Anonymous source tells Kuwaiti newspaper that on Tuesday the Kenyan authorities informed the PM’s security guards that the convoy must change its route.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (photo credit:KOBI GIDEON/GPO)
(Jerusalem Post) — Kenya’s security forces allegedly foiled an attempt to assassinate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by attacking his convoy during his visit to the state as part of a five-day trip to Africa, the Kuwaiti daily newspaper al-Jarida reported Thursday.
An anonymous source told the newspaper that on Tuesday, shortly before the Prime Minister left the local airport on his way to his hotel in Nairobi, the Kenyan authorities informed Netanyahu’s security guards that the convoy must change its route.
The surprising alert, according to the source, aroused arguments between Netanyahu’s security guards and the Kenyan security forces.
“At the beginning, the Israelis decried the security arrangements in Kenya. However, after the convoy changed its course and arrived in a safe hotel, it was discovered that Kenyan intelligence exposed a plan to attack vehicles in the original course. Thus, the decision to change the course saved the Israeli delegation,” the source told the newspaper.
Following the alleged incident, Kenya’s security forces arrested two people suspected of planning an attack against Netanyahu’s convoy.
According to the source, due to the warning, additional alterations were introduced into the prime minister’s schedule in Kenya.
Netanyahu, when told of the report at an Addas Ababa press conference with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, looked genuinely surprised and said that this was the first he heard of it, and did not know anything about the report.
His spokesman, Boaz Stempler, said that it was “utter nonsense.”
Herb Keinon contributed to this report.
Israeli premier in Ethiopia on last leg of landmark African tour
Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban
(Africanews)– Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived in Ethiopia today on the final leg of his historic African tour that has seen him visit Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda, holding high level discussions with leaders of the respective countries.
Netanyahu and his wife left Rwanda, where he visited the Kigali memorial center, laid a wreath and left a condolence message, he also held a joint press conference with president Kagame with the announcement of major policy cooperation.
Netanyahu’s Ethiopian Itinerary
His itinerary in Ethiopia is the most detailed in the four nation tour which started on Monday. The Israeli premier is expected to meet the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desaegn.
He would also hold meetings with President Malatu Teshome, before joining an Israeli-Ethiopia business forum on the sidelines of the visit.
He is expected to deliver an address to the Ethiopian Parliament as well. His last engagement in Ethiopia would be a visit to to the National Museum of Ethiopia before he heads back to Israel.