Israeli PM Netanyahu’s Son Changed Name to Avi Segal Over Safety Fears in UK

According to local media, Avner Netanyahu changed his name to Avi Segal before traveling to the UK for his studies in 2022. He used this name to enroll in university and purchase an apartment. The decision to change his name was reportedly driven by fears of being recognized in a heavily Muslim-populated area with the surname “Netanyahu.”

Avner, who adopted his grandmother’s maiden name, Segal, also updated his Israeli ID, driver’s license, and passport to reflect the new name. He expressed concerns about moving around in a Muslim-majority country with the Netanyahu surname.

It was also revealed that Avner purchased a flat in the UK for £502,000 (approximately 1.97 million Israeli shekels) in cash. He then began his master’s degree at the University of Oxford, keeping his connection to his father a secret. His university records also list him as Avi Segal.

Under Israeli law, there is no requirement to report foreign property purchases valued under 2 million shekels to the tax authorities. Avner reportedly bought the flat when the British pound was at its weakest against the shekel, allowing him to avoid the reporting threshold. When questioned about the source of the funds, Avner stated that it came from his family.

Avner returned to Israel from the UK after October 7, 2023. Israeli media noted that the Netanyahu family owns multiple properties, and the flat in the UK is one of them.

Yair Netanyahu Summoned for Questioning
In a separate development, Yair Netanyahu, the Prime Minister’s other son, was summoned for questioning by Israel’s anti-corruption unit, Lahav 433, over allegations that he obtained a diplomatic passport without proper authorization. The Israeli internal intelligence agency, Shin Bet, reportedly deemed the issuance of the passport unnecessary.