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 conference drew controversy and withdrawals from slated participants due to the presence of far Right politicians, such as France's Jordan Bardella.
The ad also highlighted reports that the government would not follow High Court rulings, saying that these "upset the unified base of society."
Movers and shakers in Israeli society.
The Jerusalem Post delves into the key issues shaping Israel’s current turmoil, presenting perspectives from both sides of the argument.
"We are a democracy, but with the situation now, we are doing an injustice to this term, this was a knife in the back of democracy.”
Olmert contrasted his relations with ex-Mossad chief Dagan to the crisis between Netanyahu and his defense chiefs.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims that an alleged Deep State controls the country. What is this mysterious entity?
Minister Amsalem suggests civil war may be needed to "defeat the Left," while opposition leader Lapid warns of a "criminal government."
Israel's failed leaders should step aside and make room for new leaders who will renew and rebuild the country.
The prime minister's lawsuit claims that activist Itay Lashem spread "blatant lies" about Netanyahu's ties to Qatar.
JPOST Digital Library
