Living person. According to our records, Benjamin Netanyahu is alive, so this timeline is open-ended. Recent events may be missing or awaiting verification, and details can change significantly.
See everyone currently living

Benjamin Netanyahu

21 October 1949 – present

Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician who has served as Prime Minister of Israel across multiple terms since 1996, making him the longest-serving holder of the office. Educated in the United States and a former officer in the Sayeret Matkal special forces unit, he was Israel's ambassador to the United Nations before entering domestic politics and taking the leadership of the Likud party in 1993.

Comparing
Compare

Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Benjamin Netanyahu.

Life events

Born in Tel Aviv
21 October 1949

Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, the second of three sons of the historian Benzion Netanyahu.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Family moves to the United States
1963

The family relocated to Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania, where he completed high school.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relocation ✓
Serves in the Sayeret Matkal special forces unit
1967 – 1972

Enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces and served in the Sayeret Matkal reconnaissance unit, reaching the rank of captain.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1972 – 1976

Earned a bachelor's degree in architecture and a master's degree from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Education ✓
Appointed Israeli ambassador to the United Nations
1984 – 1988

Represented Israel at the United Nations in New York for four years.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Elected leader of the Likud party
1993

Won the first direct leadership primary held by Likud.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Becomes Prime Minister of Israel for the first time
June 1996 – July 1999

Took office after narrowly defeating Shimon Peres in the 1996 election, serving until 1999.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Serves as Minister of Finance
2003 – 2005

Held the finance portfolio in Ariel Sharon's government and oversaw a programme of economic liberalisation.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Returns as Prime Minister for a second period in office
March 2009 – June 2021

Formed a government in 2009 and remained prime minister until June 2021.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Returns to office as Prime Minister after the 2022 election
December 2022

Sworn in at the head of a coalition government in December 2022.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