A knife-wielding man was detained after approaching the Democrats' Chairman Yair Golan during a campaign tour to encourage voter turnout at HaMesila Park in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.
According to Israel Police, security personnel noticed a suspicious object protruding from beneath the coat of a Jerusalem man in his 20s, standing near Golan. He was detained, and a knife was found in his possession.
Police took him to the Lev Tel Aviv police station for questioning.
Israel Police had previously raised Golan’s threat level to four out of six. On Sunday, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) announced it would assume responsibility for Golan's security, and that it would be funded by the state.
"Incitement and violence will not deter us," Golan said following the incident. "This is a direct result of the 'poison machine' operated by [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and his Qatari agents."
"I call upon everyone who holds security and democracy dear to go out and vote now, so that we may ensure the country we love so much returns to being a free and safe place."
Kariv claims incident is 'result of Netanyahu's incitement'
MK Gilad Kariv condemned the incident in a Tuesday post to X/Twitter, calling the incident the "result of the incitement by Netanyahu and his partners."
"They incited against Yitzhak Rabin, and today they are inciting against Yair Golan," Kariv wrote. "They will not intimidate us. The Democrats are continuing Rabin's path with a slip of the truth. Only our slip will block their violence. No compromises."