Career Timeline of Benjamin Netanyahu: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Benjamin Netanyahu made an impact.

Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is an Israeli politician and diplomat currently serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2022. He also held the position from 1996-1999 and 2009-2021. He is Israel's longest-serving prime minister.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1967: Netanyahu Enlists in the Israel Defense Forces

After graduating from high school in 1967, Benjamin Netanyahu returned to Israel to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces.

March 1968: Battle of Karameh

In March 1968, Benjamin Netanyahu took part in the Battle of Karameh as part of the IDF's attack on Jordan.

May 1972: Rescue of Sabena Flight 571

In May 1972, Benjamin Netanyahu was involved in the rescue of the hijacked Sabena Flight 571, during which he was shot in the shoulder.

October 1973: Yom Kippur War Service

In October 1973, Benjamin Netanyahu returned to serve in the Yom Kippur War.

1976: Netanyahu Joins the Boston Consulting Group

In 1976, Benjamin Netanyahu started working as an economic consultant for the Boston Consulting Group.

1976: Work for Boston Consulting Group

In 1976, while working for Boston Consulting Group, Netanyahu examined government structures in Europe, comparing them to that of Sweden and concluding that Israel had very little room for private sector competition.

1978: Netanyahu Appears on Boston Television

In 1978, Benjamin Netanyahu appeared on Boston local television as "Ben Nitay", discussing the Arab-Israeli conflict.

1978: Netanyahu Leaves Boston Consulting Group

In 1978, Benjamin Netanyahu left the Boston Consulting Group.

1978: Netanyahu Returns to Israel and Founds The Jonathan Institute

In 1978, Benjamin Netanyahu moved back to Israel and founded The Jonathan Institute.

1978: Netanyahu Returns to Israel

In 1978, Benjamin Netanyahu returned to Israel and ran the Jonathan Netanyahu Anti-Terror Institute.

1980: Netanyahu Runs Jonathan Netanyahu Anti-Terror Institute

Between 1978 and 1980, Benjamin Netanyahu ran the Jonathan Netanyahu Anti-Terror Institute.

1982: Netanyahu Becomes Director of Marketing for Rim Industries

In 1982, Benjamin Netanyahu became director of marketing for Rim Industries in Jerusalem.

1982: Netanyahu Becomes Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington D.C.

In 1982, Moshe Arens appointed Benjamin Netanyahu as his Deputy Chief of Mission at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C.

1984: Netanyahu Becomes Ambassador to the United Nations

Between 1984 and 1988, Benjamin Netanyahu served as the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations.

1988: End of Netanyahu's Tenure as Ambassador to the United Nations

Between 1984 and 1988, Benjamin Netanyahu served as the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations.

1988: End of Netanyahu's Ambassadorship to the UN

In 1988, Benjamin Netanyahu's tenure as Israel's ambassador to the United Nations concluded.

1988: Netanyahu Enters Politics

Prior to the 1988 Israeli legislative election, Benjamin Netanyahu returned to Israel and joined the Likud party.

1991: Netanyahu Emerges as Spokesman for Israel During Gulf War

During the Gulf War in early 1991, Benjamin Netanyahu emerged as the principal spokesman for Israel in media interviews on CNN and other news outlets.

1992: Likud Party Defeat

Following the defeat of the Likud party in the 1992 Israeli legislative elections, Shamir retired from politics shortly after the Likud's defeat in the 1992 elections.

1993: Netanyahu Becomes Chair of Likud

In 1993, Benjamin Netanyahu rose to prominence after his election as chair of Likud, becoming leader of the opposition.

1993: Opposition to Oslo Accords in 'A Place Among the Nations'

In 1993, Netanyahu argued against the Oslo peace process in his book A Place Among the Nations, asserting that Amin al-Husseini had been a mastermind of the Holocaust.

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1993: Netanyahu Elected as Likud Leader

In 1993, the Likud party held a party leadership election, and Benjamin Netanyahu was victorious.

1995: Argument for tightening immigration laws in 'Fighting Terrorism'

In his 1995 book "Fighting Terrorism: How Democracies Can Defeat Domestic and International Terrorism", Netanyahu argued that tightening immigration laws in the West is the most effective method to combat terrorism, stating that "this era of immigration free-for-all should be brought to an end".

