Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician who has served as Prime Minister of Israel on five separate occasions, making him the longest-serving Prime Minister in Israeli history. He is also the leader of the Likud party, a right-wing political party. Early Life and Education Netanyahu was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, on October 21, 1949. His father, Benzion Netanyahu, was a historian and Zionist activist, and his mother, Zehava Netanyahu, was a translator and educator. Netanyahu's family moved to the United States when he was six years old, and he grew up in Philadelphia and New York City. Netanyahu returned to Israel in 1967 to join the Israel Defense Forces. He served in the Sayeret Matkal, an elite special forces unit, and took part in several military operations. After his military service, Netanyahu studied architecture and political science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Political Career Netanyahu began his political career in the 1970s as an advisor to several Israeli Prime Ministers. He was elected to the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, in 1988, and he has served in various ministerial positions, including Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Netanyahu was first elected Prime Minister in 1996. He served one term before being defeated by Ehud Barak in 1999. Netanyahu returned to office as Prime Minister in 2009, and he has served in that position ever since. He is the first Israeli Prime Minister to be elected to a third consecutive term. Political Views Netanyahu is a right-wing politician who is known for his hawkish views on security. He is a strong supporter of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, and he has opposed the creation of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu has also been critical of the Iran nuclear deal, and he has called for tougher sanctions on Iran. Current Crisis Netanyahu is currently facing a number of challenges, including a criminal corruption investigation, a series of protests against his government, and a new coalition government that is seeking to replace him. In 2019, Netanyahu was indicted on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. He has denied all wrongdoing, and the trial is still ongoing. In 2021, Israel was rocked by a series of protests against Netanyahu's government. The protests were sparked by a number of factors, including the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, its economic policies, and its corruption scandals. In 2023, a new coalition government was formed in Israel. The coalition government is composed of eight parties, including the centrist Yesh Atid party, the right-wing Yamina party, and the Arab-Israeli Ra'am party. The coalition government is seeking to replace Netanyahu as Prime Minister. Legacy Netanyahu is a controversial figure, but there is no doubt that he has had a major impact on Israeli politics. He is a skilled politician who has been able to maintain his grip on power for a long time. However, he is also facing a number of challenges, and it remains to be seen whether he will be able to maintain his position as Prime Minister. Thanks for listening to Quiet Please. Remember to like and share wherever you get your podcasts.