Early Life And Political Career

Benjamin Netanyahu: The Return of the Israeli Prime Minister

Early Life and Political Career

Benjamin Netanyahu was born on October 21, 1949, in Tel Aviv, Israel. His mother was an Israeli-born Jew, and his father was a Polish-born Jew who became a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Haifa. Netanyahu joined the Israeli military in 1967 and served in the special forces unit, Sayeret Matkal. After completing his military service, he studied political science and business administration at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 1978, he was elected to the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset.

Prime Ministership

Netanyahu served as Prime Minister of Israel from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2009 to 2021. During his first term, he implemented economic reforms and negotiated the Oslo Accords with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). In 2009, he was re-elected after he promised to focus on security and the economy. During his second term, he oversaw Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and the construction of a security fence along the border with the West Bank.

Re-Election and Current Term

In 2022, Netanyahu returned to power after leading his Likud party to victory in the Israeli elections. He formed a coalition government with several right-wing and religious parties. Netanyahu's current priorities include strengthening Israel's security, expanding settlements in the West Bank, and promoting economic growth. He has also pledged to address the issue of the Iranian nuclear program.