Netanyahu’s son drops asking price for UK apartment

The youngest son of 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Avner, has drastically cut the asking price of his three-bedroom flat in an affluent Oxford neighborhood.

The property, initially listed for £620,000 just nine months ago, has been reduced by nearly 20% to £500,000, signaling a struggle to find a buyer in the UK property market.

Avner Netanyahu, legally adopted his paternal grandmother’s maiden name, Segal, in 2022. He told the 'Israeli' financial newspaper Calcalist that the name change was a security precaution, claiming that without official security detail, he feared being targeted in the UK if recognized as Benjamin Netanyahu's son.

The property was purchased in October 2022 for £502,500. He reportedly made the purchase using cash, without a mortgage, stating the money came from his parents. The purchase price, which amounted to approximately 1.98 million shekels at the time due to a favorable exchange rate, was strategically just below the 2 million shekel threshold that would have required mandatory reporting of overseas property to the 'Israeli' Tax Authority.

Return to 'Israel' and Censorship Controversy

Avner lived in the Oxford apartment while completing his first year of a master's degree in Near Eastern history and archaeology. However, he returned to 'Israel' following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The apartment has been on the market since February of this year.

The current asking price of £500,000 is slightly lower than his original purchase price, meaning he is set to make a modest financial loss on the sale.

Controversy in 'Israel' About the Purchase

The purchase itself became a subject of controversy in 'Israel'. When details of the UK property purchase and the name change were first reported by Calcalist in July, the 'Israeli' military censor ordered the article to be temporarily pulled from the internet within hours, a highly unusual move for a story concerning a politician's family and real estate.

The article was eventually allowed to be reinstated after negotiations, though some key details were removed, leading to criticism regarding the use of national security measures for private family matters.