Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Benjamin Netanyahu
Public opinion and media debates around Benjamin Netanyahu—discover key moments of controversy.
Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician who currently serves as the prime minister of Israel (since 2022) and previously held the office twice (1996-1999, 2009-2021). As the longest-serving prime minister in Israeli history, he has held the position for a total of over 17 years. His political career has significantly shaped Israeli politics and foreign policy.
1978: Affair with Fleur Cates
In 1978, Netanyahu began an affair with Fleur Cates, leading to his divorce from Miriam Weizmann.
1993: Confession of Affair with Ruth Bar
In 1993, Netanyahu confessed on live television to having an affair with Ruth Bar, his public relations advisor, citing political blackmail.
1993: Authored "Trojan Horse" chapter opposing Oslo Accords
In 1993, Netanyahu dedicated a chapter of his book A Place Among the Nations, entitled "Trojan Horse", to argue against the Oslo peace process.
1993: Legal Precedent Set by Supreme Court
In 1993, legal precedent was set by the Israeli Supreme Court, which Netanyahu complied with in November 2019 by relinquishing his agriculture, health, social affairs and diaspora affairs portfolios.
1995: Fighting Terrorism: How Democracies Can Defeat Domestic and International Terrorism
In his 1995 book, "Fighting Terrorism: How Democracies Can Defeat Domestic and International Terrorism", Netanyahu advocated for tightening immigration laws in the West as a method to combat terrorism.
1996: Opening of Western Wall Tunnel Exit
In 1996, Benjamin Netanyahu and Jerusalem's mayor Ehud Olmert decided to open an exit in the Arab Quarter for the Western Wall Tunnel, sparking rioting.
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 attempt failed, leading to a diplomatic crisis and the release of Jordanian and Palestinian prisoners. The Mossad team entered Jordan on September 27, 1997.
1997: Police Recommendation for Indictment on Corruption Charges
In 1997, police recommended that Netanyahu be indicted on corruption charges for influence-peddling. He was accused of appointing an attorney general who would reduce the charges 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 related to $100,000 in free services from a government contractor. Israel's attorney general did not prosecute, citing difficulties with evidence.
2000: Case 2000 Involves Deal with Publisher Arnon Mozes
In 2000, Case 2000 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, Israel Hayom, in exchange for more favorable coverage of Netanyahu.
September 2002: Speech Canceled Due to Protests in Montreal
On September 9, 2002, a scheduled speech by Netanyahu at Concordia University in Montreal was canceled after pro-Palestinian protesters overwhelmed security. Netanyahu accused the activists of supporting terrorism and "mad zealotry".
October 2002: Protests Met Netanyahu Outside his Heinz Hall Appearance in Pittsburgh
On October 1, 2002 around 200 protesters met Netanyahu outside his Heinz Hall appearance in Pittsburgh although Pittsburgh Police, Israeli security and a Pittsburgh SWAT unit allowed his speeches to continue downtown at the hall and the Duquesne Club as well as suburban Robert Morris University.
August 2009: Repeating Claims from the Palestinians
On 9 August 2009, speaking at the opening of a government meeting, Netanyahu repeated his claims from the Palestinians regarding recognition of Israel and security settlements.
September 2009: UN General Assembly Speech on Iran
On 24 September 2009, Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly, expressing concerns about Iran's regime and its nuclear ambitions, framing it as a threat to global civilization.
2011: Sarkozy and Obama's Comments on Netanyahu
During the 2011 G-20 Cannes summit, French president Nicolas Sarkozy was overheard telling U.S. President Barack Obama that he could not bear Netanyahu, calling him a liar. Obama reportedly responded that he had to deal with Netanyahu every day.
September 2012: UN General Assembly Speech on Iran's Nuclear Program
On 28 September 2012, Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly, setting forward a "red line" of 90% uranium enrichment for Iran, using a cartoon graphic of a bomb to illustrate the perceived threat.
2012: Warning Against Iranian Nuclear Bomb
Early in 2012, Netanyahu used Israel's Holocaust Remembrance Day to warn against the dangers of an Iranian nuclear bomb, drawing criticism for his use of the Holocaust for political purposes.
2012: Prevention of Infiltration Law Passed
In 2012, the Netanyahu government passed the "Prevention of Infiltration Law", mandating automatic detention for individuals entering Israel without permission. Amnesty International criticized the law.
May 2013: Conflicting Promises to Wultz Family and China
In May 2013, prior to a state visit to China, Netanyahu reportedly made conflicting promises regarding cooperation in the terror-financing case against Bank of China, creating a dilemma between commitments to the Wultz family and the Chinese government.
