Israeli Intelligence Evacuates Netanyahu's Son Amid Threats

Yair Netanyahu, the eldest son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been secretly flown out of the United States following a significant threat to his life, according to Israel's security agency, Shin Bet. This development comes shortly after Prime Minister Netanyahu claimed in a telephone interview that Iran had attempted to murder one of his sons, although he did not specify which one or provide further details about the alleged plot.

Shin Bet stated that there was a substantial threat to Yair Netanyahu, leading to an urgent decision to extract him along with his security team and return him to Israel. The agency did not disclose the specifics of the threat or the exact timing of the operation. Reports indicate that Israeli intelligence had uncovered a plot against Yair in December of the previous year, as shared by an unnamed US law enforcement source.

To facilitate the evacuation, Shin Bet reassigned agents who had been providing protection to Israeli President Isaac Herzog in New York. Allegedly, Iranian operatives had been monitoring Yair's residence and movements. He was instructed to leave immediately, returning to Israel without even collecting his belongings.

Yair Netanyahu's extended stay in the US had drawn scrutiny, especially following the October 2023 Hamas attack, as many questioned why he remained abroad while numerous Israeli reservists were called up for military operations in Gaza. In July, his mother, Sara Netanyahu, along with their two sons, received increased taxpayer-funded security, which sparked further public and political debate.

This news arrives as Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition faces challenges in an upcoming reelection campaign, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict with Iran. The conflict escalated in late February with US-Israeli strikes that resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several family members. Following Khamenei's death, his son Mojtaba was named the new supreme leader and has vowed to avenge his father's death. However, Tehran has not commented on the alleged assassination plot against Yair Netanyahu.