Challenges Faced by Benjamin Netanyahu: Obstacles and Turning Points
Life is full of challenges, and Benjamin Netanyahu faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is an Israeli politician and diplomat currently serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2022. He previously held the same office from 1996-1999 and 2009-2021. He is Israel's longest-serving prime minister.
1993: Legal Precedent Set by Israeli Supreme Court
In 1993, the Israeli Supreme Court set a legal precedent that was followed by Netanyahu in November 2019. He relinquished his agriculture, health, social affairs and diaspora affairs portfolios.
1996: Opening of Western Wall Tunnel Exit Sparks Riots
In 1996, Netanyahu and Jerusalem's mayor Ehud Olmert decided to open an exit in the Arab Quarter for the Western Wall Tunnel, which had been put on hold by prior prime minister Shimon Peres. This decision sparked three days of rioting by Palestinians, resulting in dozens of deaths on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides.
1996: Netanyahu's Victory in the 1996 Election
In 1996, the failure to prevent Deif's bombing campaign was considered a factor that led to the defeat of Prime Minister Shimon Peres and the Israeli Labor Party in the 1996 Israeli general election, resulting in the victory of Netanyahu's Likud party.
September 1997: Mossad Attempt to Assassinate Khaled Mashal
In September 1997, Netanyahu authorized a Mossad operation to assassinate Hamas leader Khaled Mashal in Jordan. The Mossad team injected poison into Mashal's ears, but the plot was exposed, leading to the arrest of agents and a demand from King Hussein for the antidote. Netanyahu relented after pressure from US President Bill Clinton and ordered the release of prisoners.
1997: Police recommend Netanyahu be indicted on corruption charges.
In 1997, police recommended that Netanyahu be indicted on corruption charges for influence-peddling, but prosecutors ruled that there was insufficient evidence to go to trial.
May 1998: Exchange of Remains and Body Parts after Ansariya Ambush
In May 1998, specifically on the 25th, the remains and body parts of at least three soldiers who died in the Ansariya ambush were exchanged for 65 Lebanese prisoners and the bodies of 40 Hizbullah fighters and Lebanese soldiers captured by Israel.
1999: Police recommend Netanyahu be tried for corruption.
In 1999, the Israel Police recommended that Netanyahu be tried for corruption for $100,000 in free services from a government contractor; Israel's attorney general did not prosecute, citing difficulties with evidence.
2000: Case 2000 Involving Yedioth Ahronot
In 2000, Netanyahu was involved in Case 2000 which involves alleged attempts to strike a deal with the publisher of the Yedioth Ahronot newspaper group, Arnon Mozes, to promote legislation to weaken Yedioth's main competitor in exchange for more favorable political coverage.
September 2002: Cancellation of Netanyahu's Speech at Concordia University
On 9 September 2002, a scheduled speech by Netanyahu at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada was canceled after hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters overwhelmed security and smashed through a window. Netanyahu accused the activists of supporting terrorism and "mad zealotry".
September 2009: Netanyahu's Speech at UN General Assembly
On September 24, 2009, Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly, stating that Iran's regime is motivated by fanaticism and poses a threat to civilization, contrasting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech.
2009: Influx of Migrants into Israel
Between 2009 and 2013, approximately 60,000 people crossed into Israel from various African countries, prompting concerns from Netanyahu about the social fabric and national security.
September 2011: Trajtenberg Committee Recommendations
In September 2011, the Trajtenberg Committee, appointed by Netanyahu and headed by professor Manuel Trajtenberg, submitted recommendations to lower the high cost of living in Israel, following social justice protests across the country. While Netanyahu promised to implement the reforms in one piece, differences within his coalition led to a gradual adoption.
September 2012: Netanyahu's Speech to UN General Assembly
On September 28, 2012, Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly, setting a "red line" of 90% uranium enrichment for Iran, using a cartoon graphic of a bomb to illustrate the perceived threat.
November 2012: End of Ceasefire Agreement
In November 2012, the ceasefire agreement formally ended.
2012: Consideration of Military Action Against Iran
By 2012, Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak were considering possible Israeli military action against Iran's nuclear facilities, leading to accusations of acting on "messianic" impulses.
2012: Prevention of Infiltration Law
In 2012, Netanyahu's government passed the "Prevention of Infiltration Law", mandating automatic detention for people entering Israel without permission, a law that Amnesty International criticized.
May 2013: Conflicting Commitments in Terror-Financing Case
Prior to a state visit to China in May 2013, Netanyahu reportedly made a conflicting promise to the Government of China regarding Israel's cooperation in the terror-financing case against Bank of China, creating a conflict with prior commitments to the family of terror victim Daniel Wultz.
