Benjamin Netanyahu lighting Hanuka candels in his office with Sara, Yair and Avner, 1996
Avner Netanyahu (Hebrew: אבנר נתניהו; born October 10, 1994) is the younger son of Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara.
Biography
Avner is a brother to Yair, and a half-brother to Noa Roth (who was born to his father from his previous marriage to Miki Haran).[1][2] During most of his father's first term of office (1996–1999), he lived with his brother Yair with his mother's parents, Chava and Shmuel Ben-Artzi.[3]
Netanyahu is a former soldier in the IDF Combat Intelligence Collection Corps. He was enlisted in December 2014.[6] Before his enlistment, there was rumours that he would serve in the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, but Netanyahu wanted more significant service. He was initially accepted into the Unit 8200, but signed a waiver to serve in a combat unit.[3] Netanyahu finished his military service in 2017.[7]
In 2019, he competed in the fourth season of the TV show "The Chase" of the "Kan" channel.[10]
In July 2019, Avner Netanyahu was harassed by social activist Barak Cohen. Cohen documented himself shouting insults at Avner Netanyahu, while the latter patronized a restaurant. In response, Avner Netanyahu filed a complaint with the police against Cohen, which was investigated by the police. In August 2019, the court issued a restraining order against Cohen from Avner Netanyahu in accordance with the Prevention of Threatening Harassment Law, until February 2020.[11][12]
In August 2019 Avner Netanyahu visited the State of Nauru, in the same month Nauru recognized Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel.[13]
In January 2022, it was discovered by the Calcalistnewspaper that the Israel Police used Pegasus spyware to remotely hack, without a search warrant, the phones of Israeli citizens who are not criminals or suspects. Among the people whose phones were hacked was Avner Netanyahu.[14]
Netanyahu is in a relationship with television personality Amit Yardeni since May 2022.[15]Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the couple's wedding was initially scheduled to take place on November 26, 2024 but the wedding was postponed after a drone attack from Lebanon hit his father's residence in Caesarea.[16] He was previously in a relationship with model and political aide Noy Bar.[17]
Political views
Avner Netanyahu publicly supported his father's election as prime minister and complained about the campaign against Benjamin Netanyahu that called on him to resign, the "Leh" ׂׂ(Go) campaign. He went against those protesting against his father.[18]
Avner Netanyahu admires his father Benjamin Netanyahu, he thinks he is an historical figure, a one-time leader. He said this in July 2019 in a video posted by Benjamin Netanyahu on his YouTube channel.[19]
Personal security
Avner Netanyahu is secured by the Shin Bet. This security is also intended for the seven individuals who are considered symbols of the government of the state of Israel, and it is considered a higher level of security than the security provided by the "Magen unit" in the Prime Minister's Office. Security also continued on his private trip to Australia. The security of Avner and Yair, which costs NIS 300,000 per month,[20] was removed in 2021, half a year after the end of Netanyahu's term as Prime Minister, according to the opinion of the Shin Bet, the Mossad, the police and the National Security Council of Israel. Netanyahu's associates were angry and said it was a risk for members of the Netanyahu family to do so.[21] When Avner left for academic studies in London, Benjamin Netanyahu, as the head of the opposition, asked the head of the Mossad to provide security arrangements for Avner during his studies abroad, but he was refused. The high level security was restored, after Benjamin Netanyahu returned to being prime minister.
On June 9, 2024, the Netanyahu family asked the Security Advisory Committee to secure Benjamin Netanyahu's family by the Shin Bet, for the rest of their lives as Benjamin Netanyahu is secured. The request included Sara, Yair and Avner. At the meeting it was decided not to discuss this while there is a war.[22]
On July 17, 2024, at the request of the nonprofit organization Hatzlaha, it was revealed that the annual cost of the security of Avner Netanyahu in the years 2018–2020 was between 2.3 and 3.5 million shekels.[23]
^Zaga, Bar (May 7, 2022). "אבנר נתניהו בזוגיות חדשה" [Avner Netanyahu in a new relationship]. Ynet Plus. Archived from the original on December 8, 2024.
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