Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Benjamin Netanyahu
Public opinion and media debates around Benjamin Netanyahu—discover key moments of controversy.
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is a prominent Israeli politician and diplomat. He currently serves as the Prime Minister of Israel, a position he assumed in 2022. Notably, he also held the same office from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2009 to 2021. His cumulative time in office makes him the longest-serving prime minister in Israeli history.
1978: Affair with Fleur Cates
In 1978, while his first wife Miriam Weizmann was pregnant, Netanyahu began an affair with Fleur Cates, a British student. His marriage ended in divorce soon after Miriam discovered the affair.
1993: Affair with Ruth Bar
In 1993, Netanyahu confessed to having an affair with his public relations advisor, Ruth Bar, on live television. He stated that a political rival threatened to release a compromising video unless he quit the Likud leadership race.
1993: Opposition to the Oslo Accords in "A Place Among the Nations"
In 1993, Netanyahu expressed his opposition to the Oslo Accords in his book "A Place Among the Nations", dedicating a chapter titled "Trojan Horse" to argue against the Oslo peace process.
1995: Netanyahu argues for tightening immigration laws to combat terrorism
In his 1995 book Fighting Terrorism: How Democracies Can Defeat Domestic and International Terrorism, Netanyahu strongly argued that tightening immigration laws in the West is the most effective method to combat terrorism.
1996: Opening of the Western Wall Tunnel exit
In 1996, Netanyahu and Jerusalem's mayor Ehud Olmert decided to open an exit in the Arab Quarter for the Western Wall Tunnel, a decision that prior prime minister Shimon Peres had put on hold for peace. The decision led to three days of rioting by Palestinians, resulting in dozens of deaths of both Israelis and Palestinians.
1996: Netanyahu's victory in the Israeli general election
In 1996, the bombing campaign by Deif and the failure of Israeli intelligence led to the defeat of Prime Minister Shimon Peres and the Israeli Labor Party. This resulted in the victory of Netanyahu's Likud party, which opposed the Oslo Accords.
September 1997: Mossad operation to assassinate Khaled Mashal
In September 1997, Netanyahu authorized a Mossad operation to assassinate Hamas leader Khaled Mashal in Jordan. The attempt failed, leading to a diplomatic crisis with Jordan, ultimately requiring Netanyahu to release prisoners after pressure from US President Bill Clinton.
1997: Police recommendation to indict Netanyahu 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.
1999: Police recommendation to try Netanyahu 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.
2001: Unrecorded comments on Oslo peace process commitments
In 2001, Netanyahu, reportedly unaware he was being recorded, made comments regarding reneging on commitments made by previous Israeli governments as part of the Oslo peace process.
September 2002: Canceled speech at Concordia University due to protests
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. He later accused the activists of supporting terrorism.
March 2007: Netanyahu compares Iran to Nazi Germany in CNN interview
In a March 2007 CNN interview, Netanyahu compared the Islamic Republic of Iran to Nazi Germany, stating the key difference was that Germany sought atomic weapons after entering a global conflict, while Iran was seeking them first to start one.
April 2008: Netanyahu repeats comparison of Iran to Nazi Germany.
In April 2008, Netanyahu repeated his remarks comparing Iran to Nazi Germany at a news conference.
January 2009: Continuation of settlement expansion policy
In January 2009, Netanyahu informed Middle East envoy Tony Blair that he would continue the policy of expanding West Bank settlements, in contravention of the Road Map, but would not build new ones.
June 2009: Netanyahu's Response to Obama's Cairo Speech
In June 2009, following President Obama's Cairo speech, Benjamin Netanyahu immediately convened a special government meeting. On June 14, 2009, Netanyahu gave a speech at Bar-Ilan University endorsing a "Demilitarized Palestinian State", outlining conditions including Jerusalem remaining Israel's united capital, no Palestinian army, and relinquishing the right of return. He also asserted the right to natural growth in existing Jewish settlements in the West Bank pending further negotiation.
