The Israeli PM has revealed that Iran tried to kill one of his sons when he put in a surprise call to Channel 14’s Sheva current affairs programme.
In the spontaneous interview, reported on the channel’s website, Benjamin Netanyahu responded to a question about threats against him and his family saying: "As for my sons: I think there is something here that is unbelievable.
"Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to murder, to kill one of my sons. It tried to murder him."
When asked whether this came from intelligence information that was presented to him, Netanyahu did not elaborate and repeated his words: "Iran tried to assassinate one of my sons."
He added that people should "restrain themselves" on the subject, even during an election campaign.
This information reportedly had been under a publication ban and military censorship for months.
The discussion came after Netanyahu was asked about election rival Gadi Eisenkot's security and the security his sons received.
Netanyahu first said that he had already spoken to the head of the Shin Bet and asked to ensure appropriate security for someone running for prime minister.
The spontaneous call took place a day after Netanyahu made his phone number public and invited citizens to call him.
The Sheva programme, hosted by Noam Amir, decided to try the number live – and Netanyahu answered.
At the beginning of the conversation Netanyahu joked after the studio asked the speaker to verify that it was indeed him, saying: "What is 'like his'? What, is Topaz imitating me? It's clear it's me."
The prime minister was later asked about the claims that a security escalation might serve him during the election period, and in particular about the activity in Syria that was intended to prevent Turkish entrenchment.
Netanyahu rejected the claims, Channel 14 reported, saying that serious security discussions had taken place on the subject at the initiative of the IDF, and that all security officials had recommended preventing the Turkish move.
"I am fighting against Turkey's attempt to essentially establish forward bases against the state of Israel," he said.
According to him, he was acting "responsibly but also with determination and great firmness" in the face of threats to Israel, even when this required withstanding pressure.
Netanyahu and Amir’s conversation also dealt with the large number of small parties competing for the right-wing votes.
Netanyahu warned that such a split could decide the election campaign. "It could bring down the right, in a simple way," he said.
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