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 to 1999 and again from 2009 to 2021. Notably, Netanyahu is the longest-serving prime minister in Israel's history.

Sections (6)

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

1967: Return to Israel and Enlistment in IDF

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

March 1968: Battle of Karameh

In March 1968, Netanyahu participated in the Battle of Karameh as part of the IDF's Sayeret Matkal unit.

May 1972: Rescue of Sabena Flight 571

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

October 1973: Service in Yom Kippur War

In October 1973, Netanyahu returned to Israel from his studies in the United States to serve in the Yom Kippur War.

1976: Economic Consultant for Boston Consulting Group

From 1976 to 1978, Netanyahu worked as an economic consultant for the Boston Consulting Group in Boston, Massachusetts.

1978: Economic Consultant for Boston Consulting Group

From 1976 to 1978, Netanyahu worked as an economic consultant for the Boston Consulting Group in Boston, Massachusetts.

1978: Return to Israel and Founding of Institute

In 1978, Netanyahu moved back to Israel and founded the Yonatan Netanyahu Anti-Terror Institute.

1978: Appearance on Boston Local Television

In 1978, Netanyahu, under the name "Ben Nitay", appeared on Boston local television, arguing against the Arab refusal to accept the State of Israel.

1980: Running the Jonathan Netanyahu Anti-Terror Institute

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

1982: Director of Marketing for Rim Industries

From 1980 to 1982, Netanyahu served as the director of marketing for Rim Industries in Jerusalem.

1982: Deputy Chief of Mission

In 1982, Moshe Arens appointed Netanyahu as his Deputy Chief of Mission at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. During the 1982 Lebanon War, he served as a spokesperson for Israel.

1984: Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations

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

1988: Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations

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

1988: Return to Israel and Joining Likud Party

Prior to the 1988 Israeli legislative election, Netanyahu returned to Israel and joined the Likud party. He was later elected as a Knesset member.

1991: Spokesman for Israel and Madrid Conference

During the Gulf War in early 1991, Netanyahu emerged as the principal spokesman for Israel in media interviews. He was also a member of the Israeli delegation at the Madrid Conference.

1992: Likud Party Defeat

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

1993: Election as Chair of Likud

In 1993, Netanyahu rose to prominence after being elected as chair of the Likud party, becoming the leader of the opposition.

1993: Victory in Likud Party Leadership Election

In 1993, the Likud party held a party leadership election, and Netanyahu was victorious, defeating Benny Begin and David Levy.

1995: Netanyahu Argues for Tightening Immigration Laws in "Fighting Terrorism"

In his 1995 book, "Fighting Terrorism: How Democracies Can Defeat Domestic and International Terrorism", Netanyahu advocated for tightening immigration laws in Western countries as an effective method to combat terrorism.

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May 1996: Victory in the 1996 Israeli Legislative Election

On 29 May 1996, Netanyahu won the 1996 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, after having spoken by telephone prior to the meeting. During their first meeting on September 4, 1996, Netanyahu emphasized the need to consider the needs of both sides based on reciprocity and the assurance of security and well-being for both Israelis and Palestinians. Arafat expressed his determination to work with Netanyahu and his government.

1996: Netanyahu's Victory in the 1996 Israeli General Election

In 1996, the bombing campaign led by Deif and the failure of Israeli intelligence to prevent it were factors that contributed to the defeat of Prime Minister Shimon Peres and the Israeli Labor Party in the 1996 Israeli general election. This resulted in the victory of Netanyahu's Likud party, which opposed the Oslo Accords. After Netanyahu's victory, the attacks stopped for almost a year.

1996: Election as Prime Minister

In the 1996 general election, Netanyahu achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Israeli prime minister elected directly by popular vote.

January 1997: Signing of the Hebron Protocol

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

November 1998: Signing of the Wye River Memorandum

In November 1998, Netanyahu and Arafat signed the Wye River Memorandum, detailing steps for the Israeli government and Palestinian Authority to implement the 1995 Interim Agreement. On November 17, 1998, the Knesset approved the memorandum.

1999: Temporary Retirement from Politics

After being defeated by Ehud Barak in the 1999 Israeli prime ministerial election, Netanyahu temporarily retired from politics. He subsequently served as a senior consultant with Israeli communications equipment manufacturer BATM Advanced Communications for two years.

1999: Defeat in Election and Entry to Private Sector

In 1999, Netanyahu was defeated in the election and transitioned into the private sector after his term as Prime Minister.

2000: Desire to Return to Politics

With the fall of the Barak government in late 2000, Netanyahu expressed his desire to return to politics. He insisted that general elections should be held, claiming that otherwise it would be impossible to have a stable government. Netanyahu decided eventually not to run for the prime minister position, a move which facilitated the rise to power of Ariel Sharon.