August 2013: Congressional Delegation to Israel
In August 2013, Ros-Lehtinen, chair of the House Middle East and South Asia subcommittee, raised the issue while leading a congressional delegation to Israel, stressing to Israeli officials the importance of them providing the Wultz family what they need for their lawsuit.
October 2013: Remarks on Iranian Regime and Nuclear Weapons
In an October 2013 interview with BBC Persian Service, Netanyahu stated that if the Iranian regime possesses nuclear weapons, the Iranian people will never be free of dictatorship.
April 2014: Netanyahu criticizes Palestinian unity government
In April 2014, Netanyahu voiced strong concerns about the agreement and subsequent formation of a unity government between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, also criticizing the US and European governments for working with the coalition.
October 2014: Government Approves Privatization Plan and Criticizes Settlement Criticism
In October 2014, Netanyahu's government approved a privatization plan to reduce corruption and politicization, also that month, Netanyahu criticized American values, leading to a sharp rebuke from the White House.
October 2014: Obama Administration Official's Criticism
In October 2014, an Obama administration official called Netanyahu a "chickenshit" after Netanyahu accused President Obama of "acting contrary to American values".
November 2014: Strained Relationship with Obama Administration
By November 2014, the relationship between Netanyahu and the Obama administration had become so strained that Israel planned to wait until a new U.S. president was elected before attempting to repair it.
January 2015: Netanyahu Invited to Address US Congress
In January 2015, Netanyahu was invited to address the US Congress for the third time, and tried to derail a meeting between U.S. lawmakers and the head of Mossad.
March 2015: Reactions to Netanyahu's Speech
Leading up to the speech on 3 March 2015, Israeli consuls general in the United States expected a negative reaction from U.S. Jewish communities and Israel's allies due to the arrangement and timing of the speech.
October 2015: Netanyahu Claims Mufti Gave Hitler Idea for Holocaust
In October 2015, Netanyahu faced widespread criticism for claiming that the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, inspired Hitler to exterminate Jews, a claim dismissed by historians and criticized by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
2015: Response to Ethiopian Jewish Protests
In 2015, after Ethiopian Jewish protests against police brutality, Netanyahu pledged to bring a comprehensive plan to the government to combat racism and discrimination in Israeli society.
2015: Comments on Palestinian State
In 2015, as election day approached, Netanyahu stated that a Palestinian state would not be established in his term, citing concerns about yielding territory to radical Islamic terrorists, but reiterated his support for a peaceful, sustainable two-state solution.
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.
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. The U.S. abstained from the vote. Netanyahu's office alleged that the Obama administration colluded with the UN against Israel.
December 2016: US Abstains from UN Security Council Resolution
On 23 December 2016, the United States abstained from United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, allowing it to pass, leading to criticism from Netanyahu.
January 2017: Israeli Government Withdraws Dues from the UN
On 6 January 2017, the Israeli government withdrew its annual dues, totaling $6 million, from the United Nations following criticism of Israel's settlement policies.
January 2017: Police Investigation into Cases 1000 and 2000
Since January 2017, Netanyahu has been under investigation and questioned by Israeli police in "Case 1000" and "Case 2000", involving allegations of inappropriate favors from businessmen and attempts to strike a deal for favorable media coverage.
May 2017: Showed Trump a fake and altered video
On 22 May 2017, Rex Tillerson stated that Netanyahu showed Donald Trump a fake and altered video of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas calling for the killing of children.
August 2017: Police Confirm Netanyahu Suspected of Crimes
On 3 August 2017, Israeli police confirmed for the first time that Netanyahu was suspected of crimes involving fraud, breach of trust, and bribes in cases "1000" and "2000".
October 2017: Israel Announces Withdrawal from UNESCO
In October 2017, Netanyahu's government announced its decision to leave UNESCO, citing anti-Israel actions by the agency.
December 2017: Israel Officially Withdraws from UNESCO
In December 2017, the Israeli government officially notified UNESCO of its withdrawal, following the initial announcement in October 2017.
2017: Call for Death Penalty
In 2017, Netanyahu called for the death penalty to be imposed on the perpetrator of the 2017 Halamish stabbing attack.
January 2018: Preliminary Vote on Death Penalty Bill
In January 2018, a preliminary vote in the Knesset favored a bill allowing the death penalty for terrorism, marking a step towards potential legislative change.
February 2018: Police Recommend Indicting Netanyahu for Corruption
On 13 February 2018, Israeli police recommended that Netanyahu be charged with corruption, citing sufficient evidence to indict him on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in two cases.
