Latest news with #Avner
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Israeli PM Netanyahu draws backlash after citing ‘personal cost' of Iran-Israel war - postponing his son's wedding
Mr Netanyahu (middle) said everyone bear a personal cost due to the ongoing conflict, including his family. PHOTO: EPA-EFE Israeli PM Netanyahu draws backlash after citing 'personal cost' of Iran-Israel war - postponing his son's wedding Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sparked an uproar after he cited the postponement of his son's wedding as his 'personal cost' amid the ongoing Israel-Iran war. Speaking in front of the missile-struck Soroka Medical Centre in southern Israel on June 19, Mr Netanyahu has initially tried to draw a parallel between Israel's current crisis and Britain's resilience during World War II. 'It really reminds me of the British people during the blitz. We are going through a blitz,' British newspaper The Guardian reported Mr Netanyahu as saying. The blitz referred to the wartime Nazi bombing of Britain in which 43,000 civilians died. 'There are people who were killed, families who grieved loved ones, I really appreciate that,' he said. Israel began attacking Iran on June 13, saying it aimed to prevent its longtime enemy from developing nuclear weapons. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel. It says its nuclear programme is peaceful. Israeli air attacks have killed 639 people in Iran, said the Human Rights Activists News Agency. Israel has said at least two dozen Israeli civilians have died in Iranian missile attacks. Mr Netanyahu said everyone bear a personal cost due to the ongoing conflict, including his family. 'This is the second time that my son Avner has cancelled a wedding due to missile threats. It is a personal cost for his fiancée as well, and I must say that my dear wife is a hero, and she bears a personal cost.' Mr Avner's wedding to Ms Amit Yardeni was supposed to take place in November 2024, but was postponed due to security concerns. The wedding was scheduled on June 16, with Israeli media reported that some anti-government protesters had denounced the Netanyahu family for holding a celebration while Israeli hostages are still being held in Gaza. The backlash of Mr Netanyahu's latest remarks was almost instantaneous, with many criticising his attempt to frame his son's postponed wedding as a symbol of national sacrifice. Mr Gilad Kariv, a Member of Parliament, described Mr Netanyahu as 'a borderless narcissist'. 'I know many families who were not forced to postpone a wedding, but who will never celebrate the weddings that were once meant to take place,' he said on X. He was also dismissive of Mr Netanyahu's praise for his wife, Mrs Sara Netanyahu. 'The doctors who leave home for night shifts are the heroes. The teachers who keep our children together on Zoom and phone calls are the heroes.' Israeli journalist Amir Tibon summed it all up by saying on X: 'With Netanyahu, there are no surprises: even in moments when personal example is most needed, he is preoccupied first and foremost with himself.' Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Son's wedding cancelled for second time': Netanyahu shares 'personal cost' of war with Iran; sparks backlash
Standing before the shattered facade of Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a sombre message invoking the spirit of wartime London during the Blitz. But rather than rally national unity, his comments – referencing his son Avner's postponed wedding – sparked widespread backlash online and among his critics. 'It really reminds me of the British people during the Blitz. We are going through a blitz,' Netanyahu said, seeking to draw a parallel between the Nazi bombing of Britain and the ongoing Israeli-Iranian conflict. He then spoke of the 'personal cost' his family has borne, saying Avner's wedding had been postponed for the second time due to missile threats. 'This is the second time that my son Avner has cancelled a wedding due to missile threats. It is a personal cost for his fiancee as well, and I must say that my dear wife is a hero, and she bears a personal cost,' he said. Critics seized on his remarks as tone-deaf, accusing the prime minister of being emotionally detached from the war's daily toll, which has left 24 Israeli civilians dead and many more wounded. Iran's death toll is far higher, with a Washington-based rights group reporting at least 657 killed, including 263 civilians, and over 2,000 injured. The war began with a wave of surprise Israeli airstrikes on June 13 targeting Iran's nuclear facilities, key military personnel, and infrastructure. In retaliation, Iran launched over 450 missiles and 1,000 drones, striking multiple Israeli cities. A missile hit Soroka hospital on Thursday morning, injuring around 80 people and damaging critical infrastructure. While Iran claimed the intended target was a nearby Israeli military tech unit, Israeli officials said there was no intelligence suggesting the hospital was deliberately hit. Netanyahu, speaking amidst the rubble, also praised President Trump's ongoing support. 'I can tell you that they're already helping a lot,' he said, expressing trust in the US to 'do what's best for America.' The White House confirmed that Trump would make a decision on possible direct action against Iran within two weeks. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said ongoing negotiations with Tehran include demands for a complete halt to uranium enrichment and the dismantling of its nuclear programme. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have reportedly reached deep into Iran, including targets in Rasht and Isfahan. Iran's defensive capabilities were visibly strained, and with Hezbollah weakened and Syria's former president Assad ousted in late 2024, Tehran appears increasingly isolated. Iran has also threatened to disrupt global trade through the Strait of Hormuz, warning of economic repercussions if the war continues.
