Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed Monday that the Iranian regime attempted to assassinate one of his sons, a stunning disclosure that underscores the escalating threat Tehran poses not only to the Jewish state but potentially to American soil.
“This is an unbelievable case. Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to murder him, tried to murder one of my sons,” Netanyahu told Israel’s Channel 14 during an interview. He did not specify which son was targeted or when the plot was discovered.
The prime minister’s bombshell came during a discussion about security protection for political candidates ahead of Israel’s upcoming election. Netanyahu has requested that Israeli law enforcement provide increased protection for all prime ministerial candidates, a move that followed reports that the Shin Bet security agency declined to assign a detail to his leading rival, former army chief Gadi Eisenkot.
“This is why this promise is more than a luxury. Without it, they could succeed,” Netanyahu warned.
According to the Times of Israel, other Israeli media outlets were already aware of the rumored Iranian plot against Netanyahu’s family, and the information was “known to the Israeli security establishment for several months.” This intelligence reportedly prompted Shin Bet’s decision in July to extend security protection for the Netanyahu family for five years.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Yair Netanyahu appeared to be the target of the Iranian plot, though the outlet could not obtain official confirmation. Yair’s security detail has drawn criticism in Israel because his residence abroad significantly increases the cost of providing him with two Shin Bet bodyguards around the clock.
The Shin Bet’s refusal to protect Eisenkot while maintaining extensive coverage for Netanyahu’s family sparked accusations of hypocrisy from the prime minister’s political opponents. Netanyahu pushed back on the criticism, urging restraint during the heated election season.
“People need to show some restraint, especially during an election campaign,” he said. “I spoke with the Shin Bet chief and asked him to provide appropriate security to any prime ministerial candidate.”
The Iranian threat against Netanyahu’s family fits a broader pattern of Tehran’s aggression against Israeli officials and Jewish targets worldwide. The Islamic Republic has long vowed to destroy the Jewish state and has targeted Israeli interests through its network of terror proxies across the Middle East.
For American officials, the possibility that Iran plotted violence against someone living in the United States should serve as a wake-up call. Tehran’s willingness to reach across oceans to strike at its enemies represents a threat that extends far beyond Israel’s borders.