April 2018: Erdoğan's Criticism of Netanyahu and Israel
In April 2018, Turkish President Erdoğan called Israel a "terror state" and Netanyahu a "terrorist".
April 2018: Netanyahu Accuses Iran of Violating Nuclear Deal
On 30 April 2018, Netanyahu accused Iran of not upholding its end of the Iran nuclear deal, presenting a cache of documents detailing Iran's nuclear program; Iran dismissed the presentation as "propaganda".
July 2018: Knesset Passed the Nation-State Bill
On 19 July 2018, the Knesset passed the Nation-State Bill, a Basic Law supported by Netanyahu's coalition government.
November 2018: Recommendation to Indict for Both Cases
On 25 November 2018, Economic Crimes Division Director Liat Ben-Ari recommended indictment for both cases against Netanyahu.
2018: Controversy over Polish Holocaust Law and Comments
In early 2018, a new Polish law criminalized suggestions of Polish complicity in Holocaust-related crimes. Later in 2018, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki's comment regarding Jewish perpetrators in the Holocaust was called "outrageous" by Netanyahu.
February 2019: Attorney General Announces Intent to File Indictments
On 28 February 2019, the Israeli attorney general announced his intent to file indictments against Netanyahu on bribe and fraud charges in three different cases.
April 2019: Brokered deal with Otzma Yehudit party
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.
November 2019: Netanyahu Formally Indicted
Netanyahu was formally indicted on 21 November 2019, potentially facing up to 10 years in prison for bribery and three years for fraud and breach of trust, making him the first sitting prime minister in Israel's history to be charged with a crime.
2019: Indictment on Corruption Charges
In 2019, Benjamin Netanyahu was indicted on charges of breach of trust, bribery, and fraud.
2019: Supported bolstering Hamas
In 2019, Netanyahu said 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. This is part of our strategy – to isolate the Palestinians in Gaza from the Palestinians in the West Bank."
January 2020: Netanyahu Officially Charged
Netanyahu was officially charged on 28 January 2020, following the announcement of intent to file indictments in February 2019 and the formal indictment in November 2019.
May 2020: Criminal Trial Set to Begin
Netanyahu's criminal trial was set to begin on 24 May 2020, after being delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2022: Settlement housing units advanced
In 2022, settlement housing units construction tripled.
February 2023: Government approved legalization of settler outposts
In February 2023, the new government under Netanyahu approved the legalization of nine settler outposts in the occupied West Bank.
March 2023: Repealed 2005 law on dismantled settlements
In March 2023, Netanyahu's government repealed a 2005 law regarding the dismantling of four Israeli settlements as part of the Israeli disengagement from Gaza.
April 2023: Criminal Trial Ongoing
As of April 2023, Netanyahu's criminal trial, initially set to begin in May 2020, was still ongoing.
June 2023: Coalition shortened settlement construction approval
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.
September 2023: Continued backing the payments in response to Qatari questions
According to the New York Times, Netanyahu continued backing the payments in response to Qatari questions as late as September 2023.
October 2023: Criticism over intelligence failure
In October 2023, Netanyahu faced criticism for presiding over what was described as Israel's biggest intelligence failure in 50 years, leading to increased opposition and calls for his resignation.
November 2023: Rejection of ceasefire calls
In November 2023, Netanyahu rejected calls for a ceasefire in the war, asserting Israel's resolve and its intention to remain in Gaza as long as necessary.
December 2023: Criticism during meeting with released hostages
In December 2023, Netanyahu faced criticism from released Israeli hostages, with one accusing him of prioritizing politics over the return of the kidnapped. He also suggested supporting the "voluntary migration" of Palestinians from Gaza.
December 2023: Accusation of Genocide in Gaza
In December 2023, Netanyahu's government faced accusations of genocide in Gaza, culminating in the South Africa v. Israel case before the International Court of Justice.
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 counts of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
July 2024: Addressed joint session of US Congress
In July 2024, Netanyahu addressed another joint session of the United States Congress amidst widespread protest, to solicit support for the Gaza war.
July 2024: Officially designated him a "terrorist"
In July 2024, Pakistan officially designated him a "terrorist", calling him responsible for the atrocities in Gaza.
November 2024: ICC Arrest Warrant
In November 2024, The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu along with others, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity as part of the ICC investigation in Palestine.
2025: Shin Beth started an investigation
In 2025, Shin Beth started an investigation into the alleged ties between Netanyahu's advisors and Qatar.