August 2009: Promise not to repeat the 'mistake' of the Gaza pullout
On 9 August 2009, Netanyahu promised not to repeat the "mistake" of the Gaza pullout, stating that it brought neither peace nor security. He also stated that any peace agreement would require recognition of Israel and demilitarization of a future Palestinian state.
August 2009: Netanyahu's Stance on Israeli Recognition and Security
On August 9, 2009, Netanyahu stated that an agreement required recognition of Israel as the national state of the Jewish people and a security settlement. Also in August 2009, Mahmoud Abbas expressed willingness to meet Netanyahu at the UN General Assembly.
September 2009: Settlement Construction Compromise
In September 2009, it was reported that Netanyahu was to agree to settlers' political demands to approve more settlement constructions before a temporary settlement freeze agreement took place. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs expressed "regret" over the move
November 2009: Netanyahu's Partial Settlement Freeze Plan
On November 25, 2009, Netanyahu announced a partial 10-month settlement construction freeze in response to Obama administration pressure. While the US acknowledged its limitations, Palestinians rejected it as insignificant due to ongoing approved construction and lack of freeze in East Jerusalem.
2009: Condition for negotiations with Palestinians
In 2009, Netanyahu said that any furtherance of negotiations with the Palestinians would be conditioned on the Palestinians recognizing Israel as a Jewish state.
March 2010: Construction Approval in East Jerusalem
In March 2010, Israel's government approved construction of 1,600 apartments in Ramat Shlomo, a Jewish housing development in northern East Jerusalem, despite US opposition. Netanyahu defended the decision as consistent with past Israeli policies, asserting that the neighborhood had always been part of Israel in proposed final agreements.
July 2011: Robert Gates' Criticism of Netanyahu
On retiring from office in July 2011, former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said that Netanyahu was ungrateful to the United States and endangering Israel. The Likud party defended Netanyahu, citing his broad support.
2011: Sarkozy-Obama conversation
During the 2011 G-20 Cannes summit, French president Nicolas Sarkozy was overheard telling U.S. president Barack Obama, "I cannot bear Netanyahu, he's a liar," to which Obama reportedly responded, "You're fed up with him, but I have to deal with him every day."
November 2012: End of Ceasefire Agreement
In November 2012, the ceasefire agreement formally ended.
2012: Netanyahu warns against Iranian nuclear bomb at Holocaust Remembrance Day
Early in 2012, Netanyahu used the opening ceremony for Israel's Holocaust Remembrance Day to warn against the dangers of an Iranian nuclear bomb, leading to accusations of political use and manipulation of the Holocaust memory.
2012: Netanyahu and Barak consider military action against Iran
In 2012, Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak were reported to have formed a close, confidential relationship as they considered possible Israeli military action against Iran's nuclear facilities.
2012: Prevention of Infiltration Law
In 2012, the Netanyahu government enacted the "Prevention of Infiltration Law," mandating the automatic detention of individuals entering Israel without authorization, including asylum seekers. Amnesty International criticized the law, and Netanyahu defended it by citing threats to social cohesion, national security, and national identity.
2013: Denial of peace talks based on the green line
In 2013, Netanyahu denied reports that his government would agree to peace talks based on the green line.
June 2014: Criticism of Palestinian Unity Government and Hamas
In June 2014, Netanyahu spoke of his deep concerns when Hamas and the Palestinian Authority formed a unity government, criticizing the United States and European governments' decision to work with the coalition. He blamed Hamas for the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers in June 2014 and launched a massive search and arrest operation on the West Bank.
October 2014: Tensions with Obama Administration
In October 2014, tensions between Netanyahu and the Obama administration reached a crisis level. A senior Obama administration official called Netanyahu a "chickenshit" after Netanyahu accused Obama of "acting contrary to American values". Secretary of State John Kerry clarified that such statements were disgraceful and damaging, and Netanyahu defended his determination to protect Israel's interests.
2014: Criticism from Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat
In 2014, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat criticized Netanyahu, calling him "ideologically corrupt" and a war criminal.