August 2013: Ros-Lehtinen Raises Wultz Case with Israeli Officials
In August 2013, Representative Ros-Lehtinen raised the issue of the Wultz family's lawsuit with Israeli officials, emphasizing the importance of their cooperation in providing the family what they needed for their case.
October 2013: Interview with BBC Persian Service
In an October 2013 interview with BBC Persian Service, Netanyahu praised the history of Persia and warned that if the Iranian regime has nuclear weapons, the Iranian people will never be free.
2013: Supreme Court Ruling on Prevention of Infiltration Law
In 2013, after the Supreme Court of Israel declared the "Prevention of Infiltration Law" illegal, Netanyahu requested new legislation to circumvent the ruling.
June 2014: Concerns over Hamas-PA Unity Government and Kidnapping
In June 2014, Netanyahu expressed concerns over the Hamas and Palestinian Authority unity government and criticized the US and European governments' decision to work with the coalition. He blamed Hamas for the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers in June 2014, launching a massive search and arrest operation in the West Bank and hitting 60 targets in Gaza.
October 2014: Obama administration official calls Netanyahu 'chickenshit'
In October 2014, Jeffrey Goldberg reported that a senior official of the Obama administration called Netanyahu a "chickenshit" after Netanyahu accused U.S. President Barack Obama of acting contrary to American values. Secretary of State John Kerry clarified that such statements were unacceptable and damaging.
2015: Mossad Assessment Leaked
According to cables leaked in 2015, Mossad's assessment at the time of Netanyahu's 2012 UN speech was that Iran did not appear ready to enrich uranium to levels required for a nuclear bomb.
March 2016: Coalition Crisis Over Western Wall Prayer Space
In March 2016, Netanyahu's coalition faced a potential crisis when ultra-Orthodox members threatened to withdraw over proposed government steps to create non-Orthodox prayer space at the Western Wall.
December 2016: UN Resolution on Israeli Settlements
On December 23, 2016, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution calling for an end to Israeli settlements. The U.S., under the Obama administration, abstained from the vote. President-elect Trump attempted to intervene, but the resolution passed 14 to 0. Netanyahu's office alleged the Obama administration colluded with the UN against Israel.
2016: Israel to wait until after 2016 election to repair relations with White House
Due to evident rifts between Netanyahu and members of the Obama administration, by October 2014 observers had characterized the relationship as having reached a crisis level. Goldberg reported that conversations with Netanyahu and other Israeli officials indicated that Israel would wait until after the 2016 presidential election before attempting to repair the relationship with the White House.
January 2017: Police Investigation: Case 1000 and Case 2000
Since January 2017, Netanyahu has been under investigation by Israeli police in "Case 1000" and "Case 2000". Case 1000 involves inappropriate favors from businessmen, while Case 2000 involves alleged attempts to strike a deal with the publisher of Yedioth Ahronot for favorable coverage.
August 2017: Police Confirm Netanyahu Suspected of Crimes
In August 2017, Israeli police confirmed that Netanyahu was suspected of fraud, breach of trust, and bribes in Cases 1000 and 2000. His former chief of staff, Ari Harow, signed a deal to testify against him.
February 2018: Police Recommend Indictment for Corruption
In February 2018, Israeli police recommended that Netanyahu be charged with corruption, citing sufficient evidence for indictment on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in Cases 1000 and 2000. Netanyahu maintained that the allegations were baseless.
November 2018: Recommendation for Indictment in Both Cases
In November 2018, Economic Crimes Division Director Liat Ben-Ari recommended indictment for Netanyahu in both Cases 1000 and 2000.
February 2019: Attorney General Announces Intent to File Indictments
In February 2019, the Israeli attorney general announced his intent to file indictments against Netanyahu on bribe and fraud charges in three different cases.
November 2019: Formally Indicted on Bribe and Fraud Charges
On November 21, 2019, Netanyahu was formally indicted on bribe and fraud charges. As a result, on November 23, 2019, it was announced that Netanyahu would relinquish his agriculture, health, social affairs and diaspora affairs portfolios.
January 2020: Officially Charged in Corruption Cases
On January 28, 2020, Netanyahu was officially charged in the corruption cases, marking a significant moment as the first sitting prime minister in Israel's history to face criminal charges.
