Israel to remove security for Bibi

This despite his fears of family facing threat

Jerusalem, Dec. 12: An Israeli parliamentary committee voted on Sunday to stop providing personal security for former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife and adult sons, six months after the longtime leader was ousted from power.

The decision, which goes into effect Monday, came despite pleas from Netanyahu that his family is regularly subjected to threats on their lives.

Netanyahu was unseated from the prime minister's office in June after a constellation of political parties united in their opposition to him succeeded in forming a government without his longruling Likud party. ● The one-time leader, who served as PM for 12 consecutive years, is now the opposition leader and continues to have a state-issued security detail. Under standard procedures, security and a chauffered vehicle are granted to the family of a former prime minister for the first six months after he leaves office.

The leader, who served as PM for 12 consecutive years, is now the opposition leader and continues to have a state-issued security detail. Under standard procedures, security and a chauffered vehicle are granted to the family of a former PM for the first six months after he leaves office.

In January, at Netanyahu’s insistence, that limit was extended by a ministerial committee to one year. On Sunday, the same ministerial committee adopted a recommendation from the Shin Bet security service to reduce the period back to six months. It said there were no imminent threats to Netanyahu’s wife or children. Sons Yair and Avner, and wife Sara, will lose their security detail on Monday.

There is no threat to the Netanyahu family, the decision is easy, Public Security Minister Omer Barlev tweeted. —