Benjamin Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu
Official portrait, 2023
Benjamin Netanyahu
Born	21 10, 1949
Birthplace	Tel Aviv, Israel
Nationality	Israeli
Occupation	Template:Hlist
Known for	Longest-serving Prime Minister of Israel
Education	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S., M.S.)
Spouse(s)	Template:Marriage Template:Marriage Template:Marriage
Children	3, including Yair
Awards	Jabotinsky Medal (1980)

Benjamin Netanyahu (Template:Lang-he; born 21 October 1949), commonly known by his nickname Bibi, is an Israeli politician and diplomat who has served as Prime Minister of Israel since December 2022. Having previously held the office from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2009 to 2021, Netanyahu is Israel's longest-serving prime minister. Born in Tel Aviv and raised partly in the United States, he served in the Israel Defense Forces elite Sayeret Matkal unit before earning degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Netanyahu entered Israeli politics through his role as ambassador to the United Nations from 1984 to 1988 and rose to national prominence after becoming chairman of Likud in 1993. In the 1996 general election, he became the first Israeli prime minister elected directly by popular vote. His tenure has been defined by security-focused policies, free-market economic reforms, close ties with the United States — particularly during the presidency of Donald Trump — and an ongoing criminal trial on charges of breach of trust, bribery, and fraud. Netanyahu's current term has been shaped by the 2023 Israeli judicial reform crisis, the 7 October attacks by Hamas-led Palestinian groups, and the subsequent war in Gaza.

Early Life

Benjamin Netanyahu was born on 21 October 1949 in Tel Aviv, Israel. His father, Benzion Netanyahu, was a historian specializing in the history of the Jews in Spain and a prominent figure in the Revisionist Zionist movement. The elder Netanyahu served as a professor and was an editor of the Encyclopedia Hebraica. Benjamin was the middle of three sons; his older brother was Yonatan Netanyahu, who would later gain fame as the commander of the Entebbe rescue mission in 1976, during which he was killed in action, and his younger brother is Iddo Netanyahu, a physician, author, and playwright.

Netanyahu spent portions of his childhood in both Israel and the United States. The family lived in Jerusalem during his early years before relocating to the United States, where his father held academic positions. Netanyahu attended Cheltenham High School in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was known by the Americanized name "Ben Nitay." He was reportedly a strong student and participated in debate activities during his high school years.

In 1967, after completing high school, Netanyahu returned to Israel to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces. He served in the elite special forces unit Sayeret Matkal, where he rose to the rank of captain (Seren). During his military service from 1967 to 1973, Netanyahu participated in numerous cross-border operations. He was involved in the rescue of hostages from Sabena Flight 571 at Ben Gurion Airport in 1972, during which he was shot in the shoulder. He also fought in the Yom Kippur War of 1973, participating in special forces raids along the Suez Canal and in the Golan Heights. His military service left a lasting impression on his worldview, particularly regarding matters of national security and counterterrorism.

The death of his brother Yonatan during the Entebbe raid in 1976 had a profound personal impact on Netanyahu. After leaving the military, he founded the Jonathan Institute (also known as the Yonatan Netanyahu Anti-Terror Institute) in 1978, named in honor of his brother. The institute organized international conferences on terrorism and served as a platform for Netanyahu to develop his ideas on counterterrorism policy, which would become central themes in his political career.

Education

After his military service, Netanyahu returned to the United States in 1972 to pursue higher education. He enrolled at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he studied architecture and later switched to management. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in architecture in 1975 and subsequently completed a Master of Science degree in management studies from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Netanyahu has been recognized as a notable MIT alumnus.

Following his graduation, Netanyahu was employed as an economic consultant at the Boston Consulting Group in Boston, Massachusetts, where he worked alongside future U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney. His time in the American business and academic environment shaped his later economic policy positions, particularly his advocacy for free-market reforms and deregulation. Netanyahu returned to Israel permanently in 1978.

Career

Early Diplomatic Career (1982–1988)

Netanyahu's entry into public life came through diplomacy rather than electoral politics. In 1982, he was appointed deputy chief of mission at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., serving under Ambassador Moshe Arens. His articulate English and media skills drew the attention of senior Israeli officials, and in 1984, he was appointed Israel's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, a position he held until 1988.

During his tenure at the United Nations, Netanyahu became a frequent presence on American television, where his fluent English and combative debating style made him a recognizable figure. He was known for his forceful defense of Israeli policies before the General Assembly and in media appearances. His interactions with Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, during this period were noted; the Rebbe reportedly encouraged Netanyahu in his public diplomacy efforts. His time at the United Nations established Netanyahu as one of Israel's most prominent public figures on the international stage and laid the groundwork for his political career.

