Netanyahu's son changes name to 'Yonatan Hun,' reports Haaretz

Yair Netanyahu, the son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, officially changed his name to "Yonatan Hun" around a year and a half ago, according to a report published Wednesday by the Israeli daily Haaretz.

The Israeli newspaper said it reviewed documents from the Israel Tax Authority showing that tax records bearing Netanyahu's identification number were recently issued under the name "Yonatan Hun." Earlier documents, including tax deduction certificates from December 2024, were reportedly issued under his previous name, "Yair Netanyahu," while retaining the same identifying details, including the address

According to Haaretz, Israeli law generally prevents another official name change for seven years after such a change is registered.

The newspaper also reported that Israeli tax and social security authorities list Netanyahu as self-employed in the advertising sector. During his time living in Florida, he also registered a company in Connecticut whose stated purpose is to deliver lectures.

Haaretz noted that Netanyahu recently shared photographs on social media that, according to the newspaper, appear to show he underwent cosmetic facial procedures over the past year.

The surname "Hun" has previously appeared in Netanyahu's online presence, where he has used the name "Yair Hun." According to Haaretz, Hun was the original family name of his paternal grandfather, Shmuel Hun, before it was changed to Ben-Artzi.

The report also recalled that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself adopted the name "Ben Nitai" while living in the United States during the 1980s. He has previously said he chose the name because he was considering settling in the U.S. and wanted one that would be easier for U.S. to pronounce.

Haaretz further noted that Yair Netanyahu's younger brother, Avner, changed his name to "Avi Segal" about five years ago. Under that name, he purchased an apartment in Oxford, England, for £502,000 in cash, according to the newspaper. Segal was the maiden surname of the brothers' grandmother, Tzila, before her marriage to Benzion Netanyahu.

After details of the purchase became public, Avner Netanyahu said the name change was intended to protect his privacy and security while studying in the United Kingdom. Haaretz added that Western authorities generally scrutinize the use of alternate identities by relatives of prominent public figures because of anti-money laundering regulations.

According to Haaretz, Yair Netanyahu did not respond to requests for comment.

Yair Netanyahu has become a frequent source of controversy in recent years. His extended stay in Florida since late 2023, while hundreds of thousands of Israeli reservists were mobilized following the outbreak of the war in Gaza, drew criticism from reservists and opponents who questioned why he was not serving.

While scrutiny of the Netanyahu family long centered on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's wife, Sara, over allegations involving public spending and the treatment of staff, Yair has increasingly become a controversial figure himself, facing repeated criticism over his conduct and what opponents describe as a privileged lifestyle funded by public resources.