From the Daily News

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's son sparks uproar by dating non-Jewish Norwegian
News that Yair Netanyahu, 23, has a non-Jewish girlfriend is deeply troubling to many who subscribe to Orthodox Judaism, which prohibits intermarriage.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESSMONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014 - Norwegian college student Sandra Leikanger is said to be dating the son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Yair Netanyahu.


JERUSALEM — The love life of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's son is setting off sparks — in Israeli politics.

News that 23-year-old Yair Netanyahu is dating a non-Jewish Norwegian university student has generated interest not just in gossip columns but has also prompted an uproar from religious lawmakers. Orthodox Judaism prohibits intermarriage.

According to reports in Norwegian media, the Israeli prime minister boasted to his Norwegian counterpart, Erna Solberg, about the relationship during a meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week and informed her that his son recently visited Norway with his girlfriend.



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , second left, together with his wife Sara and sons Yair and Avner, pose to have their picture taken after voting at a polling station in Jerusalem, Tuesday Jan. 22, 2013.

Netanyahu is a fervent Jewish nationalist and history buff, speaking out strongly against anti-Semitism and other threats facing the Jewish people. He has steadfastly demanded that the Palestinians recognize Israel as the Jewish homeland as part of any peace agreement.

In his younger days, Netanyahu was married a non-Jewish woman who later converted.

Yair, a university student, is the son of Netanyahu's third wife, Sara.

Netanyahu's office has declined to comment on the matter.