Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu (born 21 October 1949) is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2022. Leader of the Likud party and Israel's longest-serving prime minister, he previously held the office in 1996–1999 and 2009–2021.
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu (born 21 October 1949 in Tel Aviv) is an Israeli politician and the leader of the Likud party. He is Israel's longest-serving prime minister, having held the office across three periods: 1996–1999, 2009–2021, and again since December 2022.
First elected in 1996, he became the youngest person and the first person born in the State of Israel to hold the post. Earlier in his career he served as Israel's ambassador to the United Nations (1984–1988).
Since 2020 Netanyahu has been a defendant in a corruption trial on charges of fraud, breach of trust, and bribery (Cases 1000, 2000 and 4000); he denies wrongdoing, and proceedings remained ongoing as of 2026. According to Wikipedia and Britannica, in November 2025 he submitted a pardon request to President Isaac Herzog, which was under review in 2026.
President Donald Trump will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at 16:30 Jerusalem time on Tuesday, followed by a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at 18:00, Channel 12's Asaf Rozentzweig reports. The Wall Street Journal reported that Zelensky's standing with Trump is particularly high due to Ukraine's battlefield success, and that Trump recently told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call he expects a near-term end to the war.
WashingtonDonald TrumpJerusalem
1 source· 4 developments· 01:16–09:58
The Zioneer Intelligence DeskInitially reportedUpdated2 hours ago
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Tuesday on 103FM that he does not understand why Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not declared Qatar an enemy state, suggesting the reason may be related to ties between Netanyahu's office and Qatar. Bennett also claimed that hundreds of people in Israel receive money from Qatar and work to advance Qatari interests.
The US government supports a phased withdrawal of IDF forces from Lebanon under a framework agreement that conditions the pullout on Hezbollah's disarmament, according to Israeli media reports. Prime Minister Netanyahu departed for Washington on Monday for talks with President Trump, expected to focus on Iran and the Lebanon front.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called on residents Monday night to take to the streets when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in New York, according to reports.
A vote on MKs' candidacy in districts passed Monday evening by a narrow margin of six votes, according to reports. The specific details of the vote, including which party or committee conducted it, remain unclear.
2 sources· 2 developments· 23:04–23:07
The Zioneer Intelligence DeskInitially reportedUpdated12 hours ago
Vote results from the Rishon LeZion branch of the Likud party, reported Monday evening, show a decisive defeat for Prime Minister Netanyahu's proposals, with margins of roughly 3-to-1 against. The branch is headed by MK David Bitan, who has opposed the leadership's list.