TEL AVIV, November 21. /TASS/. Israel’s Shin Bet security agency has foiled the Hamas movement militants’ attempt to assassinate Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, says a statement released on Thursday evening by the country’s security agency, army and police. The Islamists intended to use a rocket launcher in the assassination attempt.

According to the statement, a three-member Hamas terror cell had purchased an RPG rocket launcher that they intended to use to fire at the foreign minister’s car. The terrorist cell was headed by Ibrahim Salim Mahmoud Zir, 37, a senior member of Hamas who resides near Bethlehem and who served several prison terms in Israel on charges of terrorism.

The foreign minister is the only Israeli official living on the West Bank of the River Jordan due to which he becomes a potentially easy target for terrorists.