Benjamin Netanyahu

Prime Minister of Israel (1996–1999, 2009–2021, 2022–present)

Binyamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is the current and ninth Prime Minister of Israel. He was born in Tel Aviv on October 21, 1949 to mother Tzila Segal and father Benzion Netanyahu (originally Mileikowsky).[3][4][5] the establishment of the state of Israel. He is also the country’s longest-serving prime minister. From 2021 until 2022, he was the Leader of the Opposition, which he also wheldfrom 2005 to 2009.

Benjamin Netanyahu
Netanyahu in 2023
9th Prime Minister of Israel
Assumed office
29 December 2022 (2022-12-29)
PresidentIsaac Herzog
Preceded byYair Lapid
In office
31 March 2009 (2009-03-31) – 13 June 2021 (2021-06-13)
PresidentShimon Peres
Reuven Rivlin
AlternateBenny Gantz (2020–21)
Preceded byEhud Olmert
Succeeded byNaftali Bennett
In office
18 June 1996 (1996-06-18) – 6 July 1999 (1999-07-06)
PresidentEzer Weizman
Preceded byShimon Peres
Succeeded byEhud Barak
Leader of the Opposition
In office
28 June 2021[1] – 29 December 2022
Prime MinisterNaftali Bennett
Yair Lapid
Preceded byYair Lapid
Succeeded byYair Lapid
In office
16 January 2006 – 31 March 2009
Prime MinisterEhud Olmert
Preceded byAmir Peretz
Succeeded byTzipi Livni
In office
3 February 1993 – 18 June 1996
Prime MinisterYitzhak Rabin
Shimon Peres
Preceded byYitzhak Shamir
Succeeded byShimon Peres
Chairman of Likud
Assumed office
20 December 2005 (2005-12-20)
Preceded byAriel Sharon
In office
3 February 1993 (1993-02-03) – 6 July 1999 (1999-07-06)
Preceded byYitzhak Shamir
Succeeded byAriel Sharon
Ministerial roles
1996–1997Science and Technology
1996–1999Housing and Construction
2002–2003Foreign Affairs
2003–2005Finance
2009–2013
  • Economic Strategy
  • Health
  • Pensioner Affairs
2012–2013Foreign Affairs
2013
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs
Personal details
Born (1949-10-21) 21 October 1949 (age 74)
Tel Aviv, Israel
Political partyLikud
Spouse(s)
Miriam Weizmann
(m. 1972; div. 1978)
Fleur Cates
(m. 1981; div. 1984)
Sara Ben-Artzi
(m. 1991)
Children3
Parents
  • Benzion Netanyahu
  • Tzila Segal
Relatives
  • Nathan Mileikowsky (grandfather)
  • Yonatan Netanyahu (brother)
  • Iddo Netanyahu (brother)
  • Elisha Netanyahu (uncle)
  • Nathan Netanyahu (cousin)
Alma mater
Occupation
  • Politician
  • diplomat
  • writer
  • economic consultant
  • marketing executive
Cabinet
Signature
Websitewww.netanyahu.org.il Edit this at Wikidata
Military service
Nickname(s)Bibi[2]
Branch/serviceIsrael Defense Forces
Years of service1967–1973
RankSeren (Captain)
UnitSayeret Matkal
Battles/wars

Corruption charge

On February 28, 2019, Netanyahu was indicted on bribe and fraud charges in three different cases.

2020 election

On April 20 April 2020, Opposition Leader Benny Gantz and Netanyahu announced an agreement on a unity government had been reached following the 2020 legislative election. The deal would involve both parties splitting power and Gantz and Netanyahu taking turns being prime minister. The deal said that Gantz would be Vice Prime Minister until October;2021, by then he would replace Netanyahu to become Prime Minister.[6]

Fifth term

In May 2021, Hamas fired rockets on Israel from Gaza, which caused Netanyahu to act Operation Guardian of the Walls, lasting eleven days.[7]

After the 2021 Israel-Palestine crisis, Israeli politician and leader of the Yamina alliance Naftali Bennett announced that he has agreed to a deal with Yair Lapid to forge a coalition government that would remove Netanyahu from his Prime Minister position.[8] This is after the 2021 March election.[9]

Sixth term

After the 2022 election, Netanyahu was sworn in as Prime Minister again.[10] He officially started his sixth term on 29 December 2022.[11]

The first months of Netanyahu's sixth term focused on reforms in the judicial branch. His critics said his reforms would have a negative effect on the separation of powers.[12][13][14] After weeks of public protests, Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant spoke against the reform on 25 March.[15] He was removed from his post by Netanyahu the following day.[16][17]

On May 20, 2024 the International Criminal court Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan applied for an arrest warrant for the arrest of prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu.[18] Charges brought by Karim Khan include but are not limited to:

  • Starvation of civilians as a method of warfare
  • Intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population

Army career

Netanyahu was a commander in the Israel Defense Forces. He fought in the raid on Lebanon in 1968. He also fought in the raid on Yarden in 1968.

Books and articles

Books:
Through the years Netanyahu authored six books, three of which focus on counter-terrorism. The books he authored include:

  • International Terrorism: Challenge and Response (The Jonathon Institute, 1980) (ISBN 0-87855-894-2)
  • Terrorism: How the West Can Win (Farrar Straus & Giroux, 1986) (ISBN 0-380-70321-1)
  • A Place Among the Nations (Bantam, 1993) (ISBN 0-553-08974-9)
  • Fighting Terrorism: How Democracies Can Defeat Domestic and International Terrorism (Diane Pub Co, 1995) (ISBN 0-374-52497-1)
  • A Durable Peace: Israel and Its Place Among the Nations (Warner Books, 2000) (ISBN 0-446-52306-2)
  • Bibi: My Story (Threshold Editions[Simon&Schuster], November, 2022)

References

Other websites