May 2020: Criminal Trial Set to Begin
Netanyahu's criminal trial was set to begin on May 24, 2020, after being delayed from its initial March schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 2020: Sworn in for Fifth Term Amid Protests
On May 17, 2020, Netanyahu was sworn in for a fifth term as prime minister in a coalition with Benny Gantz. Protests broke out against him, which he attempted to disperse using COVID-19 regulations, but this only led to larger and more widespread demonstrations.
2020: Praise of U.S. Airstrike Killing Soleimani
In 2020, Netanyahu praised the U.S. military's Baghdad International Airport airstrike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, stating that Trump acted "swiftly, forcefully and decisively".
June 2021: Removed from Premiership
In June 2021, Benjamin Netanyahu was removed from the position of Prime Minister of Israel.
June 2021: Ousted as Prime Minister
On June 13, 2021, Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid formed a coalition government, leading to Netanyahu being ousted as prime minister and ending his 12-year tenure.
February 2023: Legalization of nine settler outposts in the occupied West Bank
In February 2023, the new government under Netanyahu approved the legalization of nine settler outposts in the occupied West Bank, drawing condemnation from Israeli peace groups who viewed it as de jure annexation of the occupied territories.
March 2023: Repeal of 2005 Law Dismantling Settlements
In March 2023, Netanyahu's government repealed a 2005 law that dismantled four Israeli settlements (Homesh, Sa-Nur, Ganim, and Kadim) as part of the Israeli disengagement from Gaza.
April 2023: Criminal Trial Still Ongoing
As of April 2023, Netanyahu's criminal trial was still ongoing, indicating a prolonged legal battle.
June 2023: Changes to Settlement Construction Approval Process
In June 2023, Netanyahu's coalition shortened the procedure for approving settlement construction, granting Finance Minister Smotrich authority to approve one of the stages, altering a 27-year-old system.
October 2023: Criticism and Protests Following Hamas Attack
In October 2023, Netanyahu faced criticism for presiding over Israel's biggest intelligence failure in 50 years, leading to protests calling for his removal. A poll in 2023 showed that 56% of Israelis believed that Netanyahu must resign after the war.
November 2023: Rejection of Ceasefire Calls and Stance on Gaza
In November 2023, Netanyahu rejected calls for a ceasefire in the war, asserting that Israel would stand firm and maintain its presence in Gaza as long as necessary, also preventing the Palestinian Authority's return.
December 2023: Criticism During Meeting with Released Hostages
In December 2023, Netanyahu faced criticism during a meeting with released Israeli hostages, with one accusing him of prioritizing politics over the return of the kidnapped. He also advocated for the "voluntary migration" of Palestinians from Gaza.
2023: Netanyahu's diplomacy with China
Since 2023, Netanyahu and Chinese President Xi Jinping have engaged in diplomacy due to strained ties between the US and Israel. This situation has been complicated by the Gaza war, where China has remained neutral.
May 2024: ICC Prosecutor to Apply for Arrest Warrant
In May 2024, Karim Khan, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, announced his intention to apply for an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
July 2024: Address to US Congress and Meeting with Donald Trump
In July 2024, Netanyahu addressed a joint session of the United States Congress amidst protests to solicit support for the Gaza war. He met with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago and criticized Kamala Harris's stance on Gaza.
July 2024: Pakistan Officially Designates Netanyahu a Terrorist
In July 2024, Pakistan officially designated Netanyahu a "terrorist", calling him responsible for the atrocities in Gaza.
October 2024: Survived assassination attempt and Invasion of Lebanon
In October 2024, Benjamin Netanyahu survived an assassination attempt and ordered an invasion of Lebanon with the stated goal of destroying the military capabilities of Hezbollah.
October 2024: Drone Attack on Netanyahu's Residence
In October 2024, a drone attack believed to have originated from Lebanon targeted Netanyahu's residence in Caesarea. Netanyahu was not present at the time, and he accused Hezbollah of attempting to assassinate him.
November 2024: Firing of Defense Minister and ICC Arrest Warrants
In November 2024, Netanyahu fired defense minister Gallant, triggering protests. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, and Hamas commander Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes. Netanyahu rejected the ruling as "absurd and false lies" and "antisemitic".
November 2024: ICC issued arrest warrant for Netanyahu
In November 2024, The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity as part of the ICC investigation in Palestine.
March 2025: Surprise Attack on Gaza and Postponement of Corruption Trial
On the night of 18 March 2025, Israel launched a surprise attack on the Gaza Strip, effectively ending the 2025 Gaza war ceasefire. Netanyahu's scheduled corruption trial was postponed as a result of the attacks. Also in March 2025, Netanyahu fired Ronen Bar, chief of Shin Bet.
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