Yonatan Eyal was born on February 24, 1967 in Washington, DC to Miriam and Eli , who was on journalist shlichut in the US. At the age of two, Yoni and his family returned to Jerusalem, where Yoni attended the Beit Hayeled elementary school and the High School 'L'yad Ha'university.'
He was chosen to participate in the popular TV show 'Ritch Ratch' and was active in the Scouts movement. He was drafted in January 1986 into Nachal. After completing Officers Course he taught at the Officers' School. Following his compulsory service he served in the regular Army
He fell on June 5, 1990, while in the service and was buried in the Military Cemetery on Har Herzl in Jerusalem.