Ministerial committee pulls security protection, chauffeurs for Netanyahu’s family

The ministerial committee that oversees the operations of the Shin Bet security agency votes to stop providing security for former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife and adult sons, six months after the longtime leader was ousted from power.

The decision, which goes into effect Monday, came despite pleas from Netanyahu that his family is regularly subjected to threats against their lives.

While his sons Yair and Avner, and wife Sara, will lose their security detail, Netanyahu himself will be protected by the Shin Bet for the next 20 years.

Under standard procedures, security and a chauffeured vehicle are granted to the family of a former prime minister for the first six months after he leaves office. But in January, at Netanyahu’s insistence, that limit was extended by a ministerial committee to one year.

Now, the same ministerial committee has adopted a recommendation from the Shin Bet security service to reduce the period back to six months.