Assassination Plot Against Netanyahu’s Attorney Exposed

French authorities have launched a formal investigation into an alleged assassination attempt against Olivier Pardo, a high-profile defense attorney currently representing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The inquiry, confirmed by Le Parisien on Monday, began after a July encounter in which 47-year-old Rudy Ternova, an ex-convict with a history of criminal and radical Islamist activity, walked into Pardo’s law office in Paris and claimed he had been recruited by Hezbollah operatives while in Senegal to carry out a contract killing.

According to legal sources, Ternova insisted he was refusing the assignment and sought the meeting to warn Pardo that others might be willing to carry it out. The meeting, held in mid-July in the presence of two other lawyers, reportedly lasted around 30 minutes and involved no threats or violence.

Ternova presented himself using his real name and made no demands, financial or otherwise. His calm demeanor and refusal of compensation strengthened the impression among investigators that the warning may have been genuine rather than a ploy.

Target Linked to ICC Defense of Israeli PM

Pardo, who has represented high-profile international clients in the past, was recently appointed to Netanyahu’s legal team following the issuance of an international arrest warrant by the ICC, citing alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

According to Ternova, Pardo’s role in defending Netanyahu was the reason he had been selected as a target. French authorities have long tracked threats against Israeli and Jewish-linked figures, particularly in the wake of heightened tensions involving Iran, Hezbollah, and Western legal action against Israeli officials.

Following the meeting, and on the advice of colleagues and the Paris Bar Association president, Pardo filed a formal report with the police. France’s domestic security agency (DGSI) was immediately alerted, and surveillance operations were initiated.

Past Involvement in Similar Cases Raises Stakes

Investigators noted that Ternova had previously been acquitted in a 2007 attempted assassination case involving another attorney, and had once worked as an informant for French police. This murky background, combined with his detailed account and lack of extortion, has led authorities to treat the matter with gravity.

On the final week of July, Ternova was taken into custody for questioning. A formal judicial investigation is now underway, led by France’s anti-terrorism task force and overseen by a designated investigative judge.

While most similar past plots in France were linked to Iranian proxies, this case is the first in which Hezbollah has been explicitly named as the alleged commissioning party, according to preliminary findings.

Pardo Praises French Response

In a public statement, Olivier Pardo thanked the French judiciary and police for their swift and professional handling of the situation. Although he has faced threats before, this marks the first time he has been involved in what appears to be a credible assassination attempt.

French officials have yet to confirm whether the threat was ordered directly or indirectly by Hezbollah leadership, but the investigation continues to explore links to known networks operating across Africa and Europe.