Benjamin Netanyahu
Ex-Prime Minister, Israel- Son of a historian, Benjamin Netanyahu was brought up in Israel and later in the United States. He returned to Israel in 1967 and served in the country’s military as a soldier and officer in an elite commando unit of the IDF called Sayeret Matkal
- After spending six years in the military, he returned to the US to attend college at MIT
- In 1976, he joined Boston Consulting Group as a consultant
- He then moved to Jerusalem in 1980 and started working in Rim Industries as a member of the senior management
- In 1982, he was appointed to the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, as the deputy chief of mission
- Netanyahu became Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations in 1984
- He was elected to Israel’s parliament, Knesset, as the deputy minister of foreign affairs in 1988
- In 1991, he was appointed as a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s office in Yitzhak Shamir’s cabinet
- In 1993, he was elected as the chairman of the Likud party
- Netanyahu was elected as the ninth Prime Minister of Israel in 1996 and held the office till 1999
- After the end of his term as PM, he started consulting tech-based companies in Israel
- He resumed his career in politics in 2002 when he became the minister of foreign affairs
- Next, he was elected as the minister of finance in 2003
- Netanyahu took oath for his second term as the Prime Minister of Israel on March 31, 2009
- His third term as the PM began in 2013
- In 2015, he was re-elected as the Prime Minister for a fourth term
- He assumed office for a record fifth time as the Prime Minister of Israel in 2020
- Israel's longest-serving prime minister has clung to a record 12 years in power through several conflicts and a long period of political turmoil. He resigned in June 2021 when his party lost a vote of confidence
- In his last year in office, Netanyahu clinched historic normalisation agreements with four Arab states and unrolled a world-beating Covid-19 vaccination campaign
- In one controversial episode, he addressed a joint session of the US Congress in 2015 without having been invited by then-president Barack Obama -- using the platform to condemn Obama's nuclear negotiations with Iran
Before you go ...
- Netanyahu started an NGO called the Jonathan Institute to work against terrorism
- His biography, Bibi, written by Anshel Pfeffer, was released in 2018
- His brother, Yonatan, was the only Israeli soldier killed in a 1976 commando raid to free hostages at Uganda's Entebbe airport
Benjamin Netanyahu News
Israel urged Hamas to surrender. Military strikes persist in Gaza City. Hamas refuses to disarm. They propose hostage release for peace. Strikes killed 14 people. Buildings sheltering displaced Palestinians were hit. Protests in Israel demand a ceasefire and hostage release. The war's unpopularity is growing. Negotiations are ongoing for a resolution. The humanitarian situation is dire.
The Israeli military spokesperson's office said it was reviewing the reports. Regarding the claim of an airstrike that killed two people, it noted insufficient details were available to verify the incident, but reiterated that the military takes steps to minimize civilian harm while conducting operations against militants.
Israel is thinking about annexing the West Bank. This is a possible reaction to countries recognizing Palestine. The discussion will happen at a security cabinet meeting. Annexation could affect Israeli settlements or the Jordan Valley. Such a move would likely face international criticism. The United States has not commented yet. The UN considers Israeli settlements illegal.
Turkey's top diplomat announced the closure of ports and airspace to Israeli ships and planes. This action follows strained relations due to the Gaza war. Ankara accuses Israel of genocide, a claim Israel rejects. Trade ties were already suspended last year. The ban includes weapon-carrying aircraft and official Israeli flights.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated a possible troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon. This depends on Hezbollah's disarmament by 2025. The U.S. is pressuring Lebanon for this. Hezbollah insists on Israeli withdrawal from disputed hills first. They also want an end to airstrikes. Lebanon faces a tough situation. International aid depends on Hezbollah disarming. Internal conflict is a major concern.
Amid strained relations due to the Gaza conflict and West Bank settlements, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dispatched Ron Dermer to the UAE to improve ties. The visit, following security alerts, aimed to brief the UAE on Israel's Gaza operation, despite Abu Dhabi's concerns about catastrophic consequences.
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on ICC officials, including judges and prosecutors, for pursuing cases against American soldiers and Israeli leaders. These actions include issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the ICC disregards national sovereignty, vowing to hold accountable those targeting Americans and Israelis.
Israel's military initiated operations to seize Gaza City, mobilizing reservists amidst considerations of a new ceasefire proposal. Despite international criticism and potential displacement of Palestinians, troops are already positioned on the outskirts, targeting Hamas strongholds. Hamas accuses Netanyahu of obstructing the truce in favor of escalating the conflict, as clashes intensify and devastation spreads across Gaza.
The Trump administration has escalated its conflict with the International Criminal Court (ICC) by imposing sanctions on four officials, including a Canadian judge, due to their involvement in investigations targeting US personnel and Israeli leaders. These measures, which freeze assets and restrict financial transactions, are a response to the ICC's probes into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan and Gaza.
Israel's military is mobilizing reservists for a planned offensive on Gaza City, despite international concerns and ceasefire talks. While the call-up signals an intent to seize the city, the delay in deployment allows time for mediation between Israel and Hamas. The operation aims to target Hamas's stronghold, but faces fears of significant casualties and widespread displacement among Palestinian civilians.