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May 1996: Netanyahu Wins Election and Becomes Prime Minister

On May 29, 1996, Benjamin Netanyahu won the Israeli legislative election, becoming the youngest person in the history of the position and the first Israeli prime minister to be born in the State of Israel.

September 1996: Netanyahu meets Arafat

On 4 September 1996, Netanyahu first met Palestinian President Arafat, starting a series of meetings through Autumn 1996. Discussions focused on mutual needs, security, and well-being, with both leaders expressing determination to work together.

1996: Netanyahu Becomes Prime Minister

In 1996, Benjamin Netanyahu first became the Prime Minister of Israel.

1996: Netanyahu's victory in the 1996 Israeli election

In 1996, Deif's bombing campaign and the failure of Israeli intelligence contributed to the defeat of Prime Minister Shimon Peres and the Labor Party, leading to Netanyahu's victory in the Israeli general election.

January 1997: Signing of the Hebron Protocol

On 14 January 1997, the talks between Netanyahu and Arafat culminated in the signing of the Hebron Protocol.

November 1998: Approval of the Wye River Memorandum

On 17 November 1998, the Knesset approved the Wye River Memorandum, which was signed by Netanyahu and Arafat.

1998: Netanyahu as a Free-Market Advocate

By 1998, Netanyahu had a reputation as a free-market advocate.

1999: Netanyahu retires from politics

After being defeated by Ehud Barak in the 1999 Israeli prime ministerial election, Netanyahu temporarily retired from politics and worked as a consultant.

1999: Netanyahu Loses Election

In 1999, Benjamin Netanyahu was defeated in an election.

1999: Netanyahu Defeated and Enters Private Sector

In 1999, Benjamin Netanyahu was defeated in the election and entered the private sector.

1999: Statement on Peace and Free Markets

In 1999, Netanyahu told the Jerusalem Post that "peace, without free markets, will not produce growth. But free markets without peace do produce growth."

2000: Netanyahu desires to return to politics

With the fall of the Barak government in late 2000, Netanyahu expressed his desire to return to politics.

September 2002: Netanyahu lobbies for the invasion of Iraq

On 12 September 2002, Netanyahu lobbied for the invasion of Iraq, testifying before the U.S. House of Representatives about the alleged nuclear threat posed by Saddam Hussein.

2002: Netanyahu becomes Foreign Minister

In 2002, after the Israeli Labor Party left the coalition, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon appointed Netanyahu as Foreign Minister.

2003: Netanyahu becomes Finance Minister

After the 2003 Israeli legislative election, Sharon offered Netanyahu the Finance Ministry, and he accepted the new appointment.

2003: Finance Minister

From 2003–2005, as finance minister, Netanyahu introduced a welfare to work program, a program of privatization, reduced the public sector, streamlined taxation, and passed laws against monopolies and cartels to increase competition.

August 2005: Netanyahu resigns over Gaza pullout plan

On 7 August 2005, Netanyahu submitted his resignation letter as Finance Minister, shortly before the Israeli cabinet voted to approve the initial phase of withdrawal from Gaza, due to his opposition to the plan without a referendum.

September 2005: Failed attempt to hold early primaries

In September 2005, Netanyahu tried to hold early primaries for the position of the head of the Likud party, but the party rejected this initiative.

December 2005: Netanyahu retakes Likud leadership

On 20 December 2005, Netanyahu retook the leadership of the Likud party with 47% of the primary vote.

2005: Finance Minister

2005: Netanyahu Returns to Lead Likud

In 2005, Benjamin Netanyahu returned to lead the Likud party.

March 2006: Likud takes third place in Knesset elections

In the March 2006 Knesset elections, Likud took the third place, and Netanyahu served as Leader of the Opposition.

2006: Netanyahu Leads Opposition

From 2006, Benjamin Netanyahu led the opposition.

August 2007: Netanyahu reelected as Likud chairman

On 14 August 2007, Netanyahu was reelected as chairman of the Likud party and its candidate for the post of prime minister.

January 2009: Continuation of West Bank Settlement Expansion

In January 2009, Netanyahu informed Middle East envoy Tony Blair that he would continue expanding West Bank settlements, in contravention of the Road Map, but not building new ones.

