Benjamin Netanyahu
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.
Hostage talks are in advanced stages, Netanyahu tells pope in phone call - report
Netanyahu held a call with Pope Leo XIV, where he expressed optimism about the hostage talks, while the Pope asked to keep sacred places safe from the war.
‘Read my lips this gov't will not fall’: Israeli coalition faces crisis over haredi draft law
Reality check: Ultra-Orthodox rabbis are leading their flock to a historic dead end - opinion
Biden-era tax dollars funded anti-Netanyahu, judicial reform protest groups, US gov't report finds
Haredi exit from gov't pushes Netanyahu forward in election polls, survey finds
In this scenario, neither bloc has enough seats to form a government. The current coalition holds 53 seats, while the opposition, plus Bennett, totals 57.
Netanyahu must take the lead on the haredi draft issue - opinion
Instead of showing leadership, Netanyahu spent Monday night pacing the Knesset, pleading with United Torah Judaism’s Moshe Gafni to retract his resignation.
Israel's post-holiday politics: Will Netanyahu take a political hit to keep coalition intact?
NATIONAL AFFAIRS: With Shas out of the government, Netanyahu faces a decision between taking a hit to maintain the coalition or preparing for the upcoming elections.
Grapevine, July 18, 2025: Courting controversy
Movers and shakers in Israeli society.
Sa'ar greenlights aid to Syrian Druze as Shara'a's forces redeploy to Sweida
Yesterday, Israel announced that a ceasefire had been reached in the area, and that the Syrian forces were expected to withdraw from areas with Druze populations.
'My conscience is clear': Why MK Yuli Edelstein won't settle for a soft haredi draft - interview
"This law ends the phenomenon of pretending to study Torah. To me, that’s a disgrace to the world of Torah," Edelstein told Maariv.
Ministers inch closer to firing Baharav-Miara, legality of decision unclear
Israel’s cabinet moves to dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, sparking legal challenges and potential Supreme Court intervention.
IDF builds secret northern Gaza outpost that will stop future Hamas invasions
The Jerusalem Post visited a new, secluded IDF outpost dubbed "Israela," built to prevent any future potential invasion from the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu confirms ceasefire, Syrian withdrawal from Sweida due to 'forceful action'
"I instructed the IDF to act with force because the Damascus regime sent its army south of the capital and massacred the Druze," Netanyahu said.
Syrian detente hopes dim as president accuses Israel of sowing ‘chaos and destruction’ with strikes
“The Israeli entity resorted to a wide-scale targeting of civilian and government facilities,” Shaara said the situation was easing with the intervention of the US, Arab, and Turkish mediators.
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