Netanyahu claims ‘Iran tried to murder one of my sons,’ doesn’t say which or give more details

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims in a phone interview with the pro-government Channel 14 that Iran tried to assassinate one of his two sons.

“Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to kill, to murder one of my sons,” Netanyahu says, without providing further details.

“Therefore, the security they get is not a luxury,” he adds, seemingly defending an agreement reached with the Shin Bet to provide his sons, alongside his wife, Sara, with security protection for at least five years, even if he loses the upcoming election. Without that security, “they would succeed,” he says, referring to the would-be assassins.

It is unclear which of Netanyahu’s sons – Yair or Avner – was allegedly targeted, or when and how the purported assassination attempt took place.

Avner lives in Israel. Yair, the better-known of the two, has spent much of the past few years in Miami and is known for his hardline right-wing commentary.

A Channel 12 report says the alleged attempt took place at a time when Yair Netanyahu was not in Israel, but does not specify that Yair was the target.

The alleged assassination plot has been known to the Israeli security establishment for several months, the TV report says, but has been barred from publication by the military censor.