Benjamin Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu attended high school in the United States, graduating from Cheltenham High School in Pennsylvania while his father was teaching there.

He later attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he simultaneously earned a Bachelor of Science (S.B.) in Architecture and a Master of Science (S.M.) in Management, completing his studies in an accelerated timeframe.

Netanyahu's early career involved serving as a combat commando in the elite Sayeret Matkal unit of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), participating in multiple special operations. He transitioned into politics in the 1980s, eventually serving as Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations. He served his first term as Prime Minister from 1996 to 1999, becoming the youngest person to hold the office at the time.

He returned to the premiership in 2009, holding the office continuously until 2021, and regained power in late 2022. His modern tenure has been defined by his aggressive stance against Iran's nuclear program, overseeing the expansion of settlements, and managing complex relationships with US administrations.

By May 2026, his administration was heavily focused on a tense, ongoing standoff with Iran. Following a direct conflict that temporarily paused under a ceasefire framework early in the year, Netanyahu gave a high-profile interview reiterating that the conflict was 'not over' as long as Iran retained highly enriched uranium and active enrichment facilities, making it clear that Israel was prepared to take physical action to remove those threats if necessary.

Benjamin Netanyahu was born in Tel Aviv to Tzila and Benzion Netanyahu, a prominent historian. His older brother, Yonatan, was an IDF commander who was tragically killed while leading the famous 1976 hostage rescue mission in Entebbe, Uganda—an event that profoundly shaped Benjamin's worldview.

He has been married three times. His current wife is Sara Netanyahu, with whom he has two sons, Yair and Avner. He also has a daughter, Noa, from his first marriage to Miriam Weizmann. Netanyahu is known for his masterful political survival skills and his deep belief in the necessity of a strong, uncompromising Jewish state.