The Former Commando Who Became King Bibi
As he leaves office, some see Israel's Netanyahu as its longest-serving prime minister in history.
Having served a total of over 16 years, Netanyahu has left a lasting impact on the country.
Binyamin Netanyahu, the former commando who became known as "King Bibi," is stepping down as Israel's prime minister after 15 consecutive years in office. Netanyahu is the longest-serving prime minister in Israeli history, and his departure marks the end of an era.
Netanyahu's legacy is complex and controversial. He is credited with leading Israel through a period of economic growth and stability, and he has been a staunch defender of Israel's security. However, he has also been criticized for his hardline policies towards the Palestinians, and for his close ties to the United States.
As Netanyahu leaves office, Israel is facing a number of challenges, including the ongoing conflict with the Palestinians, the threat from Iran, and the rise of populism and nationalism in the region. It remains to be seen how Netanyahu's successor will address these challenges, but his departure marks a turning point in Israeli history.
Netanyahu was born in Tel Aviv in 1949. His father was a historian and his mother was a teacher. Netanyahu served in the Israeli Defense Forces as a paratrooper and later as a commando. He led the famous raid on Entebbe in 1976, which rescued Israeli hostages from Ugandan terrorists.
After his military service, Netanyahu studied economics and political science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He then worked as a management consultant before entering politics. Netanyahu was first elected to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, in 1988. He served as finance minister from 1996 to 1999, and as prime minister from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2009 to 2021.
Netanyahu is a controversial figure, but he is also a charismatic and effective leader. He has been credited with leading Israel through a period of economic growth and stability, and he has been a staunch defender of Israel's security. However, he has also been criticized for his hardline policies towards the Palestinians, and for his close ties to the United States.
As Netanyahu leaves office, Israel is facing a number of challenges, including the ongoing conflict with the Palestinians, the threat from Iran, and the rise of populism and nationalism in the region. It remains to be seen how Netanyahu's successor will address these challenges, but his departure marks a turning point in Israeli history.
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