Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu (born 21 October 1949) is an Israeli politician and diplomat who has served as Prime Minister of Israel since 2022. Having previously held office from 1996 to 1999 and from 2009 to 2021, Netanyahu is Israel's longest-serving prime minister. Born in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu was raised in West Jerusalem and the United States. He returned to Israel in 1967 to join the Israel Defense Forces and served in the Sayeret Matkal special forces. In 1972, he returned to the US, and after graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Netanyahu worked for the Boston Consulting Group. He moved back to Israel in 1978 and founded The Jonathan Institute. Between 1984 and 1988 Netanyahu was Israel's ambassador to the United Nations. Netanyahu rose to prominence after his election as chair of Likud in 1993, becoming leader of the opposition. In the 1996 general election, Netanyahu became the first Israeli prime minister elected directly by popular vote. Netanyahu was defeated in the 1999 election and entered the private sector. He served as minister of foreign affairs and finance, initiating
economic reforms, before resigning over the Gaza disengagement plan. Netanyahu returned to lead Likud in 2005, leading the opposition between 2006 and 2009. After the 2009 legislative election, Netanyahu formed a coalition and became prime minister again. Netanyahu made his closeness to Donald Trump central to his appeal from 2016. During Trump's first presidency, the US recognized Jerusalem as capital of Israel, Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and brokered the Abraham Accords between Israel and the Arab world. Netanyahu received criticism over expanding Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, deemed illegal under international law. In 2019, Netanyahu was indicted on charges of breach of trust, bribery and fraud, and relinquished all ministerial posts except prime minister. The 2018–2022 Israeli political crisis resulted in a rotation agreement between Netanyahu and Benny Gantz. This collapsed in 2020, leading to a 2021 election. In June 2021, Netanyahu was removed from the premiership, before returning after the 2022 election.
economic reforms, before resigning over the Gaza disengagement plan. Netanyahu returned to lead Likud in 2005, leading the opposition between 2006 and 2009. After the 2009 legislative election, Netanyahu formed a coalition and became prime minister again. Netanyahu made his closeness to Donald Trump central to his appeal from 2016. During Trump's first presidency, the US recognized Jerusalem as capital of Israel, Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and brokered the Abraham Accords between Israel and the Arab world. Netanyahu received criticism over expanding Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, deemed illegal under international law. In 2019, Netanyahu was indicted on charges of breach of trust, bribery and fraud, and relinquished all ministerial posts except prime minister. The 2018–2022 Israeli political crisis resulted in a rotation agreement between Netanyahu and Benny Gantz. This collapsed in 2020, leading to a 2021 election. In June 2021, Netanyahu was removed from the premiership, before returning after the 2022 election.
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Netanyahu's coalition falls to 48 seats, opposition gets 62 seats after legislative blitz - poll The opposition bloc is expected to gain 62 seats in the next election, while the current coalition is projected to fall to 48, according to the latest poll published on Friday by Maariv. Against the backdrop of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's legislative blitz before the Knesset's dissolution, the latest Maariv poll revealed that the opposition coalition, led by Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar!, is expected to win a majority of seats in the October 27, 2026 elections. The poll found that Netanyahu's Likud is losing seats and is tied for first place with Yashar, with both at 22 mandates. (Jerusalem Post 7.17.26)READMORE>>>>>> Netanyahu’s office says he spoke with Trump, they agreed to meet soon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump agreed to meet in the US in the near future during a phone call Friday, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office. The premier congratulated Trump on the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, and said that “the US is what ensures the freedom of the world, and Israel greatly appreciates the tight bond between the nations.” Additionally, “Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump agreed to meet soon in the US,” the statement said. (Times of Israel 7.4.26)READMORE>>>>>> Why does Israel want to be less dependent on US weapons? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he’s grateful to the United States for its military aid but that it’s time for Israel to build its own weapons-production capacity. His announcement comes as tensions grow over the US peace agreement with Iran, but also as demand soars for Israel’s weapons. (Aljazeera 6.24.26)READMORE>>>>>> Netanyahu urges Trump to cap Lebanon talks at two-three weeks amid IDF restraint - report Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged US President Donald Trump to limit ongoing negotiations with Lebanon to a two- to three-week window ending in mid-May, during a call late Wednesday, Israel's Channel 12 (N12) reported. The call came after Trump rejected a recent Iranian proposal to set aside discussions of Iran's nuclear program until the war has ended and focus now on resolving disputes surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. Israeli officials have argued that continued Hezbollah attacks against IDF troops and northern communities are eroding the chances of reaching an agreement and undermining Israel’s deterrence. (Jerusalem Post 4.30.26)READMORE>>>>> Netanyahu meets with Christian IDF soldiers, thanks them for service to the Israeli nation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with a diverse group of Christian soldiers serving in the Israeli military on Sunday, praising their service to the Jewish state. The video and statement from Netanyahu came amid controversy over the conduct of several Israel Defense