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.
Gantz stated that to investigate or arrest a journalist are “extremely exceptional events in a democracy” that should only happen when there is “clear and solid criminal suspicion.”
The prosecution levied 315 items of evidence against the prime minister.
From a political standpoint, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition still appears stable - but will that stay the case?
Sharvit will sail through this choppy water and emerge unscathed. • It is less clear if those responsible for the rescinded offer end the same.
Netanyahu is due to meet Orban ahead of a press conference at around 1000 GMT.
The prosecution levied 315 items of evidence against the prime minister.
Netanyahu previously appointed former navy commander Eli Sharvit, only to rescind the appointment 24 hours later.
At a time when Israel faces complex security challenges and growing regional uncertainty, such disarray in the PMO is more than regrettable – it is reckless.
During Klein’s testimony as a witness, he was cautioned, but the nature of any allegations against him has not been specified.
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett's new party is likely to be the largest in a general election, according to polls over recent weeks.
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