Benjamin Netanyahu is the longest-serving prime minister of Israel since its inception.
Born in Tel Aviv on October 21, 1949, he grew up in Jerusalem before moving with his family to Pennsylvania during his high school years, where his father taught history. In 1967 Netanyahu returned to Israel and joined the IDF's Sayeret Matkal special forces unit, where he served until 1973.
He took part in many military operations, including a 1972 rescue mission of hostages in a hijacked Sabena airplane, during which he was shot in the shoulder. Netanyahu finished his military service in 1972, but returned to serve in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, after which he was promoted to the rank of Captain.
His brother Yonatan "Yoni," an IDF officer, was killed during Operation Entebbe in 1976 at the Entebbe Airport in Uganda where Israelis were being held hostage. His was the only death resulting from the mission.
He has degrees in architecture and business management from MIT. He also studied political science at MIT and Harvard University. He served as Israel's ambassador to the UN from 1984-1988, and as Minister of Foreign Affairs under Ariel Sharon's government.
In 1993 Netanyahu was elected Likud party chairman and served as the leader of the opposition until being elected prime minister in 1996. In 2009, he was elected prime minister for the second time, in January 2013 a third, and in March 2015 a fourth.
He is married to Sara Netanyahu with whom he has two children, Yair and Avner.
In 2018, the Mossad stole Iran's nuclear archive. Netanyahu later presented the information to the international community. Netanyahu strongly opposes a nuclear deal with Iran.
Under the rotation government set by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, Netanyahu serves as the leader of the opposition.
“The PM offered me the position of foreign minister—but I refused,” Ben-Gvir said during a visit to the town of Omer.
Minister’s statements that hostages can be abandoned and children should be starved sound like Hamas spokesperson, says Golan.
Likud MKs push for a bill to bypass the High Court and let Benjamin Netanyahu choose a permanent Civil Service Commissioner.
Netanyahu reiterated on Tuesday that he viewed Walla as a left-wing, hostile news outlet.
The prime minister's statement came after Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for Netanyahu to "show leadership" to the public.
"We want this war to end, and we want President [Donald] Trump to bring them all back - all the 58," freed hostage Aviva Siegel said.
A small team will remain in Qatar to signal to the Americans that Israel is still willing to make efforts to reach a deal.
After 19 months of war with Hamas, Israel seems to be following a diluted approach — neither fully committing to the fight nor negotiating apart from the battlefield.
Paying heavy price for hostages is a strength, not a weakness, Gantz says • 'Evil will not triumph': Witkoff pledges action against Hamas • Mohammed Sinwar still alive, senior Hamas official claims
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