Benjamin Netanyahu is Israel’s longest-serving prime minister and one of its most influential—and polarizing—political figures. Here’s a condensed history:
Early Life & Military Service
Born October 21, 1949, in Tel Aviv, Israel, to historian Benzion Netanyahu.
Grew up partly in the United States, giving him fluent English and an understanding of American politics.
Served in Sayeret Matkal, Israel’s elite special forces unit, participating in high-risk missions, including the 1972 Sabena Flight 571 hijacking rescue.
Education & Early Career
Studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and briefly attended Harvard.
Worked as a management consultant and later became Israel’s deputy chief of mission in Washington, D.C., and ambassador to the United Nations (1984–1988).
Political Rise
Elected to the Knesset in 1988 as a member of the Likud party.
Served as Deputy Foreign Minister and then rose to Likud leadership.
First Term as Prime Minister (1996–1999)
Won a narrow election victory, becoming Israel’s youngest prime minister at age 46.
Advocated for security-first policies in peace negotiations but signed the Wye River Memorandum with the Palestinians in 1998.
Lost reelection to Ehud Barak in 1999.
Return to Politics
Served as Foreign Minister (2002–2003) and Finance Minister (2003–2005) under Ariel Sharon, implementing free-market reforms.
Resigned over the Gaza disengagement plan in 2005 and regained Likud leadership.
Second Era as Prime Minister (2009–2021)
Returned to power in 2009 and became Israel’s longest-serving leader.
Oversaw economic growth, improved Israel’s relations with some Arab states, and took a hard stance on Iran’s nuclear program.
Signed the Abraham Accords (2020), normalizing ties with UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.
Faced repeated corruption investigations and indictments on bribery, fraud, and breach of trust charges.
Opposition & Comeback (2021–present)
Lost power in 2021 to a diverse coalition led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid.
Staged a comeback in late 2022, forming a right-wing government with religious and nationalist allies.
His judicial reform plan sparked mass protests and deep political division in 2023.
As of 2025, Netanyahu remains central in Israel’s political landscape, particularly amid ongoing conflict with Hamas and tensions with Iran.
