Jerusalem, 24 August, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed Monday evening that Iran had targeted one of his sons in an attempted assassination plot. Speaking by phone with Channel 14, Netanyahu said, “Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to murder one of my sons.”
Netanyahu’s critics suggested he made the disclosure seeking to push back against public criticism over the fact that the Shin Bet decided to follow the letter of the law and not provide state security to Gadi Eisenkot, considered the most likely candidate to defeat Netanyahu in the October election.
The PM stressed that the protection was “not a luxury. Without it, they would simply succeed.”
Netanyahu did not identify which of his sons, Yair or Avner, was targeted. Israeli journalist Amit Segal reported that the incident had been known for months but was subject to a gag order.