Only days before Israel marks the third anniversary of the assassination of the then prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin, Israel's security chiefs fear right-wing extremists may murder the present leader, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu.
Yesterday, Mr Netanyahu denied he was reducing his public appearances in the face of incitement from right-wing opponents of his signing of the Wye agreement, which obliges Israel to turn over an additional 13 per cent of the West Bank to the Palestinians in return for security guarantees. But Mr Netanyahu's secret service, the Shin Bet, has advised stronger precautions.
"I haven't been sleeping at night ever since I heard the cries of `traitor' directed at the Prime Minister," the Ma'ariv newspaper quoted the head of Mr Netanyahu's protection detail as saying.
The chant echoed from a crowd of Jewish settlers and other hard-liners outside Mr Netanyahu's home on Monday.
Police are investigating comments made by two prominent settler leaders at the funeral of Mr Danny Vargas (29) on Tuesday. Mr Noam Federman and Rabbi Moshe Levinger blamed the Israeli government for the death of the settler - murdered by Hamas activists in Hebron - and called for revenge.
One Hebrew newspaper yesterday ran a large front-page photograph of Mr Netanyahu flanked by security guards as he entered the Knesset, one of the safest buildings in the country.
Security has also been stepped up for the Foreign Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, and the Defence Minister, Mr Yitzhak Mordechai.