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.
Israel’s future depends on the ability of our leadership in all branches of government to promote broad consensus on fair rules.
"We’re not going to leave them in power in Gaza, 30 miles from Tel Aviv. It’s not going to happen,” he said amid calls by many to accept a ceasefire-hostage release deal in the Palestinian enclave.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS: Netanyahu's decision to travel to Mount Hermon, even as he is busy with his legal problems, signals to his base that he is unshaken by the trials.
Netanyahu is set to cement his strategic goals: tightening his military control over Gaza, thwarting Iran's nuclear ambitions, and capitalizing on the dismantling of Tehran's allies.
"We did this in response to the Houthis' recurring attacks on civilian targets in Israel," Netanyahu noted.
Netanyahu is anxious to avoid starting off on the wrong foot with the grievance-obsessed president-elect, who recently told Time magazine that he doesn't really trump the prime minister.
By disabling significant parts of Syria's military, Israel’s swift action has prevented Syria from becoming a wholesale distributor of weapons of war.
One would expect Israel's senior defense officials to stand behind Netanyahu in solidarity. Netanyahu stood alone.
Netanyahu’s trial focuses on claims of media bias; the defense is challenging the indictment language.
"The firing of rescue flares next to the home of the prime minister was a foolish act and wrong, but not an act of terror."
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