Forces soldiers during operations in Christian villages in southern Lebanon, after one soldier posted footage of himself smashing a public statue of Jesus. Following an investigation, the soldiers were quickly disciplined by the military.Just a few days later, another video showed IDF engineering equipment destroying solar panels in a Christian village. (Christian Post 4.27.26)READMORE>>>>> Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu says he received treatment for prostate cancer Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has undergone successful treatment for early-stage prostate cancer, after a small tumour was discovered during a routine checkup. The information was published on Friday in Netanyahu’s annual medical report, with the Israeli leader posting on social media to explain that doctors discovered and treated the tumour during a medical checkup. The information was not announced at the time. “I requested to delay its publication by two months so that it would not be released at the height of the war” against Iran, the 76-year-old Israeli leader said, to prevent “more false propaganda against Israel”. (Aljazeera 4.24.26)READMORE>>>>> April 11, 2026:
RANDOM NOTES & POLITICAL BYTES
 Zorek
Benjamin Netanyahu has been shifting toward authoritarian for quite awhile now. Trump was an easy push because Trump
1) is an authoritarian and 2) believes he has large support from American evangelicals so Trump likely thought he would get a groundswell of support from evangelicals because many American evangelicals hold Christian Zionist beliefs, strongly support Israel based on theological, biblical, and geopolitical grounds. (And they may end up being the demographic that holds on to Trump the longest) Key motivations include the belief in biblical promises (Genesis 12:3), the view that Israel is essential to end-times prophecy, and seeing Israel as a democratic ally. This support is often unwavering, focusing on defending Israel's right to the land. While evangelical support is generally strong, not all Christians hold the same views. I myself did once but now can't dig up a good Christian Biblical mandate to suggest I am required to. Netanyahu Pressured Retired Justice to Appoint Controversial Aide Who Lied in IDF Probe to Head Mossad Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently lobbied for the appointment of his controversial military secretary to head the Mossad secret service agency, despite civil service objections. Netanyahu pushed for the appointment of Roman Gofman in a meeting with former justice Asher Grunis, who heads the senior civil service appointments committee. Israel's Channel 13 first reported the story.The committee has been vetting Gofman, who is accused of sending classified material without authorization to a 17-year-old boy for use in an influence campaign. Haaretz first reported the allegation two years ago. In December, Haaretz reported that he apparently lied during an IDF investigation into the affair. (Haaretz; 4.1.26)READMORE>>>>>> Netanyahu’s prediction fulfilled as Israel reshapes Middle East - analysis On October 9, 2023, two days after the Hamas attack that would ultimately reshape the region, Reuters carried a short report on a meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held with heads of southern local councils hit by the assault. “Israel’s response to the unprecedented multi-pronged attack by Palestinian gunmen from the Gaza Strip will ‘change the Middle East,’ Netanyahu said on Monday. He was speaking to mayors of southern border towns hit by the surprise assault that began on Saturday, a statement from his office said. It did not elaborate on his prediction.” Let’s imagine the prime minister’s spokesman had elaborated. (Jerusalem Post; 3.8.26)READMORE>>>>>> The Iranians are lying': Netanyahu says he's 'skeptical' about future US deal with Tehran The prime minister laid out components he considers essential in any deal with Iran to ensure the security of Israel, the US, the region and the world. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was "very skeptical" about any future deal with Iran and that he raised concerns with US President Donald Trump that "the Iranians are lying." Speaking at the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations’ 51st Annual National Leadership Mission in Jerusalem on Sunday, Netanyahu said he just returned from the US, where he held "a very important meeting" with Trump focused on Iran. (Religion News Service 2.13.26) READMORE>>>>> Trump, Netanyahu agreed US should press Iran to cut oil sales to China, Axios reports President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed at a White House meeting on Wednesday that the U.S. would work to reduce Iran's oil exports to China, Axios reported, citing two U.S. officials briefed on the issue. "We agreed that we will go full force with maximum pressure against Iran, for example, regarding Iranian oil sales to China," Axios reported on Saturday, quoting a senior U.S. official. China accounts for more than 80% of Iran's oil exports. Any reduction in that trade would mean lower oil revenue for Iran. (Reuters 2.14.26) READMORE>>>>> |
January 2, 2026: JNS reported: For decades, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has branded himself as one of, if not the ultimate authority on terrorism. His reputation as “Mr. Security” propelled him to become the country’s longest-serving prime minister. That résumé makes one conclusion unavoidable: He bears the ultimate responsibility for the catastrophe of Oct. 7. And from the moment the scale of the failure became clear, he has done everything possible to evade accountability. Despite Netanyahu’s relentless efforts to block an independent commission of inquiry, a devastating picture has emerged of warnings ignored and failures dismissed. The latest revelations come from an Israel Hayom investigation based on months of interviews with senior sources who insisted Israel received clear warnings from Egypt in the two weeks before Oct. 7 that Gaza was on the verge of a major explosion. Two Israeli political sources said a senior Egyptian official warned the National Security Council that “something big” was coming. Given standard reporting procedures, sources argue that it is inconceivable that such warnings were not passed on to the prime minister.