Rise in Likud and First Term as Prime Minister (1988–1999)

Netanyahu returned to Israel and entered domestic politics, winning a seat in the Knesset in the 1988 elections as a member of Likud. He served in several minor government positions and quickly established himself within the party's ranks. In February 1993, Netanyahu was elected chairman of Likud, succeeding Yitzhak Shamir as party leader and becoming the leader of the opposition.

The assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in November 1995 and public unease over a series of suicide bombings shifted the Israeli political landscape. In the 1996 general election, Netanyahu narrowly defeated incumbent Prime Minister Shimon Peres, becoming the first Israeli prime minister to be elected directly by popular vote under a new electoral system. At the age of 46, he was also the youngest person to hold the office at that time.

Netanyahu's first term as prime minister (1996–1999) was marked by tensions surrounding the Oslo Accords peace process. While he signed the Wye River Memorandum with PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat in 1998, committing to further Israeli withdrawals from the West Bank, he faced criticism from both the Israeli right, which opposed territorial concessions, and the Israeli left and international community, which viewed his commitment to the peace process as insufficient.

A significant controversy during this period was the opening of the Western Wall Tunnel in September 1996, which triggered widespread Palestinian protests and clashes that resulted in dozens of casualties. The incident strained Israeli-Palestinian relations and drew international criticism.

Netanyahu's coalition proved unstable, and his tenure was plagued by internal party disputes and personal scandals. In the 1999 election, he was defeated by Labor's Ehud Barak in a decisive margin and subsequently stepped down as Likud chairman.

Private Sector and Return to Government (1999–2005)

Following his electoral defeat, Netanyahu temporarily withdrew from politics and entered the private sector, engaging in public speaking and consulting. He returned to government in 2002 when Prime Minister Ariel Sharon appointed him as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

In 2003, Netanyahu was appointed Minister of Finance, a position in which he implemented sweeping free-market economic reforms. His policies included tax cuts, reductions in welfare spending, and the privatization of state-owned enterprises. These measures drew both praise from economists who credited them with stimulating economic growth and criticism from social activists who argued they increased inequality. Netanyahu resigned from the finance ministry in August 2005 in protest against Prime Minister Sharon's Gaza disengagement plan, which called for the unilateral withdrawal of Israeli settlers and military forces from the Gaza Strip.

Return to Likud Leadership and Second Term (2005–2021)

When Sharon left Likud to form the Kadima party in November 2005, Netanyahu won the Likud leadership election in December 2005, succeeding Sharon as party chairman. Under his leadership, Likud initially performed poorly in the 2006 elections, but Netanyahu served as leader of the opposition during the tenure of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

After the 2009 legislative election, in which Likud won 27 seats, Netanyahu formed a governing coalition and became prime minister for the second time on 31 March 2009. His second and third consecutive terms (2009–2021) represented the longest continuous period of governance by a single Israeli prime minister.

During this extended period in office, Netanyahu's foreign policy was characterized by opposition to the Iranian nuclear program, which he repeatedly described as an existential threat to Israel. He delivered a series of high-profile addresses at the United Nations General Assembly warning of Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Netanyahu cultivated a close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump beginning in 2016, making this alliance central to his political messaging. During Trump's first presidency, the United States recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in December 2017, recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019, and brokered the Abraham Accords in 2020, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco.

Netanyahu's government faced sustained criticism over the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law by most of the international community. Domestically, he presided over periods of economic growth but also faced growing social discontent over housing costs and the cost of living.

The period from 2018 to 2022 was characterized by prolonged political instability, as Israel held five elections in less than four years. Following inconclusive elections in April and September 2019, Netanyahu entered a rotation agreement with Blue and White leader Benny Gantz in 2020, under which Netanyahu would serve first as prime minister before handing over the role. The arrangement collapsed in late 2020, leading to yet another election in March 2021.

In June 2021, a diverse coalition led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid succeeded in forming a government, ending Netanyahu's twelve consecutive years as prime minister. Netanyahu then served as leader of the opposition.

Criminal Indictment

In November 2019, Netanyahu was formally indicted on charges of breach of trust, bribery, and fraud in three separate corruption cases. The charges related to allegations that he received gifts from wealthy associates and sought favorable media coverage in exchange for regulatory benefits. Netanyahu denied all charges and described the proceedings as a politically motivated "witch hunt." He relinquished all ministerial portfolios except the prime ministership following legal requirements but remained in office as prime minister. The trial, which began in May 2020, continued into his subsequent term and remained ongoing as of 2026.

Third Term as Prime Minister (2022–present)

Following the November 2022 election, Netanyahu formed a coalition government and was sworn in as prime minister for the third time on 29 December 2022. His coalition included right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties, forming what was described as the most right-wing government in Israeli history.

