Benjamin Netanyahu

Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu is a dominant figure in Israeli and global politics, holding the record as the longest-serving Prime Minister in the history of the State of Israel. Born in Tel Aviv in 1949, Netanyahu’s early life was shaped by his military service in the elite Sayeret Matkal special forces and his academic background in architecture and business management at MIT. His political rise was heavily influenced by the legacy of his brother, Yonatan Netanyahu, who died leading the historic Entebbe rescue mission in 1976.

Netanyahu’s career is characterized by his leadership of the conservative Likud Party and his staunch “security-first” approach to governance. First elected as Prime Minister in 1996, he has since served multiple terms, navigating complex regional geopolitics and advocating for economic liberalization and privatization. He is widely recognized for his powerful oratory and his assertive stance on national defense, particularly regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and regional security.