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.
High Court: Government must discuss probe within 60 days
PM argues that his wife, middleman tried to influence Walla on their own.
Pena’s visit is centered on Paraguay’s moving its embassy to Jerusalem.
Netanyahu’s measured gestures and incongruent eye movements were inconsistent with the gravity of his statements.
He will dominate the next month...until Prosecution cross-examines him
"Jerusalem Post's" Yonah Jeremy Bob recounts the top moments from the frantic testimony of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Many of the ministers and MKs spoke to media set up outside the courthouse, and issued sharp criticism of Israel’s law enforcement and judicial system.
Netanyahu also claimed during his testimony that if he had followed the "leftist" way, he would not be on trial.
PM refutes claims he received illegal gifts • MKs decry "unjust proceedings" • Netanyahu criticizes Obama's policy on Iran
The defense is to open its case around four-and-a-half years after the prosecution opened its case and seven years after the investigations started.
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