2002: Appointment as Foreign Minister

In 2002, after the Israeli Labor Party left the coalition and vacated the position of foreign minister, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon appointed Netanyahu as foreign minister. Netanyahu challenged Sharon for the leadership of the Likud party in the 2002 Likud leadership election, but failed to oust him.

2003: Appointment as Finance Minister

Following the 2003 Israeli legislative election, Sharon offered Netanyahu the Finance Ministry. Some pundits speculated that Sharon made the move because he deemed Netanyahu a political threat. Sharon and Netanyahu agreed that Netanyahu would have complete freedom as finance minister and have Sharon back all of his reforms, in exchange for Netanyahu's silence over Sharon's management of Israel's military and foreign affairs.

2004: Threat to Resign Over Gaza Pullout Plan

In 2004, Netanyahu threatened to resign from office unless the Gaza pullout plan was put to a referendum.

August 2005: Resignation Over Gaza Withdrawal

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.

September 2005: Attempt to Hold Early Primaries

In September 2005, Netanyahu attempted to hold early primaries for the position of the head of the Likud party, while the party held the office of prime minister – thus effectively pushing Ariel Sharon out of office. The party rejected this initiative.

December 2005: Retaking the Likud Leadership

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

2005: Return to Lead Likud

In 2005, Netanyahu returned to lead the Likud party, positioning himself in the opposition.

March 2006: Likud Takes Third Place in Knesset Elections

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

2006: Leading the Opposition

Between 2006 and 2009, Netanyahu led the opposition in Israeli politics.

August 2007: Reelection as Likud Chairman

On 14 August 2007, Netanyahu was reelected as chairman of the Likud and its candidate for the post of prime minister with 73% of the vote.

February 2009: Support for New Elections

Following Tzipi Livni's election to head Kadima and Olmert's resignation, Netanyahu declined to join the coalition Livni was trying to form and supported new elections, which were held in February 2009. Netanyahu was the Likud's candidate for prime minister in the 2009 Israeli legislative election which took place on 10 February 2009.

February 2009: Designation as Prime Minister

In February 2009, Likud won the second highest number of seats in the election. On 20 February 2009, Netanyahu was designated by Israeli President Shimon Peres to succeed Ehud Olmert as prime minister, and began negotiations to form a coalition government.

February 2009: Netanyahu Describes Iran as Greatest Threat

In February 2009, after being asked to be prime minister, Netanyahu characterized Iran as the greatest threat Israel had ever faced, stating Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons posed the gravest threat since the war of independence.

March 2009: Approval of the 32nd Government

In March 2009, Netanyahu presented his cabinet for a Knesset "Vote of Confidence" on 31 March 2009. The 32nd Government was approved that day by a majority of 69 lawmakers to 45 and the members were sworn in.

July 2009: Government Approval and Economic Actions

In July 2009, a survey found most Israelis supported Netanyahu's government, giving him 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 during July 2009.

August 2009: Call for Recognition and Security Settlement

In August 2009 Netanyahu called for recognition of Israel as the national state of the Jewish people and a security settlement.

September 2009: Netanyahu Addresses UN, Criticizes Iran

In September 2009, speaking before the UN in New York, Netanyahu voiced a different opinion to Iranian president Ahmadinejad's speech, stating that Iran's regime is fueled by extreme fundamentalism and their actions are a struggle between civilization and barbarism.

September 2009: Address to the UN General Assembly

On 24 September 2009, in an address to the UN General Assembly, Netanyahu stated that Iran posed a threat to world peace and that the UN should prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons. He also responded to Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's questioning of the Holocaust.

2009: Return as Prime Minister

After the 2009 legislative election, Netanyahu successfully formed a coalition and became prime minister once again.

2009: Endorsement of a "Demilitarized Palestinian State"

In 2009, ten days after Obama's speech, Netanyahu gave a speech in which he endorsed a "Demilitarized Palestinian State". Netanyahu stated he would accept a Palestinian state if Jerusalem were to remain the united capital of Israel, the Palestinians would have no army, and give up their demand for a right of return. He endorsed for the first time a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

March 2010: Approval of Construction in Jerusalem

In March 2010, the Israeli government approved construction of additional apartments in a Jewish housing development in northeast Jerusalem called Ramat Shlomo, which led to public condemnation from the US.

September 2010: Agreement to Direct Talks and End of Settlement Freeze

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

2010: Formed the Concentration Committee

In 2010, Netanyahu formed the Concentration Committee and the bill, which was pushed forward by his government, implemented its recommendations.

2011: Netanyahu Arranges Prisoner Swap for Gilad Shalit

In 2011, Netanyahu arranged the exchange of 1000 Hamas and Fatah prisoners, including terrorists, for Gilad Shalit. Israeli officials estimated that a significant portion of those released resumed terrorist activities.

