Tel Aviv (TDI): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Iran attempted to assassinate one of his sons, but provided no details about when the alleged plot took place, which son was targeted or how close the attempt came to being carried out.
Netanyahu made the allegation during a telephone interview with Israel’s Channel 14 on Monday, as tensions between Israel and Iran remain high following the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Tehran in February.
The Israeli premier said the alleged threat against his family demonstrated why security arrangements for political figures should not be treated as optional. “Iran tried to murder one of my sons,” Netanyahu said, without offering further information about the alleged operation.
It was not immediately clear which of Netanyahu’s two sons he was referring to. His elder son, Yair Netanyahu, is based in Miami. Netanyahu’s remarks came amid a dispute over security protection for political candidates ahead of Israel’s October 27 general election.
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Israeli media recently reported that Shin Bet chief David Zini had declined to provide security protection to Gadi Eisenkot, a political rival of Netanyahu, telling the country’s election authority that there was no specific threat against him.
Netanyahu said he had instructed Zini that appropriate protection should be provided to any candidate for prime minister.
The prime minister’s comments come at a politically sensitive time, with his governing coalition trailing in some opinion polls ahead of the election. Eisenkot’s party is currently projected to emerge with the largest number of seats.
However, Israel’s parliamentary system means that the party winning the most seats does not necessarily form the government on its own. Governments are typically formed through coalition negotiations involving several parties.
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Netanyahu’s claim also comes against the backdrop of a sharp escalation in the confrontation between Israel, the United States and Iran, during which senior Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were killed. Iran has not publicly confirmed or commented on Netanyahu’s allegation concerning his son.
