Netanyahu's Son, Living in Luxury in the US, Evacuated to Israel in Emergency

The eldest son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Yair Netanyahu, has been flown back to Israel from the United States in an emergency. This follows an assassination threat issued by Iran.

Citing Al Jazeera, the initial report was released by Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, Shin Bet. On Saturday evening, the agency announced that a comprehensive risk assessment scheme had been carried out.

“There is a significant threat to harm Yair, and in light of this and after conducting an assessment, a decision was made to immediately evacuate him together with his security team and return him to Israel,” Shin Bet stated.

Although the source of the threat was not detailed, US broadcaster Newsmax reported earlier this week that Yair was the target of an alleged assassination plot by Iran last December. At that time, he was living in Florida.

Israeli intelligence reportedly informed US authorities directly after learning of the assassination plan. The report came to public attention after Benjamin spoke bluntly to Israel’s Channel 14 television station.

“Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to kill, to finish off one of my sons,” he asserted.

According to the report, Yair, who is always closely guarded by an Israeli security team, was ordered to leave the area immediately. He was evacuated at lightning speed without having time to bring his personal belongings and was flown directly to Israel.

Previously, a report by The Times of Israel highlighted Yair’s lifestyle. He was said to frequently live in luxury.

The multi-layered security funded by the state has also repeatedly sparked public anger in his home country. He has also drawn sharp criticism for remaining in the US after the escalation of the conflict on 7 October 2023.

Israeli citizens have questioned the double standard that allowed Benjamin’s son to remain in comfort abroad while hundreds of thousands of reservists were called to the battlefield. Yair himself has long been known as a right-wing activist and podcaster who frequently attacks his father’s political opponents, government critics, and journalists on social media.