Netanyahu Drops Pre-Election Bombshell Claiming Iran Attempted to Assassinate His Son

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed in a phone interview that Iran attempted to kill one of his sons, amid a political dispute over security details for his main electoral rival ahead of the October 27 parliamentary elections.

Assassination Claim and Family Background

– Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to kill, to murder one of my sons, Netanyahu said in a telephone interview with Channel 14 television. The Israeli Prime Minister has three children: 35-year-old Yair, 31-year-old Avner, and Noa, a 48-year-old daughter from his first marriage.

Public opinion is primarily familiar with Yair, a far-right podcaster. Last autumn, Benjamin Netanyahu’s party attempted to push through a position for Yair on the board of directors of the World Zionist Organization.

Shin Bet Denies Protection to Rival

The prime minister’s statement regarding the alleged assassination attempt came during a discussion on reports that the Shin Bet, the agency responsible for internal security, refused to provide strict protection to Gadi Eisenkot. Eisenkot is Netanyahu’s main rival ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27.

The Israeli Prime Minister assured that he asked Shin Bet chief David Zini to provide “adequate protection to every candidate for prime minister.” He emphasized that protection from a government agency “is not a luxury.”

Statements on Impunity and Life Protection

Almost any crime can be forgiven here if the victim is a Palestinian, says Sari Bashi, director of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, in an interview with Jan Bielski in Wyborcza.

In mid-July, at Zini’s request, the government’s services committee approved lifetime Shin Bet protection for Benjamin Netanyahu, protection for his sara wife during her husband’s lifetime, and protection for at least the next five years for their sons. The decision was made under strong pressure from Netanyahu and his wife, the Jerusalem Post commented at the time. The Israeli press emphasized that the politician and his family will be protected regardless of the outcome of the October elections.

Controversies Surrounding Security Costs

The issue of protection for Netanyahu and his family had previously been commented on in the Israeli media. Controversy was stirred up, among other things, by the costs of protecting Yair Netanyahu, who has lived permanently in Miami, USA, for several years. The prime minister’s son has bodyguards and a driver at his disposal.