February 2009: Netanyahu supports new elections

Following Tzipi Livni's election to head Kadima, Netanyahu declined to join the coalition Livni was trying to form and supported new elections, which were held in February 2009.

February 2009: Describing Iran as greatest threat to Israel

In February 2009, after being asked to be prime minister, Netanyahu described Iran as the greatest threat Israel has ever faced, stating their pursuit of nuclear weapons posed a grave threat since the war of independence.

February 2009: Netanyahu designated as Prime Minister

On 20 February 2009, Netanyahu was designated by Israeli President Shimon Peres to succeed Ehud Olmert as prime minister, after the 2009 Israeli legislative election where Likud won the second highest number of seats.

March 2009: Netanyahu presents his cabinet

On 31 March 2009, Netanyahu presented his cabinet for a Knesset "Vote of Confidence". The 32nd Government was approved that day.

July 2009: Netanyahu's Government Gains Support and Lifts Checkpoints

In July 2009, three months after starting his term, Netanyahu remarked that his cabinet had established a working national unity government, and broad consensus for a "two-state solution". A July 2009 survey found most Israelis supported the government, giving Netanyahu an approval rating of 49 percent. Netanyahu lifted checkpoints in the West Bank to allow free movement and flow of imports; which resulted in an economic boost.

August 2009: Netanyahu Calls for Recognition of Israel

In August 2009 Netanyahu said: "We want...recognition of Israel as the national state of the Jewish people and...a security settlement". Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas declared he would be willing to meet with Netanyahu at the UN General Assembly, where Netanyahu had accepted Obama's invitation for a "triple summit".

September 2009: Speech before the UN on Iran

In September 2009, Netanyahu addressed the UN in New York, countering Iranian President Ahmadinejad's speech. He argued that Iran's regime is driven by fanaticism and seeks to revert to medieval times, viewing the struggle against Iran as civilization versus barbarism.

September 2009: Netanyahu Addresses UN General Assembly on Iranian Nuclear Threat

On September 24, 2009, Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly, asserting that Iran posed a threat to world peace and the UN must prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons. Waving blueprints for Auschwitz, Netanyahu rebuked Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's questioning of the Holocaust.

2009: Netanyahu Endorses "Demilitarized Palestinian State"

Following Obama's Cairo speech in 2009 stating that the US does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements, Netanyahu gave a speech on June 14, 2009, endorsing a "Demilitarized Palestinian State." He stated he would accept a Palestinian state if Jerusalem remained the united capital of Israel, the Palestinians had no army, and they gave up their demand for a right of return.

2009: Netanyahu Forms Coalition and Becomes Prime Minister Again

Following the 2009 legislative election, Benjamin Netanyahu formed a coalition and became prime minister again.

2009: Netanyahu Becomes Prime Minister Again

In 2009, Benjamin Netanyahu became prime minister again.

2009: Advocacy for "Economic Peace" Approach

In 2009, Netanyahu advocated for an "economic peace" approach, focusing on economic cooperation rather than political disputes. He discussed these ideas with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

2009: Hillary Clinton voices support for Palestinian state

In 2009, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton voiced support for the establishment of a Palestinian state, a solution not endorsed by Netanyahu. Clinton pledged US cooperation with Netanyahu, who conditioned negotiations with the Palestinians on them recognizing Israel as a Jewish state.

2009: Promise Not to Repeat "Mistake" of Gaza Pullout

In 2009, at a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu vowed not to repeat the "mistake" of the Gaza pullout, stating that unilateral evacuation brought neither peace nor security. He also stated the need for recognition of Israel and demilitarization of a future Palestinian state for peace.

March 2010: Israel Approves Construction in Jerusalem, Despite US Opposition

In March 2010, Israel's government approved construction of 1,600 apartments in Ramat Shlomo, a Jewish housing development in northeast Jerusalem, despite US opposition. The announcement occurred during a visit by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, prompting public condemnation from the US. Netanyahu defended the decision, stating it aligned with previous Israeli governments' policies.

