Israel dismisses allegations of attempt to kill Benjamin Netanyahu

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the press at State House in Nairobi. (Photo: Maxwell Agwanda/Standard)

Israel has dismissed claims suggesting there was a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Israeli Prime Minister's office Thursday dismissed as "absolute nonsense" a report in a Kuwaiti daily that claimed Kenyan security authorities foiled an attempt to assassinate Netanyahu during his trip to Kenya earlier this week.

Asked about the report, Netanyahu himself Thursday said he knew nothing about it, Channel 2 reported. Army Radio said he too called it nonsense.

The Kuwaiti paper, Al-Jarida, quoted an anonymous, ostensibly well-placed source saying the Kenyan authorities ordered a change in the route taken by Netanyahu and his delegation from Nairobi airport to their hotel on Tuesday.

An explosive device was found on the original route, and two suspects arrested, the report said, adding that the Kenyan authorities had placed a gag order on further details of the alleged incident.

Dismissing the report, Netanyahu's aides also told Army Radio in Ethiopia that the prime minister's route in Nairobi was not changed.

Prevent attacks

Netanyahu visited Kenya on Tuesday as the second stop of a four-nation African trip that also took him to Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia.

During an international press conference at State House, Nairobi, Netanyahu said Israeli had a lot to offer Kenya in terms of security, particularly intelligence sharing to prevent terror attacks and also in the development sphere.

"We have entered into various agreements to enhance security. At this point, it will not be practical to go into details. There is a raging battle with outlawed groups like Isis, Boko Haram, Al Qaeda and Al Shabaab. Israel can help in many areas,” said Netanyahu.

He added: "When it comes to fighting crime, when we know in advance an attack is going to take place, we react and prevent it."