January 6, 2026: Middle East Monitor reported: Israel’s public broadcaster said on Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to pass a reassurance message to Iran, saying that Israel does not intend to attack it, out of concern over a possible pre-emptive strike by Tehran. The official broadcaster, citing unnamed diplomatic sources, said Netanyahu requested that Putin deliver messages to Iran to reassure it that Israel has no plans to launch an attack. It added that these messages were recently passed to Iran, including through phone calls between Netanyahu and Putin, amid fears that Tehran might strike Israel to prevent a possible Israeli attack.
January 11, 2026: Times of Israel reported: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the phone Saturday morning with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, The New York Times reports, citing three unnamed sources. They are said to have discussed the major anti-regime protests in Iran, the situation in Syria, and efforts for a peace deal in Gaza. The report also says US President Donald Trump is “seriously considering” authorizing a strike on Iran amid an internet blackout imposed by the Islamic Republic and reports of a brutal, deadly crackdown on demonstrators.
February 10, 2026: CBC reported: Online flight trackers show that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew hundreds of kilometres through Canadian airspace on his way to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday — despite Prime Minister Mark Carney previously saying he would honour an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Netanyahu is wanted by the ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Carney was asked last October by Bloomberg if "Netanyahu would be arrested if he came to Canada. |
October 6, 2025: Grand Pinnacle Tribune reported: But the 2025 list is also marked by loss. Ranked second is Charlie Kirk, the late founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative activist, who was shot and killed in September during an event at Utah Valley University. Kirk’s posthumous recognition, the IAF said, honors “a vocal and passionate supporter of Israel” whose advocacy inspired a new generation of pro-Israel activists. As reported by Breitbart News, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Kirk “a lion-hearted friend of Israel who fought for Judeo-Christian values.”
November 1, 2025: Times of Israel reported: When Benjamin Netanyahu met with Donald Trump in February, the Israeli prime minister’s first meeting with the president in his second term, he made clear that he hoped the days of “daylight” between the two countries were gone. “When Israel and the United States don’t work together, that creates problems,” Netanyahu said then. “When the other side sees daylight between us — and occasionally, in the last few years, to put it mildly, they saw daylight – then it’s more difficult.” The dig was at US President Joe Biden and the differences the Democrat and Netanyahu had over Israel’s conduct of its war with Hamas in Gaza.
November 16, 2025: Politico reported: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Sunday to oppose any attempt to establish a Palestinian state, a day before the U.N. Security Council planned to vote on a U.S.-drafted resolution on Gaza that leaves the door open to Palestinian independence. Netanyahu has long asserted that creating a Palestinian state would reward Hamas and eventually lead to an even larger Hamas-run state on Israel’s borders. But as the U.S. attempts to push forward with its Gaza ceasefire proposal, he faces heavy international pressure to show flexibility. The Security Council is expected to vote on a U.S. proposal for a U.N. mandate that would establish an international stabilization force in Gaza despite opposition from Russia, China and some Arab countries.
November 17, 2025: Associated Press reported: Israeli settlers on Monday rampaged through a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank, torching homes and cars in the latest in a string of settler attacks in recent weeks. The violence drew a rare condemnation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top leaders. Israel’s military said soldiers and police were sent to al-Jab’a, a small village southwest of Bethlehem, after reports of fires and vandalism. The attack came hours after clashes between Israeli security forces and settlers defending an unauthorized outpost on a nearby hill facing evacuation and demolition on Monday, according to COGAT, the Israeli military body that deals with civilians in the West Bank. Israeli police said earlier that six suspects were arrested in confrontations during the demolitions, where dozens of Israeli settlers were entrenched and hundreds rioted, throwing stones and metal bars and burning tires.
December 12, 2025: Arab Weekly reported: Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will meet President Donald Trump in the United States on December 29, as the two countries mull different visions for the next steps towards implementing the US 20-point plan for Gaza. It will be Netanyahu’s fifth visit to meet Trump in the US since the start of the year and comes after the prime minister said he expected the second phase of the US-sponsored ceasefire plan for Gaza to begin soon.“The meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu will take place Monday, December 29,” Shosh Bedrosian, spokeswoman for the prime minister’s office, said. Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu and Trump were expected to meet twice during an eight-day visit to the United States by the Israeli prime minister.