Israel Cancels PM’s Son’s Wedding as Iran Tensions Escalate

Avner Netanyahu’s Wedding Canceled Amid Iran Conflict and National Emergency

On June 14, 2025, the wedding of Avner Netanyahu, son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was canceled due to escalating conflict with Iran and stringent national emergency measures. Scheduled for June 16 at the upscale Ronit Farm venue north of Tel Aviv, the event was postponed indefinitely under Home Front Command’s Level 4 regulations, which prohibit gatherings amid ongoing Iranian missile attacks. The cancellation, confirmed by the event’s organizers, followed Israel’s major offensive against Iranian nuclear and military sites on June 13, prompting retaliatory ballistic missile barrages that triggered nationwide sirens. Vendors received formal cancellation notices on Saturday, with no new date announced. A source close to the couple revealed, “Until the last minute, the couple believed the wedding would go on as planned. They were shocked. It’s the second time they’ve had to postpone.”

The wedding, planned for Avner and his fiancée Amit Yardeni, was to be a modest affair by the venue’s lake, with several hundred guests and former Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau officiating. Sky Production managed the event, featuring photographer Haim Afriat and DJ Itay Galo, all bound by confidentiality agreements. Security was tight, with a 1.5-kilometer no-fly zone, barbed-wire fencing, and police checkpoints around the venue. Local residents were advised to work from home, reflecting the heightened alert. This marks the second delay for the couple, whose wedding was initially set for November 26, 2024, but rescheduled due to prior conflicts, including fears of a Hezbollah drone attack after a strike on the Netanyahu family residence.

The cancellation stirred controversy, as anti-government protesters had planned to demonstrate near the venue, displaying images of the 53 hostages still held by Hamas and blocking roads to criticize the Netanyahu family’s celebration during a national crisis. These plans were abandoned following the emergency declaration. Israel’s airspace closure and ongoing hostilities, with 52,000 reported deaths in Gaza and regional tensions soaring, underscore the gravity of the situation forcing the postponement.