December 2016: UN Resolution on Israeli settlements
On 23 December 2016, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution calling for an end to Israeli settlements. In a departure from longstanding American policy, the U.S., under the Obama administration, abstained from the vote. The Netanyahu government alleged that the Obama administration colluded with the UN behind the scenes.
May 2017: Allegation of showing Trump a fake video
In May 2017, Rex Tillerson stated that Netanyahu showed Trump a fake and altered video of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas calling for the killing of children, reportedly to influence Trump's position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
2017: Netanyahu calls for death penalty in stabbing attack
In 2017, Netanyahu called for the death penalty for the perpetrator of the 2017 Halamish stabbing attack.
January 2018: Israeli parliament votes in favor of death penalty bill
In January 2018, 52 of 120 members of the Israeli parliament voted in favor of a bill to make it easier for judges to hand down the death penalty for terrorism.
April 2018: Erdoğan calls Israel a "terror state"
In April 2018, Turkish President Erdoğan called Israel a "terror state" and Netanyahu a "terrorist".
2018: Crisis in Israel-Poland relations
In early 2018, the Polish parliament adopted a law criminalizing suggestions of Polish collective complicity in Holocaust-related war crimes. At the Munich Security Conference in 2018, the Polish prime minister implicated Jewish perpetrators in the Holocaust, which Netanyahu condemned as "outrageous". The resulting crisis in Israel–Poland relations was resolved in late June through a joint communiqué endorsing Holocaust research and condemning the term "Polish concentration camps".
March 2019: Netanyahu-Erdoğan dispute
In March 2019, following Turkey's denunciation of Netanyahu as a racist, Netanyahu called Erdoğan a dictator and mocked him for imprisoning journalists on Twitter. Erdoğan retaliated by calling Netanyahu "the thief who heads Israel" and referencing corruption scandals.
2019: Support for bolstering Hamas
In 2019, Netanyahu stated at a private Likud party meeting, "Anyone who wants to thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state has to support bolstering Hamas and transferring money to Hamas."
February 2023: Legalization of settler outposts
In February 2023, the new government under Netanyahu approved the legalization of nine settler outposts in the occupied West Bank. Israeli peace groups condemned the move as de jure annexation of the occupied territories.
March 2023: Repeal of 2005 law on settlements
In March 2023, Netanyahu's government repealed a 2005 law that had dismantled four Israeli settlements: Homesh, Sa-Nur, Ganim, and Kadim, as part of the Israeli disengagement from Gaza.
June 2023: Changes to settlement construction approval process
In June 2023, Netanyahu's coalition shortened the procedure for approving settlement construction and granted Finance Minister Smotrich the authority to approve one of the stages, altering a system that had been in place for 27 years.
September 2023: Continued support for Qatari transfers to Gaza
According to the New York Times, as late as September 2023, Netanyahu continued to back Qatari payments to Gaza in response to Qatari questions, despite the policy's controversial nature.
October 2023: Criticism and calls for resignation following intelligence failure
In October 2023, Netanyahu faced criticism for presiding over what was considered Israel's biggest intelligence failure in 50 years, leading to protests and calls for his removal. A poll showed that 56% of Israelis believed Netanyahu should resign after the war. On 29 October, Netanyahu blamed Israel's security chiefs for Hamas's attack in a post on X (formerly Twitter), which was later deleted.
October 2023: Israel enters state of war against Hamas after major attack
On 7 October 2023, following a major surprise attack by Palestinian militants from Gaza, Netanyahu announced that Israel would enter a state of war against Hamas. He threatened severe retaliation, referred to Gaza as "the city of evil", and urged its residents to evacuate. He also proposed an emergency unity government.
November 2023: Rejection of ceasefire calls and warning to the world
In November 2023, Netanyahu rejected calls for a ceasefire in the war, warning that Israel would "stand firm against the world if necessary." He stated that the Israel Defense Forces would remain in Gaza "as long as necessary" and prevent the Palestinian Authority from returning to Gaza.
