Benjamin Netanyahu

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

Binyamin "Bibi" Netanyahu (Hebrew: בִּנְיָמִין "בִּיבִּי" נְתַנְיָהוּ, born 21 October 1949) is the current and ninth Prime Minister of Israel.

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
2012–2013Foreign Affairs
2013
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, including Yair
Parents
Relatives
Alma mater
Occupation
  • Politician
  • diplomat
  • writer
  • economic consultant
  • marketing executive
Cabinet
Signature
Websitewww.netanyahu.org.il/,%20https://www.netanyahu.org.il/en/,%20https://www.netanyahu.org.il/ar/,%20https://www.netanyahu.org.il/ru/
Military service
Nickname(s)Bibi[2]
Branch/serviceIsrael Defense Forces
Years of service1967–1973
RankSeren (Captain)
UnitSayeret Matkal
Battles/wars

He became prime minister on 29 December 2022.[3] He was also prime minister from 2009 to 2021 and before that from 1996 to 1999.[4][5]

Netanyahu is leader of the HaLikud party and the first Israeli prime minister born after the establishment of the state of Israel. He is also the country’s longest-serving prime minister. From 2021 until 2022, he was Leader of the Opposition, which he also was from 2005 to 2009

Corruption charge change

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

2020 election change

On 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 change

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 change

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]

Army career change

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 change

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)

Related pages change

References change

  1. Leader of the Opposition Knesset
  2. "Benjamin Netanyahu". Biography. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  3. Tal, Rob Picheta,Hadas Gold,Amir (2022-12-29). "Benjamin Netanyahu sworn in as leader of Israel's likely most right-wing government ever". CNN. Retrieved 2022-12-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. "Netanyahu sworn in as Israel's prime minister". Haaretz. 1 April 2009. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  5. Heller, Jeffrey (1 April 2009). "Netanyahu sworn in as Israeli prime minister". Reuters. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  6. Gil Hoffman (20 April 2020). "After 17-month stalemate, Netanyahu and Gantz strike unity deal". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  7. Harkov, Lahav (21 May 2021). "Netanyahu, defense chiefs call operation 'game-changing' defeat of Hamas". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  8. "Israeli opposition figures reach deal aimed at ousting Netanyahu". the Guardian. 2021-05-30. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  9. "Bennett announces plan to form gov't with Lapid that will oust Netanyahu". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  10. "Netanyahu returns as PM, wins Knesset support for Israel's most hardline government". The Times of Israel. 29 December 2022.
  11. "Benjamin Netanyahu sworn in as leader of Israel's likely most right-wing government ever". CNN. 29 December 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  12. "Home". Professors Democracy. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  13. "The Override Clause Explainer". en.idi.org.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  14. "Test of reasonableness". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  15. Hendrix, Steve (2023-03-25). "Israeli defense minister calls on Netanyahu to halt overhaul of courts". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  16. Hendrix, Steve; Rubin, Shira (2023-03-27). "Netanyahu fires defense minister who called for halt to judicial overhaul". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  17. McKernan, Bethan (2023-03-27). "Israel: Netanyahu announces delay to judicial overhaul plan". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-03-28.

Other websites change