Netanyahu says Iran attempted to assassinate his son

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday in an interview with Israel's Channel 14 that Iran had attempted to kill his son, reported Xinhua.

He did not reveal which of his two sons was involved or when the alleged assassination attempt took place.

Netanyahu made the remarks after being asked about Shin Bet domestic security agency chief David Zini's controversial decision not to provide security for now to former army chief Gadi Eisenkot, who most polls predict will pose a major challenge to Netanyahu in the Oct. 27 general election. Opposition parties have described the decision as politically motivated.

The controversy comes particularly after a ministerial committee for Shin Bet affairs decided last month that Netanyahu's sons, Yair and Avner, would receive security for five years.

Netanyahu argued in the interview that security for his sons was not a luxury and that, without it, Iran would "succeed in its attempts."

He said he had already asked Zini to provide appropriate security for anyone running for prime minister.