2011: Response to Social Justice Protests

In 2011, in response to Israeli social justice protests over the high cost of living, Netanyahu appointed the Trajtenberg Committee to submit recommendations to lower living costs.

October 2012: Merger of Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu Parties

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.

November 2012: Ended the November 2012 ceasefire agreement

In June 2014, Missile and rocket exchanges between Gaza militants and the IDF escalated after the bodies of the teenagers were discovered on 30 June 2014. Israel started Operation Protective Edge in the Gaza Strip, formally ending the November 2012 ceasefire agreement.

2012: Recognition of Palestinian Right to a State

In 2012, Netanyahu officially recognized for the first time the right for Palestinians to have their own state in an official document, a letter to Mahmoud Abbas, though as before he declared it would have to be demilitarized.

July 2013: Tenders for Private Ports

In July 2013, Netanyahu issued tenders for the construction of private ports in Haifa and Ashdod as part of a campaign of port privatization.

December 2013: Approval of Business Concentration Law

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

2013: Government of National Unity

In 2012, Netanyahu oversaw the creation of a government of national unity to see Israel through until the 2013 elections.

2013: Trump Endorses Netanyahu for Israeli Elections

In 2013, Donald Trump made a video endorsing Benjamin Netanyahu during the Israeli elections, calling him a "terrific guy, terrific leader, great for Israel".

June 2014: Criticism of Palestinian Unity Government and Search Operation

In June 2014, Netanyahu criticized the Palestinian Authority for forming a unity government with Hamas and launched a search and arrest operation on the West Bank after the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers, blaming Hamas for the act.

October 2014: Privatization Plan and Criticism of Settlements

In October 2014, Netanyahu's government approved a privatization plan to reduce corruption and politicization in government companies and criticized settlements, leading to a rebuke from the White House. Netanyahu explained that he does not accept residency restrictions for Jews, and said that Jerusalem's Arabs and Jews should be able to buy homes wherever they want.

December 2014: Firing of Ministers and Dissolution of Government

On 2 December 2014, Netanyahu fired ministers Yair Lapid and Tzipi Livni, leading to the dissolution of the government.

March 2015: Address to the United States Congress

In March 2015, Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United States Congress, marking his third speech to a joint session. The day before announcing he would address Congress, Time reported that he tried to derail a meeting between U.S. lawmakers and the head of Mossad, Tamir Pardo, who intended warning them against imposing further sanctions against Iran.

March 2015: New elections

New elections held on 17 March 2015 after the government was dissolved.

May 2015: Formation of Coalition Government

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

August 2015: Approval of Two-Year Budget

In August 2015, Netanyahu's government approved a two-year budget that would see agricultural reforms and lowering of import duties to reduce food prices, deregulation of the approval process in construction to lower housing costs and speed up infrastructure building, and reforms in the financial sector to boost competition and lower fees for financial services.

2015: Statements on Palestinian Statehood

As election day approached in the 2015 Israeli elections, Netanyahu answered 'indeed' when asked whether a Palestinian state would not be established in his term, and reiterated his support for a two-state solution.

2016: Closeness to Donald Trump

From 2016, Netanyahu emphasized his close relationship with Donald Trump, making it central to his political appeal.

February 2017: Netanyahu visits Australia

In February 2017, Netanyahu became the first serving prime minister of Israel to visit Australia. During the three-day official visit, accompanied by his wife, Sara, and a delegation of business representatives, Netanyahu and Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull were scheduled to sign several bilateral agreements. Netanyahu recalled the 100-year relationship between the countries, starting when the Australian Light Horse regiments liberated Beersheba during World War I.

June 2019: Netanyahu Renames Settlement After Trump

In June 2019, Benjamin Netanyahu officially renamed a settlement in the disputed Golan Heights after then U.S. President Donald Trump.

May 2020: Netanyahu sworn in for fifth term; protests erupt

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.

2020: Netanyahu Praises U.S. Airstrike That Killed Soleimani

In 2020, Netanyahu praised the U.S. airstrike at Baghdad International Airport that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, commending Trump for acting "swiftly, forcefully and decisively".

June 2021: Removal from Premiership

In June 2021, Netanyahu was removed from the premiership after a period of political turmoil.

June 2021: Netanyahu ousted as prime minister

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

December 2022: Netanyahu sworn in as prime minister again

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: Return After Election

After the 2022 election, Netanyahu returned to the position of Prime Minister of Israel.

2022: Netanyahu leads opposition into legislative election

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.

June 2025: Netanyahu Authorizes Airstrikes Against Iran, Beginning Twelve-Day War

In June 2025, Netanyahu authorized airstrikes against Iran, initiating the Twelve-Day War. He described the operation's goal as dismantling Iran's nuclear capabilities, which he considered a "clear and present danger" to Israel, while also advocating for regime change.