Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made a stark new allegation, saying Iran “tried to murder one of my sons” in an assassination plot. The comment came during a Monday interview with Israel’s Channel 14, a conservative outlet sympathetic to Netanyahu, where he was discussing his push for expanded state security for prime ministerial candidates.
Netanyahu did not specify which of his two sons was the target, nor when the alleged plot took place. The revelation was offered as justification for his request that Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency, provide round-the-clock protection to all prime ministerial candidates in the upcoming election.
“This is an unbelievable case. Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to murder him, tried to murder one of my sons,” Netanyahu said, according to the interview.
When Channel 14 military correspondent Noam Amir asked whether the alleged plot was part of the intelligence briefed to him, Netanyahu repeated: “Iran tried to murder one of my sons. And this is why this promise is more than a luxury – without it, they could succeed.”
Netanyahu said he had “spoke with the Shin Bet chief and asked him to provide appropriate security to any prime ministerial candidate.” He added, “People need to show some restraint, especially during an election campaign.”
Security Dispute with Shin Bet
The prime minister’s remarks came amid an ongoing controversy over security assignments. Shin Bet recently decided not to assign a personal security detail to Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu’s leading rival in the upcoming election and a former Israeli army chief. That decision, paired with the extended five-year protection already granted to Netanyahu’s own family, has drawn accusations of hypocrisy and negligence from critics of the current administration.
Netanyahu dismissed the notion that his request for equal support was excessive, framing the alleged threat against his own family as proof that such measures are essential.
“Is this part of the intelligence provided to you?” Amir asked, after Netanyahu’s initial disclosure. The prime minister did not answer directly, instead reiterating that the plot was the reason he considered the protection “more than a luxury.”
Which Son? U.S. Implications
Benjamin Netanyahu has two sons: Yair, the older son who lives in Miami, Florida, and is known for his aggressive online presence and political activism; and Avner, who lives in Israel. He also has a daughter from his first marriage, Noa Netanyahu-Roth.
The prime minister did not identify which of his sons was allegedly targeted. If the plot was directed at Yair Netanyahu in Miami, experts noted, the implications would extend beyond Israeli borders into U.S. national security.
The Times of Israel (TOI) reported Monday that other Israeli media outlets were already aware of the rumored Iranian plot against Netanyahu’s family, and that it had been “known to the Israeli security establishment for several months.”
According to TOI, this background helps explain why Shin Bet extended protection to the prime minister’s family in July. The outlet also suggested that Israeli TV channel 12 believed the intended target was Yair, though official confirmation was not available.
Domestic Criticism Over Security Costs
The security arrangement has itself become a point of contention in Israel. Yair Netanyahu, who lives mostly abroad, requires two Shin Bet bodyguards at all times—a fact that has drawn criticism domestically, given the significant expense of maintaining the detail while he is outside the country.
Netanyahu’s latest comments, made with just days to go before the election, are expected to sharpen the debate over state security priorities and the government’s handling of intelligence information. His team has not released additional details about the alleged plot, and the prime minister did not indicate whether any formal investigation had been launched.
The Channel 14 interview has been widely cited in Israeli media, though no other officials have publicly confirmed the existence of an Iranian assassination attempt against a Netanyahu family member. The Shin Bet has not commented on the record.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/middle-east/2026/08/25/israels-netanyahu-says-iran-tried-to-murder-one-of-my-sons/