Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ignited a political firestorm after publicly citing the postponement of his son's wedding as a "personal cost" of the ongoing war with Iran, a remark that has drawn fierce criticism from bereaved families, political opponents, and the public at large.
Speaking from outside Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva, which had sustained damage in an Iranian missile strike the day prior, Netanyahu adopted a solemn tone, likening the nation's wartime hardship to the British resilience during World War II. "It reminds me of the British people during the Blitz. We are going through a Blitz," Netanyahu said.
The prime minister used the platform to emphasize the burden on his own family, noting that his son Avner's wedding had been postponed for a second time due to the security situation. "Each of us bears a personal cost, and my family has not been exempt," he said. "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."
The remarks were met with scorn across Israeli society. The wedding, originally scheduled for November, was rescheduled for Monday, even as the military conflict with Iran intensified and anti-government protests loomed. Reports that Netanyahu might take time off for the ceremony contributed to widespread criticism.
Anat Angrest, whose son has been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza since October 2023, responded on X: "I have been in the hellish dungeons of Gaza for 622 days now." Her pointed statement highlighted the disconnect many felt between Netanyahu's personal lament and the suffering endured by ordinary citizens.
Knesset member Gilad Kariv of the Democratic Party was equally scathing. "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," he said. Kariv went on to call Netanyahu a "borderless narcissist," rejecting the prime minister's praise of his wife. "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."
Journalist Amir Tibon also criticized Netanyahu, stating, "But there are no surprises with Netanyahu. Even in moments when a personal example is most needed, he is first and foremost concerned with himself."
The Israeli government reports 24 civilian fatalities in the current conflict, which began last Friday with an Israeli aerial assault targeting Iranian military and nuclear sites. Iranian sources, cited by U.S.-based human rights groups, claim that at least 263 civilians have been killed in retaliatory strikes.