In early 2023, Netanyahu's government pursued a controversial judicial overhaul that sought to limit the power of the Supreme Court of Israel and give the Knesset greater authority over judicial appointments. The proposed reforms triggered mass protests across Israel, with hundreds of thousands of demonstrators taking to the streets in what became one of the largest protest movements in the country's history. Critics warned the reforms represented a threat to Israeli democracy and the independence of the judiciary.

On 7 October 2023, Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups launched a large-scale attack on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages. The attack represented the deadliest single day for Israeli civilians in the country's history and triggered a major Israeli military operation in Gaza. Netanyahu faced intense domestic criticism for the intelligence and security failures that allowed the attack to occur, and nationwide protests demanded the return of hostages and government accountability.

The subsequent military operation in Gaza became one of the most destructive conflicts in the region's modern history, drawing international condemnation over the scale of Palestinian civilian casualties. In October 2024, Netanyahu survived an assassination attempt. That same month, he ordered a military incursion into Lebanon with the stated objective of destroying the military capabilities of Hezbollah. Following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria in December 2024, Netanyahu directed Israeli forces into Syrian territory.

In February 2026, Netanyahu hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Israel, with the two leaders discussing expanded bilateral cooperation. Netanyahu described the relationship as an "iron alliance" and advocated for a broader strategic grouping he called a "Hexagon" of allied nations. Modi became the first Indian prime minister to address the Knesset.

Personal Life

Netanyahu has been married three times. His first marriage was to Miriam Weizmann in 1972; the couple divorced in 1978. He married Fleur Cates in 1981, and that marriage ended in divorce in 1988. In 1991, he married Sara Ben-Artzi, a psychologist, with whom he has two sons, Yair (born 1991) and Avner (born 1994). He also has a daughter, Noa, from his first marriage.

Netanyahu is known for his fluency in English, which he has attributed to his years of education and residence in the United States. He has authored several books on terrorism and foreign policy, including A Place Among the Nations: Israel and the World (1993) and Fighting Terrorism: How Democracies Can Defeat Domestic and International Terrorists (1995).

His father, Benzion Netanyahu, lived to the age of 102, passing away in 2012. The elder Netanyahu's scholarly work on the Spanish Inquisition and his hardline Revisionist Zionist views are considered to have influenced Benjamin's political ideology. His brother Yonatan, killed during the Entebbe rescue operation in 1976, remains a national hero in Israel, and his memory has been a recurring theme in Netanyahu's public life and rhetoric.

Recognition

Netanyahu received the Jabotinsky Medal in 1980, awarded for contributions to the Zionist cause. His leadership of Israel over a combined period exceeding fifteen years has made him one of the defining figures of Israeli politics in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.

His tenure has generated both domestic and international recognition. Supporters credit him with maintaining Israeli security, fostering economic growth through free-market reforms, and securing diplomatic achievements such as the Abraham Accords. Critics have characterized his governance as contributing to democratic erosion and the entrenchment of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Netanyahu's relationship with the international community has been complex. He has been a polarizing figure, receiving both praise from conservative and right-leaning governments for his firm stance on security matters and criticism from international bodies and human rights organizations over settlement expansion and the conduct of military operations. His close relationship with Donald Trump brought significant diplomatic gains but also deepened partisan divisions in U.S.-Israel relations.

As of February 2026, Netanyahu continued to serve as prime minister while simultaneously standing trial on corruption charges, a situation without precedent in Israeli political history.

Legacy

Netanyahu's legacy in Israeli politics is multifaceted and contested. As the longest-serving prime minister in the country's history, his influence on Israeli governance, foreign policy, and public discourse has been extensive. He transformed Likud from a party in decline in the mid-2000s into the dominant force in Israeli politics for over a decade.

His economic reforms as finance minister in the early 2000s reshaped the Israeli economy, contributing to the growth of Israel's technology sector and integration into global markets. Critics contend that these same policies exacerbated socioeconomic inequality and weakened the social safety net.

In the realm of foreign policy, the Abraham Accords remain one of the most frequently cited achievements of his tenure, representing the first normalization agreements between Israel and Arab states in over two decades. His persistent focus on the Iranian nuclear program shaped international discourse on the issue for years.

The events of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent military campaigns in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria have raised fundamental questions about the trajectory of Israeli security policy under Netanyahu's leadership. His ongoing criminal trial has also prompted broader debates about the relationship between political power and the rule of law in Israel.

Netanyahu's political style — characterized by media savvy, direct appeals to voters, close alliances with like-minded international leaders, and a combative posture toward political opponents and the press — has been compared to broader trends in global politics. Whether viewed as a defender of Israeli security or as a figure who deepened the country's divisions, Netanyahu's impact on the state of Israel and the broader Middle East remains a subject of extensive analysis and debate.