September 2010: Netanyahu Agrees to Direct Talks with Palestinians

In September 2010, Netanyahu agreed to enter direct talks, mediated by the Obama administration, with the Palestinians, aiming for a "final status settlement" and a two-state solution. On September 27, 2010, the 10-month settlement freeze ended, and the Israeli government approved new construction in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

2011: Israeli Social Justice Protests and the Trajtenberg Committee

In 2011, Israeli social justice protests erupted due to Israel's high cost of living. Netanyahu appointed the Trajtenberg Committee, which submitted recommendations to lower living costs. Despite Netanyahu's promise to implement the reforms in full, differences within his coalition led to gradual adoption.

September 2012: Speech to UN General Assembly setting "red line" for Iran

In September 2012, Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly, establishing a "red line" at 90% uranium enrichment for Iran, which would pose an unacceptable risk to Israel. He used a cartoon graphic of a bomb to illustrate his point.

October 2012: Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu Announce Merger

In October 2012, Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced that their parties, Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu, had merged and would run together on a single ballot in Israel's 2013 elections.

July 2013: Tenders Issued for Construction of Private Ports

In July 2013, Netanyahu issued tenders for the construction of private ports in Haifa and Ashdod, initiating a campaign of port privatization to break the perceived monopoly held by workers of the Israel Port Authority, aiming to lower consumer prices and increase exports.

December 2013: Knesset Approves Business Concentration Law

In December 2013, the Knesset approved the Business Concentration Law, aimed at opening Israel's concentrated economy to competition to lower consumer prices, reduce income inequality, and increase economic growth.

2013: Denial of Peace Talks Based on Green Line

In 2013, Netanyahu denied reports that his government would agree to peace talks based on the green line.

June 2014: Netanyahu Criticizes Hamas-PA Unity Government and Launches Search Operation

In June 2014, Netanyahu voiced concerns about the Hamas and Palestinian Authority unity government, criticizing the US and European governments' decision to work with it. He blamed Hamas for the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers in June 2014, launching a massive search and arrest operation on the West Bank.

October 2014: Government Approves Privatization Plan and Faces Rebuke Over Settlement Criticism

In October 2014, Netanyahu's government approved a privatization plan. Also in October 2014, Netanyahu called criticism of settlements "against American values," which led to a rebuke from the White House, citing American funding and technology provided to Israel. Jeffrey Goldberg reported that relations between Netanyahu and the White House had deteriorated significantly.

December 2014: Netanyahu Fires Ministers, Leading to Government Dissolution

On December 2, 2014, Netanyahu fired ministers Yair Lapid and Tzipi Livni, leading to the dissolution of the government and setting the stage for new elections on March 17, 2015.

2014: Agreement to American Framework Based on Green Line

In 2014, Netanyahu agreed to the American framework based on the green line and stated that Jewish settlers must be allowed the option of staying in their settlements under Palestinian rule.

2014: Statements Regarding Peace and Security

In 2014, Netanyahu made statements regarding peace and security.

March 2015: Netanyahu Addresses United States Congress Amid Controversy

In March 2015, Benjamin Netanyahu delivered his third speech to a joint session of the United States Congress. Leading up to the speech, there were objections, including the arrangement of the speech without the support of the Obama administration and its timing before Israel's March 2015 election.

May 2015: Netanyahu Forms Coalition Government

In May 2015, after the 2015 election, Netanyahu returned with his party Likud leading the elections with 30 mandates. President Rivlin granted Netanyahu an extension until May 6, 2015, to build a coalition. Netanyahu formed a coalition government within two hours of the midnight deadline, with Likud forming the coalition with Jewish Home, United Torah Judaism, Kulanu, and Shas.

August 2015: Government Approves Two-Year Budget with Reforms

In August 2015, Netanyahu's government approved a two-year budget aimed at agricultural reforms, lowering import duties to reduce food prices, deregulating construction approval processes to lower housing costs and speed up infrastructure building, and reforming the financial sector to boost competition and lower fees for financial services. Ultimately, the government had to compromise by removing some key agricultural reforms.

March 2016: Coalition Crisis over Western Wall Prayer Space

In March 2016, Netanyahu's coalition faced a potential crisis as ultra-Orthodox members threatened to withdraw over the government's proposed steps to create non-Orthodox prayer space at the Western Wall. They stated they would leave the coalition if the government offered any further official state recognition of Conservative and Reform Judaism.

