Netanyahu sparks outrage citing son’s wedding delay as Iran war cost
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Benjamin Netanyahu's attempt to frame his son's postponed wedding as a symbol of national sacrifice amid the war on Iran was met with ridicule and backlash.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the weekly cabinet meeting in the Western Wall tunnels in the Old City of al-Quds on May 21, 2023 (AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has attempted to frame the delay of his son Avner's wedding as a symbol of unity and hardship with other Israeli settlers.
His comparison to the suffering of settlers, however, was met with widespread ridicule across the Hebrew-speaking internet, coming amid a war Netanyahu himself had launched just days earlier.
Critics seized on the remarks as further proof that Netanyahu is increasingly out of touch after over 17 years in power.
'Thwarted mother of the groom'
Trying to strike a Churchillian tone, he emphasized that the disruption had affected not only his son and fiancée, but also his wife Sara, whom he described as a "thwarted mother of the groom."
“It really reminds me of the British people during the blitz. We are going through a blitz,” Netanyahu said.
“There are people who were killed, families who grieved loved ones, I really appreciate that,” he stated.
Netanyahu claimed that all Israelis were bearing "a personal cost," saying his family was no exception and lamenting the fact that his son had to cancel his wedding twice now due to Iranian missiles.
Avner’s wedding was initially set for November but was postponed over security concerns. It had been rescheduled for this Monday, despite anticipated opposition protests.
'Borderless narcissist'
The backlash to Netanyahu’s remarks was swift and scathing. Gilad Kariv, a Knesset member, referred to the PM as a "borderless narcissist" and dismissed his praise of his wife as a hero.
Journalist Amir Tibon added that, unlike other public figures who’ve lost children in war, Netanyahu remains self-centered even when leadership and humility are most needed.
According to Tibon, “Even in moments when a personal example is most needed, he is first and foremost concerned with himself.”
Netanyahu visits missile site as cabinet remains silent
Netanyahu made a rare public appearance on Sunday at the site of an Iranian missile strike in Bat Yam, just south of Tel Aviv, where at least six settlers were killed. Haaretz reported that most of his ministers have remained absent from the public sphere, adding to the perception of disarray within the cabinet.
These developments underscore a growing sense of uncertainty within "Israel" as to how the military and political leadership intend to manage and eventually conclude the war. With continued Iranian retaliation and internal criticism intensifying, Haaretz suggests that Netanyahu’s silence is only deepening the strategic vacuum.
Search and rescue operations are still underway in Bat Yam following the #Iranian missile barrage as part of its retaliation against "Israel".
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) June 15, 2025
Videos showed massive, unprecedented destruction in the area south of Tel Aviv.#Iran #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/lQBLBc0PrB
