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Netanyahu’s son criticised for living in luxury Florida apartment while Israel is at war

The son of the Israeli Prime Minister is still eligible for reserve duty in the IDF

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Yair Netanyahu, son of former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives for a court hearing in the defamation lawsuit filed by former MK Stav Shafir in Tel Aviv, on November 29, 2022. Photo by Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** ???? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ????? ???? ???? ??????

The 32-year-old son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is living in a luxury apartment in Florida as his countrymen wage war against Hamas.

Yair Netanyahu, who is eligible for reserve duty for the next eight years until he is 40, once called himself “Israel's Prince Harry.”

According to the Daily Mail, the progeny of the Israeli PM is paying $5,000 a month in rent to live in the condo complex in Hallandale Beach near Miami.

It is unclear why Yair has not been called up to serve when 360,000 of his countrymen have been since the events of October 7, even as his father stands on the brink of sending thousands of troops into the last Hamas stronghold of Rafah in southern Gaza.

“He likes to wage war - but via social media,” Uri Misgav, a Haaretz journalist, told the Daily Mail.

“He is the lazy bum son who is partying in Miami while his Prime Minister father urges ordinary Israelis to sacrifice their own sons and lives.”

After October 7, Yair decided to stay in the U.S. but eventually bowed to pressure and flew back to Israel in November. The younger Netanyahu did not serve in a combat role, but did his mandatory IDF service in the army spokesperson’s unit.

Yair, a podcaster, is guarded by armed Shin Bet agents, sources told the website. It, apparently, costs $275,000 to guard him.

A Netanyahu family spokesman said: “It's clear this is an agenda-driven political hit piece aimed at tarnishing Israel's rightwing prime minister during wartime by attacking his family.

“Since the start of the war, Yair has regularly volunteered to help organize aid efforts that sent supplies to Israel, did volunteer work at the logistics center for United Hatzalah in Israel and led fundraising efforts that among other achievements resulted in the purchase of two ambulances.

“Yair spends his life defending Israel in the international arena, including in interviews, speeches, and social media.”

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