December 2016: UN Security Council Resolution 2334 and Criticism from John Kerry

On 23 December 2016, the United States, under the Obama Administration, abstained from United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, effectively allowing it to pass. On 28 December, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry strongly criticized Israel and its settlement policies in a speech. Netanyahu strongly criticized both the UN Resolution and Kerry's speech in response.

December 2016: UN Security Council passes resolution

On December 23, 2016, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution calling for an end to Israeli settlements, with the U.S. abstaining from the vote under the Obama administration. President-elect Trump attempted to intervene at the behest of the Netanyahu government.

January 2017: Israel Withdraws Annual Dues from UN

On 6 January 2017, the Israeli government withdrew its annual dues from the organization, which totaled $6 million in United States dollars, following criticism of the UN and its resolution.

February 2017: Netanyahu's Visit to Australia

In February 2017, Netanyahu became the first serving prime minister of Israel to visit Australia. He was accompanied by his wife, Sara. The three-day official visit included a delegation of business representatives, and Netanyahu and Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull were scheduled to sign several bilateral agreements. Netanyahu recalled that it was the Australian Light Horse regiments that liberated Beersheba during World War I.

October 2017: Government Announces Withdrawal from UNESCO

In October 2017, shortly after the US announced the same action, Netanyahu's government announced it was leaving UNESCO due to what it saw as anti-Israel actions by the agency.

December 2017: Israel Officially Notifies UNESCO of Withdrawal

In December 2017, the Israeli government officially notified UNESCO of its withdrawal from the organization, following the initial announcement made in October 2017.

April 2018: Netanyahu Accuses Iran of Violating Nuclear Deal

In April 2018, Netanyahu accused Iran of not holding up its end of the Iran nuclear deal after presenting a cache of over 100,000 documents detailing the extent of Iran's nuclear program. Iran denounced Netanyahu's presentation as "propaganda".

July 2018: Knesset Passes Nation-State Bill

In July 2018, the Knesset passed the Nation-State Bill, a Basic Law supported by Netanyahu's coalition government. Analysts saw the bill as a sign of Netanyahu's coalition advancing a right-wing agenda.

2018: Netanyahu Praises the 2018 North Korea–United States Singapore Summit

In 2018 Netanyahu praised the 2018 North Korea–United States Singapore Summit. He said in a statement, "I commend US President Donald Trump on the historic summit in Singapore. This is an important step in the effort to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons."

April 2019: Deal to Unite Jewish Home Party with Otzma Yehudit

Prior to the April 2019 Israeli legislative election, Netanyahu helped broker a deal that united the Jewish Home party with the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, in order to form the Union of the Right-Wing Parties. The motivation of the deal was to overcome the electoral threshold for smaller parties. The deal was criticized in the media, as Otzma is widely characterized as racist and traces its origins to the extremist Kahanist movement.

June 2019: Netanyahu renamed settlement after Donald Trump

In June 2019, Netanyahu officially renamed a settlement in the disputed Golan Heights after Donald Trump.

January 2020: Public Support for Trump's Israeli-Palestinian Peace Plan

In January 2020, Netanyahu publicly supported Trump's Israeli-Palestinian peace plan.

May 2020: Sworn in for Fifth Term Amidst Protests

On 17 May 2020, Netanyahu was sworn in for a fifth term as prime minister in a coalition with Benny Gantz. Against a background of the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel and Netanyahu's criminal trial, protests broke out against him in front of the prime minister's residence. Following this, Netanyahu ordered to disperse the demonstrations using COVID-19 special regulations, limiting them to 20 people and at a distance of 1,000 meters from their homes. However, the exact opposite was achieved; the demonstrations were enlarged and dispersed to over 1,000 centers.

September 2020: Signing of Abraham Accords at the White House

In September 2020, the Abraham Accords were signed by Bahrain's foreign minister, UAE's foreign minister, and Netanyahu at the White House, leading to normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

October 2020: Normalization of Ties Between Sudan and Israel

In October 2020, President Trump announced that Sudan would start to normalize ties with Israel. Netanyahu thanked Trump, stating that "together with him we are changing history".

March 2021: Israel Achieves High COVID-19 Vaccination Rate

By March 2021, Israel became the country with the highest vaccinated population per capita in the world against COVID-19 under Netanyahu's leadership.

