Benjamin Netanyahu

Early Life and Education

Benjamin Netanyahu was born on October 21, 1949, in Tel Aviv, Israel. His father, Benzion Mileikowsky, changed his name to Benzion Netanyahu after settling in Palestine. Netanyahu traces his roots to Poland, Belarus, and Lithuania.

Political Career

Netanyahu entered politics in 1988 when he was elected to the Knesset (Israeli parliament) as a member of the Likud party. He quickly rose through the ranks and served in various ministerial positions before becoming Prime Minister for the first time in 1996.

Netanyahu's tenure as Prime Minister was marked by significant achievements, including the signing of the Wye River Memorandum with the Palestinian Authority and the Camp David 2000 summit.

After losing the 1999 election, Netanyahu returned to office in 2001. During this second term, he oversaw Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the construction of the West Bank separation barrier.

Netanyahu served as Prime Minister again from 2009 to 2015, and from 2015 to 2021. His most recent term was marked by the signing of the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab countries.

Legacy

Benjamin Netanyahu's legacy is complex and controversial. He is a polarizing figure whose policies have been both praised and criticized. However, there is no doubt that he is one of the most significant figures in Israeli history.