Netanyahu Criticized for Disclosing Iran Assassination Plot

Avner Villan, a former senior Israeli security official, sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday over the public disclosure of an alleged Iranian assassination plot targeting his son, Yair Netanyahu. In an interview with Israeli radio station 103FM, Villan accused the prime minister of exploiting sensitive intelligence information for political purposes.

Villan took particular issue with how the story was revealed. "I'm looking at the way this was exposed, bypassing the military censor who didn't approve its publication, on Channel 14 in the most political way possible. They took the core secrets of the State of Israel," he said.

According to Villan, assuming the published information is credible, its use damages the intelligence professionals who gathered it. "That intelligence officer, a public servant who invested his entire life serving the State of Israel, sees his work being used in the most cynical way possible. The prime minister takes it and uses it in the most political way to score political points with work that is the holy of holies of the State of Israel," he stated.

Yair Netanyahu (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

Villan continued his criticism, arguing that publicizing such intelligence could have consequences for Israel's security establishment's operational capabilities. "In the end, there's one country, one army, and one intelligence service. This isn't the first time such cynical use has been made of materials that come from the core of our secrets. This erodes our basic ability to defend ourselves," he said.

He then sharpened his tone with a direct jab at Netanyahu: "Clearly, if he wasn't in a panic and maybe had a bit of sense, he would think twice before this recklessness."

Villan also addressed the reported assassination attempt itself against Yair Netanyahu in the United States, arguing that Iranian actions following the confrontation with Israel should not come as a surprise. "In the end, we assassinated the leader of a sovereign state. We decided to go to all-out war against Iran. What did we think would happen? That they would sit quietly? We know Iran and its terror capabilities," he said.

Later in the interview, Villan discussed Iran's current state: "Iran is not a country operating in chaos, there's strategic logic there, their actions connect to a coherent strategy," he said.

Villan concluded with a warning about Iran's continued nuclear advancement, arguing that while attention is focused on other arenas, "the nuclear clock doesn't stop and keeps advancing." According to him, if Iran achieves "a real nuclear option," it may conclude that it has no need to reach an agreement with the United States.