The Jerusalem Post reported yesterday that three Palestinians were indicted this week on charges of plotting to assassinate Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman this past summer.

The three men – Ibrahim el-Zir, Ziad el-Zir and Anans Bech, all from Harmala in the West Bank – allegedly decided to assassinate the foreign minister in mid-August to try to stop Operation Protective Edge.

An additional part of the rationale for the plan to go after Liberman was the proximity of Harmala to Liberman’s home in Tekoa (the village is on the other side of Route 356 from the settlement). There were instances when the defendants observed his entourage of vehicles traveling in the area, the indictment filed in the Judea Military Court said.

Ibrahim el-Zir attempted to purchase a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) to carry out the plot. Although the Post reported that the cell was not affiliated with any terror group, according to The Times of Israel he turned to Hamas officials for the weapon. Since the plot never got past the initial planning stage, the three were charged with conspiracy.

[Photo: Brookings Institution / YouTube ]