Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is claiming that the Islamic Republic of Iran attempted to kill one of his children, and a subsequent report claims it was his son living in Florida.The Israeli premier made the accusation during an interview with Israeli outlet Channel 14, in which he stressed the need for politicians to be protected by government security. Promising to instruct Israeli law enforcement to boost security for all prime ministerial candidates ahead of the October election, he said the issue is personal to him.“Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to murder him, tried to murder one of my sons,” the premier told the outlet, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
In this March 17, 2015, file photo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, casts his vote with his son Yair during Israel’s parliamentary elections in Jerusalem. (Sebastian Scheiner/AP Photo, Pool, File)
The correspondent asked Netanyahu whether this was intelligence he received from state agencies, but Netanyahu did not directly address the question.“Iran tried to murder one of my sons. And this is why this promise is more than a luxury — without it, they could succeed,” he said.Netanyahu said he reached out to Shin Bet chief David Zini and “asked him to provide appropriate security to any prime ministerial candidate” before Israelis head to the polls on Oct. 27.Netanyahu has three children — a daughter and two sons. He did not clarify during the interview which of his two sons was the target.His oldest son is Yair Netanyahu, a 35-year-old political activist and podcaster who has positioned himself as an online attack dog for his father. He has lived in Florida for several years.His younger son, Avner Netanyahu, is 31 years old and lives in Israel. He has a smaller public presence than his older brother, working for an investment firm focusing on defense technology.Newsmax released a report on Wednesday asserting that it was Yair who was targeted by Iranian operatives for assassination. Citing an unnamed U.S. law enforcement official, the report claims Iranians were “on the ground” around his Miami home and surveilling his residence.He was reportedly urged by U.S. law enforcement to flee the area immediately and has returned to Israel.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, prays with his sons Avner Netanyahu, right, and Yair Netanyahu at the Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews can pray in Jerusalem’s Old City, Jan. 22, 2013. (Uriel Sinai/AP Photo, File)
