Avner Netanyahu’s Wedding Faces Threats: Police Unprepared for Sunday Event
Avner Netanyahu’s wedding, set for Sunday after two delays due to security issues, will proceed in a scaled-down format without politicians, but police claim they are unprepared to secure it. The event faces potential disruptions from anti-government protestors, highlighting ongoing national tensions.
Avner Netanyahu, the youngest son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is scheduled to marry his fiancée, Amit Yardeni, on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at Ronit Farm in central Israel, after two previous postponements due to security concerns. The couple’s wedding, initially planned for November 2024 and again in June 2025, was delayed first due to drone threats and later due to Israel’s military operation against Iran, which sparked a 12-day conflict following an attack on Tehran. Unlike the earlier attempts, which saw extensive police preparations including barriers and road closures, authorities have not been informed of the upcoming event and are not preparing security measures, according to a report aired on August 21, 2025.
Sources close to the Netanyahu family emphasized that the wedding will be a modest affair, excluding politicians and focusing on family and close friends. “The event is expected to take place in a limited format without politicians,” they told reporters, highlighting Avner’s preference for an intimate celebration. This approach aligns with his earlier decision to exclude members of the Knesset and ministers, a move that sparked mixed reactions within the Likud party, with some supporting the couple’s desire for privacy and others feeling snubbed. The absence of political figures aims to reduce the event’s profile amid ongoing tensions.
The lack of police coordination has raised concerns, particularly as anti-government activists have signaled intentions to disrupt the event, as they did during the couple’s henna ceremony in April 2025. Protestors, led by figures like Ami Dror, have previously called for demonstrations, citing the ongoing captivity of hostages in Gaza and fallen soldiers, with slogans like “No hostages, no wedding.” Despite these threats, the family is proceeding, though the police’s unpreparedness contrasts sharply with the heavy security deployed in June, which included Shin Bet, Border Police, and airspace closures. The wedding, expected to host around 1,000 guests, remains a focal point of public and political contention, reflecting broader national divisions.