Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu : A Resilient Political Figure in Israel’s History

Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu is an Israeli politician who has been the Prime Minister of Israel since December 2022.  He previously held the office of Prime Minister between 1996 and 1999 and then from 2009 until 2021. He is also the head of the Likud party. Netanyahu is the longest-serving Prime Minister in the history of Israel, serving for more than 16 years. Netanyahu was also the first Prime Minister born in Israel following the Declaration of Independence.

Education and Childhood

Netanyahu was born on the 21st of October, 1949 in Tel Aviv to secular Jewish parents. He grew up in Jerusalem.  His father Benzion Netanyahu, was a historian, and His mother, Tzila Segal, was an educator. When Benjamin was just 14 and a half, his family left for the United States and settled in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania. He attended Cheltenham High School and later took a course in architectural studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  After finishing his studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Netanyahu was a consultant in economics to Boston Consulting Group. Boston Consulting Group.

Military Service

The year was 1967, Benjamin came back to Israel and joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He was part of the elite special operation team Sayeret Matkal where he soon became a team leader. He participated in a variety of missions and was an integral part of the group that rescued hostages trapped in an armed robbery of a Sabena Airlines plane at Tel Aviv’s Lod Airport in 1972. He was promoted to the rank of captain before being discharged honorably. After his military service, he went to the USA to attend MIT and graduated with a Master of Business Administration degree in the year 1976.

Politic Career

Benjamin Netanyahu started his career in politics in 1978 as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Israeli Embassy in Washington DC. Benjamin was later Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations from 1984 to 1988, as well as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1988 until 1991. In 1993 He was elected head of the Likud party, subsequently getting elected as the Prime Minister of Israel for the first time in the year 1996.

The Prime Minister of Israel

Netanyahu was elected to the Knesset (Israel’s Parliament) in 1982.  He quickly rose within the ranks of the Likud party and, in 1993, he was elected leader of the Likud party.  In 1996, he led the Likud Party to victory during the Knesset elections and was elected the Prime Minister of Israel. The first term of his premiership was marked by reforms to the economy as well as a peace deal with Jordan. But he was defeated in the next Knesset election of 1999 by Ehud Barak. Netanyahu came back to power in 2009 and was in office for two terms as the Prime Minister. While in office he was responsible for a strong economy.  He also worked towards improving Israel’s relations with the United States and other countries. He is still a very popular figure among Israelis and people of other countries and is regarded as the most successful Prime Minister in the history of Israel.

Family

Benjamin Netanyahu has been married three times. He was first married to Miriam Weizmann from 1972 to 1978. They had a daughter called Noa. He was married again with Fleur Cates between 1981 and 1984. They didn’t have any issue.  He married for the third time in 1991 to his current wife Sara Ben-Artzi. He and Sara have 2 sons named Yair as well as Avner.

Benjamin Netanyahu Siblings

Benjamin Netanyahu had two brothers named Yonatan “Yoni” Netanyahu and Iddo Netanyahu. Yonatan (March 13, 1946 – July 4, 1976) was an Israeli military officer who was in charge of Sayeret Matkal during the Entebbe attack, which took place as a response to the hijacking of an international civil passenger flight that was en route from Israel in France, by Palestinian as well as German militants. They seized control of the plane while on a stopover in Greece and then diverted it towards Libya before transferring it to Uganda and received assistance from President of Uganda Idi Amin. Although Israel’s counter-terrorist operation was successful and 102 of the 106 people on the flight were saved, Yonatan was killed in action, the sole Israeli death in the course of the crisis. Benjamin’s other brother Iddo Netanyahu (born July 24 1952) is an Israeli physician writer, playwright, and author.

Israel Palestine Conflict

The Israeli-Palestinian war is a long-running conflict in the region that encompasses the region between the Jordan River to the east and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. The conflict has long-standing historical roots and has been shaped by claims to statehood from both the Israelis as well as the Palestinians that were backed by a variety of international agendas and actions over the course of time. The conflict spans over a century with flashpoints beginning from the United Nations’ 1947 initial UN Partition Plan to the 1973 Yom Kippur War, to the current war between Israel and Hamas that began in the month of October 2023. Despite the ongoing efforts to negotiate peace, including in 1979 the Camp David Accords, the Oslo Accords of the 1990s and the 2020 Abraham Accords, the conflict has persisted.