December 2023: Criticism from released hostages and comments on Palestinian migration
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. Also in December 2023, he suggested Israel should support the "voluntary migration" of Palestinians from Gaza.
May 2024: ICC Prosecutor's intention to seek 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 several counts of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
July 2024: Address to U.S. Congress and meeting with Donald Trump
In July 2024, Netanyahu addressed a joint session of the United States Congress amidst protests, seeking support for the Gaza war. He met with 2024 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago and criticized Kamala Harris for vowing to speak about atrocities in Gaza.
July 2024: Pakistan designates Netanyahu as a "terrorist"
In July 2024, Pakistan officially designated Benjamin Netanyahu a "terrorist", holding him responsible for atrocities in Gaza.
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 there were no casualties. He accused Hezbollah of attempting to assassinate him in the attack.
November 2024: Firing of defense minister and ICC arrest warrants
In November 2024, Netanyahu fired defense minister Gallant, triggering protests throughout Israel. Later in November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes during the Gaza war, which Netanyahu described as "absurd and false lies" and "antisemitic".
March 2025: Attack on Gaza and Postponement of Corruption Trial
In March 2025, Israel launched a surprise attack on the Gaza Strip. As a result of the attacks, Netanyahu's corruption trial, scheduled for 18 March, was postponed. Additionally, in March 2025, Netanyahu fired Ronen Bar, chief of Shin Bet.
May 2025: Statement on destruction of homes in Gaza leading to forced emigration
In May 2025, Netanyahu stated that the destruction of homes in Gaza would lead to the forced emigration of Palestinians.
June 2025: Netanyahu authorizes airstrikes against Iran.
On 13 June 2025, Netanyahu authorized airstrikes against Iran, marking the beginning of the Iran–Israel war. Netanyahu stated the goal of the operation was to dismantle Iran's nuclear capabilities, which he described as a "clear and present danger to Israel's very survival.".
August 2025: Statement on 'historic and spiritual mission' and Greater Israel
In August 2025, Netanyahu stated in an interview with i24NEWS that he was on a "historic and spiritual mission" and that he is "very" attached to the vision of Greater Israel, which includes the Palestinian territories.
September 2025: Rejection of Palestinian state west of the Jordan River
On 21 September 2025, Netanyahu rejected the existence of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River, stating he has prevented its establishment despite pressure.
November 2025: International arrest warrants issued by Turkey
On 7 November 2025, the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in Turkey issued international arrest warrants for Netanyahu and 36 other Israeli officials, accusing them of genocide and crimes against humanity in Gaza, based on Israel's attacks on Palestinian civilians, hospitals, infrastructure and the Global Sumud Flotilla.
2025: Shin Beth investigation into alleged ties with Qatar
In 2025, Shin Beth started an investigation into the alleged ties between Netanyahu's advisors and Qatar.
Mentioned in this timeline
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is a Russian politician and former intelligence...
Ukraine is a large country in Eastern Europe second in...
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is an American politician lawyer and...
The White House located at Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington...
Barack Obama the th U S President - was the...
Trending
23 minutes ago Johnny Depp Describes His Life with Vanessa Paradis as 'Blissful' in Recent Statement.
24 minutes ago Will Howard and Jack Sawyer: From College Rivals to Steelers Teammates Amid Brawl.
25 minutes ago Brian Hartline Rumors, Potential Replacements, and Chip Kelly's Impact Analyzed.
1 hour ago Julian Sayin: Ohio State's Key to Michigan Victory; Quarterback's Debut Anticipated
2 hours ago Chris Pratt Upholds Christmas Tradition for Katherine Schwarzenegger After Marital Agreement.
2 hours ago Ernest Hausmann questionable for Michigan vs. Ohio State game due to injury.
Popular
Aftyn Alyssa Behn is an American politician currently serving as...
William Franklin Graham III commonly known as Franklin Graham is...
Candace Owens is an American conservative political commentator and author...
XXXTentacion born Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy was a controversial yet...
Marjorie Taylor Greene known as MTG is a U S...
Richard Branson is a prominent English business magnate best known...