Netanyahu Family Wedding Triggers Discontent Among Likud, Coalition Allies

The upcoming wedding of Avner Netanyahu, youngest son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has become an unexpected source of controversy, particularly within the Likud party and the broader governing coalition. Scheduled for Monday, June 16, the lavish event at Ronit Farm in central Israel is expected to host over a thousand guests but notably, not a single politician has received an invitation.

Sources from within Likud and other coalition parties confirmed that neither junior Knesset members nor senior ministers were invited to the celebration. This decision has stirred mixed reactions: while some politicians expressed understanding and wished the young couple well, others voiced frustration and disappointment. One Likud member said, “It’s good the wedding is a private celebration for family and friends, not a political event,” while another noted, “The child deserves to get married in peace, that’s what matters most.”

Yet not all took the snub lightly. “It’s insane. With this logic, the guest list could’ve fit in a backyard,” one coalition member remarked anonymously. Another added, “If a party leader doesn’t see fit to invite his party’s senior figures, that says a lot.” Others brushed it off with indifference: “He doesn’t have to invite me, I have no relationship with Avner,” one said.

The wedding, originally set for November 2024 but postponed due to regional security tensions and the Iranian missile attack, will be held under heavy security. Measures will include metal detector scans, blocked access routes, and thorough screening procedures. The event is being treated as a high-security operation, with the bride and groom already under close protection, even during casual public outings.

As the guest list became public knowledge, political figures learned they’d be experiencing the high-profile wedding from the pages of the newspaper rather than from inside Ronit Farm. The Netanyahu family reportedly emphasized their desire to maintain an intimate and private atmosphere, free from political associations.

Adding another layer of tension, protest organizers from the anti-government camp have announced plans to stage demonstrations near the venue. One protest leader has called for car convoys and activist leafleting outside the event. While some critics on the left decried the wedding as an example of “elitism and disconnection,” others defended the couple’s right to celebrate their marriage in peace.