Roya News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Roya News
Netanyahu: My son canceled his wedding again due to missile threats
'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed Thursday that his son, Avner, was forced to cancel his wedding for the second time due to continued missile threats. 'There are personal losses. People have been injured, and sadly, some have been killed. Families have lost loved ones. I truly recognize that. Each of us bears personal losses, and my family is no exception,' Netanyahu said. He added that the deteriorating security situation had again disrupted his son's plans, saying, 'This is the second time my son Avner has had to cancel his wedding due to the missile threat.'
NDTV
12 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Netanyahu Says Son's Wedding Delay A "Personal Cost" Of War, Stuns Israelis
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing fierce backlash after citing the delay of his son's wedding as a "personal cost" of the ongoing conflict with Iran - remarks many Israelis have called tone-deaf and self-centered, according to the Guardian. Speaking solemnly in front of a missile-damaged Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva, Netanyahu invoked the spirit of Britain during the Blitz, likening Israel's current crisis to the World War II bombings. "It reminds me of the British people during the Blitz. We are going through a Blitz," he said, attempting to draw parallels between his family's experience and the hardships of everyday Israelis. The prime minister pointed to the rescheduling of his son Avner's wedding - for a second time due to security concerns - as an example of the sacrifices his family has made. He noted that the postponement had also deeply affected Avner's fiance and his wife, Sara Netanyahu, calling her "a hero" for enduring the disappointment. "There are people who were killed, families who grieved loved ones, I really appreciate that," Netanyahu said. "Each of us bears a personal cost, and my family has not been exempt." The comments, delivered against the backdrop of Soroka Hospital - which was hit by an Iranian missile the day before - were met with scorn online and across the Israeli political spectrum. Critics accused Netanyahu of being emotionally detached from the realities of war and prioritising his own image over the suffering of the public. Israel says 24 of its civilians have been killed so far in the conflict. Human rights groups in the US estimate the Iranian civilian death toll to be at least 263 following Israel's surprise aerial assault. Public outrage grew after reports suggested Netanyahu was planning to take time off for his son's wedding, which was set for Monday despite ongoing hostilities and threats of anti-government protests. The wedding had originally been planned for November but was canceled due to security concerns. Anat Angrest, whose son has been held hostage in Gaza since the Hamas attack in October 2023, responded sharply: "I've been in the hellish dungeons of Gaza for 622 days now," Angrest wrote on X. Gilad Kariv, a Democratic Knesset member, called Netanyahu a "borderless narcissist," adding: "I know many families who were not forced to postpone a wedding, but who will now never celebrate the weddings that were once meant to take place." Kariv also dismissed Netanyahu's praise of his wife: "The doctors who leave home for night shifts are the heroes," Kariv said. "The teachers who keep our children together on Zoom and phone calls are the heroes." Journalist Amir Tibon echoed the criticism, saying, "But there are no surprises with Netanyahu," Tibon said. "Even in moments when a personal example is most needed, he is first and foremost concerned with himself."
