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.
Separate from the issue of hostages, Blinken is also expected to discuss needed improvements on the issue of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
A spiraling humanitarian crisis has prompted calls from Israel's Western and Arab partners to do more to facilitate the entry of aid to the enclave.
US National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby told reporters "we don't believe the ICC has any jurisdiction here. We don't support" its investigation into the actions of Israeli leaders."
During a meeting with forums of families of hostages and fallen soldiers, who are affiliated with the right and support invading Rafah, Netanyahu pledged that Israel would invade the city.
A review of the agency's neutrality said Israel had yet to provide evidence for its accusations that a significant number of UNRWA staff were members of terrorist groups
Far-right ministers in Israel press Prime Minister Netanyahu for a Rafah invasion. Smotrich convenes Knesset meeting; Ben-Gvir meets Netanyahu amid hostage deal negotiations.
One Republican member of the House told Axios that legislation is being prepared in Congress to tackle such warrants.
Israel weighs up a Rafah operation against a deal to secure the return of all hostages, must consider both strategic and moral implications. What will it choose?
I shudder at unbelievable abuse of ICC Statute and of noble aims and intentions of its founding fathers, says legal expert.
As fears mount in Israel that the ICC will issue arrest warrants against the Prime Minister and other officials in the government and military, one has to wonder - Why is Joe Biden being so quiet?
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