Benjamin Netanyahu and Yasser Arafat : Peace Efforts

Benjamin Netanyahu and Yasser Arafat were the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) respectively.  These two leaders made intense efforts to reach reconciliation.  In 1993 Netanyahu as well as Arafat agreed to sign the Oslo Accord, a series of agreements that set out the foundation for a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian war. The Accords required the establishment of a Palestinian Authority (PA) which would control a portion of the West Bank and Gaza Strip and the eventual establishment of a separate Palestinian state.

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Netanyahu along with Arafat continued to negotiate and meet through the 1990s, but they failed to come to an agreement that covered every issue. One of the major sticking areas was the issue of Jerusalem as a city, which both sides claimed to be their capital city. In 2000 Camp David Summit was held in an effort to bridge the remaining rifts among the sides. However the summit was not able to achieve a consensus, and the peace process between Israel and Palestinians fell into a deep freeze. Netanyahu and Arafat each remained dedicated to peace however they were unable to overcome the deep distrust and divisions between their parties.

Oslo Accords 

Despite the inability of Netanyahu or Arafat to come to a definitive peace deal, however, their efforts led to significant progress. The Oslo Accords established a framework to create a two-state system, as well as helped reduce the violence and improve the economic situation within the Palestinian territories. Netanyahu and Arafat’s efforts for peace are laudable but often contested. Some believe that they squandered a historic chance to conclude a long-lasting peace deal. Others say they laid the basis to negotiate a peace agreement in the future. However, following the death of Arafat in the year 2004, there is a vacuum for the leadership of PLO which appears to have loosened its grip allowing the militant group Hamas to take over the reins of the Palestinians.  

Rise of Hamas the Militant Group

The demise of Yasser Arafat in the year 2004 was a significant setback to the peace process between Israel and Palestinians. Arafat was the head of both the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) as well as the Palestinian Authority (PA) for several years and was seen as a pivotal person in any future peace accord. Following the death of Arafat, the PLO was more fractured, and Hamas was the dominant power in Palestinian political life. Hamas is a ferocious organization that refuses to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist and has launched many attacks on Israeli civilians.

The growth of Hamas has made it harder to negotiate a peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians. Hamas is not interested in peace and is continuing to use violence to accomplish its goals. Israel has responded to threats from Hamas by constructing an area of security around Gaza’s West Bank and by carrying out military operations against Hamas targets in Gaza. These actions have further hardened the positions of the two sides which has made it even more difficult to achieve a peace agreement.

Israel Peace Treaty Saudi Arabia

Benjamin Netanyahu announced on 22 September 2023 that Israel is on the verge of the possibility of a “dramatic breakthrough” which will lead to a historic peace agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. “Such an agreement will be a significant step in settling the Arab-Israeli conflict, and will also encourage other Arab States to improve relationships with Israel,” he said.  He also added that it would also enhance the prospects of peace with the Palestinians as well.  The accord, he said, will “encourage an even greater reconciliation between Judaism and Islam and among Jerusalem and Mecca and with the descendants from Isaac and those of Ishmael.” Improved Saudi-Arabia-Israel relations will be a real catalyst for the modern Middle East.  The Prime Minster added that as the peace circle expands a path to “genuine peaceful coexistence” with Palestinians can be achieved.  However, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas “must cease spreading the vile anti-Semitic conspiracy theories” against the Jewish people and the Palestinian Authority should stop supporting and glorifying terrorists.

Events of 07th of October, 2023

All efforts of Benjamin Netanyahu’s efforts to achieve peace with the Palestinian leadership appear to have gone to waste.  Instead, Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist group, launched one of its biggest surprise attacks against Israel on the morning of Sunday, October 7, 2023. This was during the Jewish holiday Simchat Torah.

