Man With Knife Detained Near Yair Golan in Tel Aviv; Police Say No Attempted Stabbing
Police detained a man carrying a knife near Democrats leader Yair Golan in Tel Aviv's Park HaMesila on election day. Police later said there had been no attempt to stab him.
The incident happened on Tuesday, October 27, while Golan was out in the park urging Israelis to vote. Within hours, two versions were circulating: a dramatic account from his party and a more limited one from the police.
What the police say happened
According to a police statement published by i24NEWS, security personnel accompanying a public figure noticed an object sticking out from under the coat of a man standing nearby. They stopped him for a check and found a knife. The man was arrested and taken to the Lev Tel Aviv police station for questioning.
Police stressed that there had been no attempted stabbing. Israel Hayom also reported that the arrest was on suspicion of carrying a knife, not of trying to use it. The investigation is continuing.
The Democrats' account
Golan's party, the Democrats, described the moment differently. In its statement, a man in a jacket approached Golan in a threatening way, the guards blocked him, and a large knife fell from his clothing as they closed in. Police were then called to the scene.
Golan, a former deputy chief of staff of the IDF who leads the Democrats, condemned incitement and violence and called on voters to go to the polls. Police have not said whether the man knew who Golan was or why he was carrying the knife.
Security for candidates on election day
The incident came two days after the Shin Bet agreed to provide state funded protection to Golan ahead of the vote, following a long dispute over whether he qualified for it. Several party leaders campaigned in public places throughout the day, meeting voters in parks, markets and outside polling stations.
Israeli politics has been tense throughout the campaign, with leaders on all sides warning about incitement. Knife attacks have also been a recurring form of terror in Israel, which is why an armed man near a party leader draws an immediate response from security teams.
What happens next
The suspect remains under police questioning. Police have not published his identity or any motive, and no charge had been announced by Tuesday afternoon. Israel News Pulse will update this report as the investigation develops.
