The head of the Israeli internal security service (Shin Bet) issued a rare warning, Saturday, of the possibility of violence during one of the most politically charged periods in decades, as hundreds of Israelis demonstrated in the city of Jerusalem, in support of the formation of a new government that is expected to oust the interim prime minister. Benjamin Netanyahu.
"Recently, we have observed an increase in inflammatory and increasingly violent extremist rhetoric, especially on social networks," Shin Bet head Nadav Argaman said - in a statement without naming any names.
He added that this speech permits violent and illegal activity that may cause bodily harm.
Netanyahu faces the possibility of the end of his 12-year career - the longest-serving prime minister in Israel - after the centrist Israeli opposition leader, Yair Lapid, announced last Wednesday that he had succeeded in forming a governing coalition after the March 23 elections.
The new government - which has not yet been sworn in - will be a heterogeneous mixture of left-wing, liberal, right-wing, nationalist and religious parties, in addition to an Arab Islamic party, for the first time in Israel's history.
The Israeli government is scheduled to take the oath in the Knesset within 10 days, starting from the day the government was announced.
In his online posts, Netanyahu warned that such a partnership would be a "dangerous left-wing government."
Right-wing Israelis support Netanyahu to form government (Anatolia)
Some right-wing groups, angered by Naftali Bennett, who heads a small ultra-nationalist party, which is set to replace Netanyahu in a power-sharing deal with Lapid, have attacked several of Bennett's social media posts.
Before the elections, Bennett promised not to join a coalition with the centrist Lapid or any Arab party.
On the other hand, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported on its website that hundreds of Israelis demonstrated in a square in occupied Jerusalem, near Netanyahu's residence.
The website indicated that the demonstrators raised slogans confirming their support for what they described as the "unity government," in addition to other slogans calling for Netanyahu to be held accountable and to continue his trial.
And the Israeli police deployed in the vicinity of the area to prevent any friction with supporters of Netanyahu.
Dozens of Netanyahu's supporters usually demonstrate near the demonstrations against him, where they raise pictures and slogans in support of him.