Attack by Hamas on Innocent Civilians

Hamas terrorists armed with tractors, explosives, and RPGs destroyed large portions of the Gaza fence and invaded southern Israel. They launched thousands of rockets at Israel simultaneously.  Around 1,500 terrorists jumped the fence on foot and in vehicles, some used motorized paragliders and others tried to infiltrate through the sea. They were aiming to reach Israel’s Zikim Beach. The Hamas terrorists divided up and made their way to several Israeli towns and IDF bases surrounding Gaza. The massacre started then. They invaded towns and shot everything they saw. They invaded civilian homes and shot, burned, raped, and beheaded. More than 1,300 Israeli civilians were killed, and more than 200 others were kidnapped. Hamas terrorists briefly seized control of 10 Israeli towns terrorizing and brutalizing the residents.

Nova Music Festival Massacre

At the same time, these terrorists continued to drive on towards the Nova Music Festival that was taking place in an open area nearby. The sound of sirens woke up partygoers, who tried to flee due to rocket threats. Many did not make it to safety. The Hamas terrorists shot at civilians from around the world who had gathered to celebrate the music festival. They abducted and brutalized many, killed hundreds, and raped women. Later, 260 dead bodies belonging mostly to young men and women were found near the festival.

Israel Retaliation

Israel deployed IDF forces to neutralize the terrorists and stop their infiltration. However, terrorists also attacked IDF bases and killed soldiers, hurled explosives, and threw grenades. Not only were many killed in the initial attacks, but also in the long, bloody battles that followed after Israel started to regain control over the towns and bases around Gaza, free them from terrorists, and rescue as many hostages as possible, held on Israeli territory.  After regaining control, the Israeli forces found Hamas’s gruesome trail of violence. Blood was found on cribs and baby carriers. Families found dead, embracing one another.  The 7th of October will be forever remembered as one of the darkest days in Israel’s and humanity’s history. It is a reminder that humans are capable of doing utterly inhuman things.

The Way Ahead

Does this mean that there is no solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict? The events of the 7th of October are an example of the fragile circumstances in the Middle East. Every incident could trigger an increase in violence that could have devastating consequences for both Israelis as well as Palestinians. The Israel-Palestine conflict is a complex and long-standing one, with deep roots in history, politics, religion, and culture. While it is difficult to imagine anything good coming out of such a destructive war, especially for those witnessing its brutal prosecution from Ramallah, on the Israeli-occupied West Bank, I feel compelled to resist giving in to despair. I believe there are grounds for hope, even if they are tenuous.

There are several steps that can be taken to reduce tensions and promote peace in the region. First, both Israel and Palestine sides need to compromise and be prepared to come to the negotiation table and engage in meaningful dialogue to find a solution that works for both parties. The international community has to apply pressure upon both parties to come back to the negotiation table. International organizations, such as the United Nations, can play a crucial role in mediating the conflict and bringing the two sides together.

For this firstly the Palestinian people need to elect leaders who believe in peace. In my opinion, as long as a current lot of leaders are representing Palestine, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu would not be ready for any talks. The Palestinian people deserve leaders who prioritize their well-being and work towards their prosperity. The current leadership of PLO and Hamas has failed to deliver on these fronts. It is time for a change in leadership that is committed to the betterment of the Palestinian people.

Second, humanitarian aid can be provided to the people affected by the conflict to alleviate some of the suffering and build trust between the two sides. This can include providing food, shelter, medical care, and other basic necessities.

Third, economic development in the region can be promoted to create jobs and improve living standards, which can reduce tensions and promote peace.

Finally, the root causes of the conflict, such as land disputes, religious differences, and political grievances, need to be addressed in order to find a lasting solution.

These steps are not a comprehensive solution to the conflict, but a starting point for addressing the issue. The conflict is deeply entrenched and will require a sustained effort from all parties involved to find a lasting solution.  Peace will be difficult to attain, however, it is the only option to move forward.