Three suspects have been arrested in connection with an alarming incident involving two flares that landed near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Caesarea. Israeli police announced the arrests early Sunday morning, stating that the suspects were taken into custody overnight for their alleged involvement in the event that occurred on Saturday evening.
According to the police statement, the suspects are set to be interrogated in coordination with Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency. However, the investigation is currently shrouded in secrecy due to a court-ordered gag preventing the release of any details about the investigation or the identities of the suspects for the next 30 days.
The landing of the flares, which Shin Bet described as a “serious incident,” raised significant concerns, although Prime Minister Netanyahu was not at his residence at the time. Following the incident, Amir Ohana, the speaker of Israel’s parliament, placed blame on anti-government protesters. He asserted that the “writing was on the walls, on the streets, in incendiary messages and in demonstrations,” alluding to the protests that have been taking place since early 2023 against Netanyahu’s government.
Former war cabinet member and opposition leader Benny Gantz took to social media platform X to express his condemnation, stating, “If the suspicions are true and activists are behind the firing of flares at the premier’s residence, it should be said clearly: this is not protest, this is terrorism.” He emphasized the gravity of the situation, denouncing any actions that threaten public safety amidst ongoing political dissent.
In the months leading up to the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, Israel had been engulfed in mass protests regarding a contentious judicial overhaul put forth by Netanyahu’s far-right administration, which critics argued posed a significant threat to Israeli democracy. Though the proposed reforms were halted when the conflict escalated, protests against Netanyahu and calls for action to secure the release of hostages taken to Gaza have persisted.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the flare incident, characterizing it as dangerous and saying it highlights the need to curb rising violence within society. Herzog conveyed that he had spoken with the head of Shin Bet, underscoring the urgency for a thorough investigation and swift accountability for those responsible. He noted the incident as a potentially serious escalation and reiterated a commitment to maintaining peace and safety in the public sphere.
