Shin Bet recommends replacing security detail for Yair Netanyahu - report

The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) has recommended replacing its security detail for Yair Netanyahu, son of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with security personnel from the Prime Minister’s Office.

This recommendation was disclosed during a meeting of the Advisory Committee for the Protection of State Symbols held on June 9, as reported by KAN on Sunday.

The discussion raised the issue of securing Yair Netanyahu, who currently resides in Miami. The Shin Bet’s position presented during the meeting was to replace the Shin Bet’s personal security unit with Magen security personnel – a unit composed of security personnel from the PMO, which is well-equipped to provide the necessary protection.

Also, several government ministers face higher levels of threat and are not secured by the Shin Bet’s personal security unit, with its personal security unit meant to protect state symbols in Israel only.

The decision regarding the exceptional security arrangement for the Netanyahu family members by the Shin Bet is expected to be passed to the Ministers’ Committee, where it might face challenges, according to KAN.

Upon Netanyahu’s return to the role of prime minister, the Shin Bet’s personal security unit was first required to provide close protection to the Netanyahu family members, even abroad. The Shin Bet clarified, according to the report that while there is a current need for family security, Magen is capable of handling it. Additionally, it noted that there are ministers with much higher threat levels.

Controversies, social media influence, and political statements

Earlier this month, Yair Netanyahu shared a video on social media calling Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, and Military Intelligence chief Aharon Haliva “three fatal failures.” This followed his earlier post of a video in which a masked soldier threatened mass insubordination if control over Gaza was handed to Hamas or the Palestinian Authority.

In the video, shared by media personality Yinon Magal and reposted by Yair, the masked man declared that 100,000 reservists would refuse orders to transfer Gaza’s control to any Arab entity. The soldiers emphasized their commitment to victory and support for Prime Minister Netanyahu, stating they had sacrificed everything for Israel.

Yair, 32, served in the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit and later studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, earning degrees in international relations and government studies. He has worked in various roles, including social media director for Shurat HaDin and has been active in defending his father on social media.

He has made controversial statements and faced legal issues, including a libel suit and a slander case. In 2020, he launched a right-wing podcast called The Yair Netanyahu Show.