The decision was made to increase the security detail for Bayit Yehudi party leader Education Minister Naftali Bennett. Bennett received threats after coming out strongly in support of the ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) interrogation of suspects in the Duma arson case and condemning “Jewish terror”, which the minister stated is aimed at toppling the government and the State of Israel. Bennett warned there is a small number of extremists in the right-wing camp that wish to overthrow the government and create a state of anarchy and the threat posed by these zealots is to be treated as harshly as the threat posed to the nation’s security by Arab terror.

Bennett is the leader of the dati leumi party and his comments therefore angered some, who feel he would remain silent or at the very least not come out in support of the ISA which is alleged to be subjecting the Jewish suspects to torture to extract confessions and information pertaining to the arson attack.

The Channel 2 News report explains security has also been increased around Bennett’s Ra’anana home.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)