May 2021: Operation Guardian of the Walls Initiated

In May 2021, after tensions escalated in Jerusalem, Hamas fired rockets on Israel from Gaza, which prompted Netanyahu to initiate Operation Guardian of the Walls, lasting eleven days.

June 2021: Netanyahu Removed as Prime Minister

In June 2021, Benjamin Netanyahu was removed as prime minister.

June 2021: Ousted as Prime Minister

On 13 June 2021, Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid formed a coalition government, and Netanyahu was ousted as prime minister, ending his 12-year tenure.

2021: Netanyahu Ends Term as Prime Minister

In 2021, Benjamin Netanyahu's term as Prime Minister ended.

December 2022: Sworn in as Prime Minister for Sixth Term

After the 2022 election, Netanyahu was sworn in as prime minister again as the leader of a hardline coalition. He started his sixth term on 29 December 2022.

2022: Leader of the Opposition

After the end of his second premiership, Netanyahu began his third stint as the leader of the opposition. Likud remained the largest party in the twenty-fourth Knesset. He led the opposition into the 2022 Israeli legislative election.

2022: Netanyahu Returns as Prime Minister

Following the 2022 election, Benjamin Netanyahu returned as Prime Minister.

2022: Netanyahu Becomes Prime Minister Again

In 2022, Benjamin Netanyahu became the Prime Minister of Israel for another term.

2022: Increased Settlement Construction

In its first six months, construction of 13,000 housing units in settlements, almost triple the amount advanced in the whole of 2022.

February 2023: Legalization of Settler Outposts

In February 2023, the government approved the legalization of nine settler outposts in the occupied West Bank. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich took charge of most of the Civil Administration, obtaining broad authority over civilian issues in the West Bank. Israeli peace groups condemned the move as de jure annexation of the occupied territories.

June 2023: Israel's Concerns Regarding Weapons to Ukraine

In June 2023, Netanyahu said Israel is concerned "with the possibility that systems that we would give to Ukraine would fall into Iranian hands and could be reverse engineered, and we would find ourselves facing Israeli systems used against Israel."

October 2023: Israel Enters War Against Hamas

On 7 October 2023, after Palestinian militants from Gaza launched a major surprise attack, Netanyahu announced that Israel would enter a war against Hamas. He threatened severe retaliation and called Gaza "the city of evil", urging its residents to "leave now".

July 2024: Address to United States Congress Amidst Protests

In July 2024, Netanyahu addressed a joint session of the United States Congress, amidst widespread protest, to solicit support for the Gaza war. He called protesters "useful idiots" and pledged a "total victory" in Gaza. He also met with Donald Trump and criticized Kamala Harris.

July 2024: Netanyahu and Trump repaired their relationship

In July 2024, Netanyahu and Trump repaired their relationship amid the lead-up to the 2024 United States presidential election, in which Netanyahu endorsed Trump.

November 2024: Firing of Defense Minister and ICC Arrest Warrants

On 5 November 2024, Netanyahu fired defense minister Gallant. On 21 November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, and Hamas commander Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes, which Netanyahu described as "absurd and false lies" and "antisemitic".

June 2025: Authorization of airstrikes against Iran

In June 2025, Netanyahu authorized airstrikes against Iran, initiating the Twelve-Day War, with the stated objective of dismantling Iran's nuclear capabilities, which he deemed a clear and present danger to Israel's survival.

December 2025: Israel Recognizes Somaliland as Independent State

In December 2025, under Netanyahu's leadership, Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, as an independent state.

February 2026: Major Military Offensive Launched Against Iran

In February 2026, Israel and the United States launched a major military offensive against Iran with the stated goal of inducing regime change, reportedly at Netanyahu's urging of U.S. President Donald Trump.

February 2026: Authorization of joint airstrikes against Iran

In February 2026, Netanyahu authorized joint airstrikes against Iran in coordination with U.S. President Donald Trump, resulting in the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the commencement of the 2026 Iran war. He portrayed these military actions as opportunities for regime change in Iran.

April 2026: Statement on Continued Strikes Against Hezbollah

In April 2026, Netanyahu declared, "There is no ceasefire in Lebanon. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force, and we will not stop until we restore your security."