Benjamin Netanyahu

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Lore & Background

Benjamin Netanyahu, born in 1949 in Tel Aviv, was raised in West Jerusalem and the United States, attending school in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania, where he was active in debate, chess, and soccer. He returned to Israel in 1967 to serve in the Sayeret Matkal special forces, participating in cross-border raids during the War of Attrition, including the Battle of Karameh. After his military service, he studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and worked for the Boston Consulting Group before returning to Israel in 1978. Netanyahu served as Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations from 1984 to 1988 and later became chair of Likud in 1993. He was Israel’s first prime minister elected directly by popular vote in 1996, and his tenure has been marked by a close alliance with Donald Trump, during which the U.S. recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and brokered the Abraham Accords. He has faced criticism for expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank and was indicted in 2019 on charges of breach of trust, bribery, and fraud. His later prime ministerships have been criticized for democratic backsliding and authoritarian shifts, with his coalition pursuing judicial reform that sparked large-scale protests in 2023. The October 7 attacks by Hamas-led groups triggered the Gaza war, leading to nationwide protests over security failures and hostage issues. Netanyahu has overseen military escalations with Iran, including strikes in 2024 and 2025, invasions of Lebanon and Syria, and has been accused of orchestrating genocide in Gaza, leading to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant in 2024 for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Reader's Guide

Benjamin Netanyahu, born in 1949 in Tel Aviv, is an Israeli politician and diplomat who has served as prime minister since 2022, having previously held the office from 1996 to 1999 and from 2009 to 2021, making him Israel’s longest-serving prime minister. Nicknamed "Bibi," he was raised in West Jerusalem and the United States, returning to Israel in 1967 to serve in the Sayeret Matkal special forces. After graduating from MIT, he worked for the Boston Consulting Group and later founded The Jonathan Institute. He served as Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations from 1984 to 1988 and rose to prominence as chair of Likud in 1993. In 1996, he became the first Israeli prime minister elected directly by popular vote. His tenure has been marked by significant events: he made his closeness to Donald Trump central to his appeal from 2016, during which the U.S. recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, and brokered the Abraham Accords. He has faced criticism for expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank, deemed illegal under international law. In 2019, he was indicted for breach of trust, bribery, and fraud. His later prime ministerships have been criticized for perceived democratic backsliding and authoritarian shifts, including a judicial reform that sparked large-scale protests in 2023. The October 7 attacks by Hamas-led groups triggered the Gaza war, with Netanyahu facing protests over the security lapse and hostage failures. He oversaw exchanges of strikes with Iran in 2024, survived an assassination attempt, and ordered invasions of Lebanon and Syria. He presided over the 2025 Israeli strikes on Iran, starting the Twelve-Day War, and in 2026 launched a major air campaign with the U.S. aimed at regime change. His government has been accused of orchestrating genocide in Gaza, leading to the South Africa v. Israel case at the International Court of Justice in December 2023. In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Did You Know?

• Benjamin Netanyahu is the brother of Yonatan Netanyahu, who was killed in action during the Entebbe raid on July 4, 1976.
• Yonatan Netanyahu was the eldest son of Benzion Netanyahu and brother of Benjamin and Iddo Netanyahu.
• All three brothers—Yonatan, Benjamin, and Iddo—served in Sayeret Matkal.
• Benjamin Netanyahu was elected Prime Minister of Israel in 1996, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2020, and 2022.
• Operation Entebbe was renamed 'Operation Yonatan' in honor of Yonatan Netanyahu after his death.