there, but there are anarchists on the left who crossed the red line a long time ago," Ben-Gvir continued. "The demonstrators have the right to demonstrate, they are allowed to shout. But they are making a mistake by embracing [anarchists.] it is forbidden to embrace anarchists.
"I am listening to those who are shouting from their hearts, but not to those who shout 'Ben-Gvir is dead,' and those who want to lynch Sara, those who raise their fists."
Police reject report of threat against Ben-Gvir
However, police officials later denied his comments, saying that they were unfamiliar with any intelligence reports regarding assassination threats from anti-government protesters.
Additional reports stated that the national security minister does not even have access to the intelligence reports he claimed to have seen.
Ben-Gvir was quick to respond, however, saying he is "amazed at the briefings by unknown police officials, who deny the serious intelligence warnings that are placed on our desks every day and are also reflected in the increased security for specific public representatives.
"Any politicization must be removed from the work of the professional police, we have seen what this can cause in the Air Force."
Shortly after his initial remarks, Ben-Gvir addressed the issue again in a written statement.
"That's exactly what the minister said," was written in the statement. "This information can also be seen in the intelligence material, but only blind people cannot see it online. There are hundreds of inciting comments there and very severe incidents. It needs to be understood that the writing is on the wall, and that's what the minister is worried about.
"Ben-Gvir is not taking back his comments from the morning. He is scared of a political murder and sees it in the intelligence materials. It's not surprising that those who denied it are hiding behind aliases or behind the word 'officials.' This is because they, exactly like Ben-Gvir, know that there is material pointing to a rise in the level of incitement. Political murder has become a realistic option considering what is going on in the country, and Ben-Gvir is very worried."
"There are anarchists on the left who crossed the red line a long time ago."
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir
The danger of a 'TikTok clown'
National Unity Party chair and former defense minister Benny Gantz attacked Ben-Gvir following his remarks and called on Netanyahu to fire him.
"I call on Netanyahu to fire Ben-Gvir before it's too late," he said. "Those who engaged in terrorism in the past instead of enlisting, delegitimize the protesters. Ben-Gvir and the instigators are the fuel of the [reservist] refusals."
Opposition leader Yair Lapid also commented on Ben-Gvir's allegation that anti-government protesters plan to attack him, saying: "First the TikTok clown pretended that he looks at screens and gives instructions, then this morning he invented 'intelligence materials' that do not exist. This is not only ridiculous, it is also dangerous."