Netanyahu Says Wife, Children Still Need Security Detail Amid 'Enormous Threats'

Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu called on the government Friday not to remove security from his wife and children in light of the "many and enormous threats" against them as the official expiration date of their security details expires on Monday.

The committee dealing with the matter is supposed to meet Sunday to make a final decision.

In a video Netanyahu released on social media, he mentioned a post published on the Crime Minister Facebook page, saying that security would be removed from the Netanyahu's wife and children next week.

He said marking the date in which the security will cease constitutes an explicit threat, and he plans on complaining to the police. He also mentioned a letter sent to his son, Yair Netanyahu, threatening to kill his family.

The ministerial committee for Shin Bet affairs decided that Netanyahu’s family would receive security for a year after the end of his term as prime minister. However, the current committee, headed by Matan Kahana, shortened the period to six months. Netanyahu claims this move is “detached from reality.” He called on the committee members to reinstate the original decision. “Don’t abandon the security of my wife and children,” he urged them.

Netanyahu claimed in the video that Rechavam Ze’evi, a former government minister, had been murdered two days after his security detail was removed. In fact, Ze’evi had objected to the security detail, and after his assassination it was revealed that he had ditched Shin Bet officers who were tasked with guarding him.