Netanyahu Says Iran Tried to Kill His Son

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Iran had attempted to assassinate one of his sons. In an interview with Channel 14, he did not specify which son he was referring to, when the alleged plot occurred or how close it came to being carried out. His elder son, Yair, lives in Miami.

Netanyahu made the allegation while responding to reports that an Israeli security agency had refused to provide protection for a political rival ahead of the general election scheduled for 27 October. He argued that security protection for his family was therefore not a luxury. Iran’s mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The prime minister also said he had told Shin Bet Director David Zini that appropriate security should be provided for every candidate for prime minister.

Israeli media previously reported that Zini had declined to provide protection for Netanyahu’s political rival Gadi Eisenkot and told the country’s election authority that there was no plot to harm him. Eisenkot’s party is projected to win the largest number of seats in the election.

(Reuters)