Benjamin Netanyahu, widely known by his nickname “Bibi,” is Israel’s longest-serving prime minister and one of the most closely watched leaders in the Middle East. His career spans military service in an elite special-forces unit, decades in Israeli politics, and an ongoing corruption trial that has run alongside his time in office. This article covers his age and background, his rise through Israeli politics, his family life, and where his legal proceedings stand as of 2026.
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Who Is Benjamin Netanyahu?
Benjamin Netanyahu was born on October 21, 1949, in Tel Aviv, Israel, into a family with deep roots in Zionist and academic circles.
As of 2026, Benjamin Netanyahu is 76 years old.
Part of his upbringing took place outside Israel. His family spent time in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where his father pursued academic work, and Netanyahu attended high school in the United States before returning to Israel after graduating in 1967.
Military Service
Shortly after returning to Israel, Netanyahu enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces. He served in Sayeret Matkal, one of Israel’s most elite special-operations units, where he participated in a number of high-risk missions, including the 1972 rescue operation aboard a hijacked Sabena airliner at Lod Airport. He continued his military involvement through the 1973 Yom Kippur War, eventually reaching the rank of captain in the reserves. His brother, Yonatan Netanyahu, also served in the same unit and was killed in 1976 while leading the famous Entebbe hostage-rescue raid in Uganda, an event that had a lasting influence on Netanyahu’s public life and political identity.
After leaving full-time military service, Netanyahu pursued higher education in the United States, earning a degree in architecture and later a master’s degree in management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Entry into Politics
Netanyahu’s political path began to take shape in the late 1970s and 1980s, when he took on diplomatic roles, including serving as Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations. This period introduced him to international media and diplomacy, skills that would define his later political style.
He formally entered domestic politics in 1988, winning a seat in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, as a member of the Likud party. He rose quickly within the party, eventually becoming its leader.
Rise to Prime Minister
Netanyahu first became prime minister in 1996, making him, at the time, one of the youngest people to hold the office. His first term lasted until 1999. He returned to the premiership in 2009 and went on to serve continuously until 2021, a run of twelve consecutive years that made him Israel’s longest-serving prime minister in history. During this extended period in power, his government navigated major security operations in Gaza, ongoing tensions over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Israel’s evolving relationships with the United States, Europe, and neighboring Arab states.
After a brief period out of office, Netanyahu returned to power once again in December 2022 at the head of a coalition government that included several far-right parties. This latest term has been marked by highly contentious domestic policy battles, most notably a push to overhaul the powers of Israel’s judiciary, which triggered mass protests across the country, as well as the war in Gaza that followed the October 7, 2023 attacks. By late 2024, in addition to his ongoing domestic legal troubles, Netanyahu was also wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity connected to the conduct of the war in Gaza.
Family Life
Netanyahu has been married three times. His first marriage, to Miriam Weizmann in 1972, ended in divorce in 1978; the couple had a daughter, Noa. He was briefly married to Fleur Cates between 1981 and 1984. Since 1991, he has been married to Sara Netanyahu (née Ben-Artzi), and the couple have two adult sons, Yair and Avner, both of whom have completed military service in the IDF. Sara Netanyahu has also faced her own legal scrutiny over the years, including cases related to the misuse of public funds, and the family has frequently found itself at the center of Israeli media coverage.
The 2026 Corruption Trial
Netanyahu is Israel’s first sitting prime minister to stand trial while in office. The case dates back to allegations that first surfaced publicly in 2016, with formal indictments filed by then-Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit in November 2019. He faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust across three separate cases, generally referred to as Case 1000, Case 2000, and Case 4000.
Case 1000 centers on allegations that Netanyahu and members of his family accepted lavish gifts from wealthy businessmen in exchange for favors. Case 2000 involves allegations that he negotiated with a major Israeli newspaper publisher to secure more favorable press coverage. Case 4000 alleges that he granted regulatory benefits to a telecommunications executive in exchange for positive coverage on a news site the executive controlled. Netanyahu denies all wrongdoing and has repeatedly described the proceedings as a politically motivated campaign against him.
The trial, which began in 2020, has been repeatedly delayed over the years, first due to the COVID-19 pandemic, later due to the aftermath of the October 7 attacks and the subsequent war, and more recently due to scheduling changes tied to Netanyahu’s official duties and cited security concerns. His testimony and cross-examination stretched across roughly 98 court hearings before concluding in June 2026. Around the same time, Israeli President Isaac Herzog made efforts to mediate a possible resolution to the case, including exploring a plea arrangement, though a formal pardon request was not granted outright.
In the following weeks, judges overseeing one of the cases indicated that prosecutors could consider dropping the bribery allegation while retaining the lesser breach-of-trust charge. As of mid-2026, the trial was expected to continue through the summer before pausing for the courts’ seasonal recess, with proceedings due to pick back up in the early autumn, not long before Israel’s scheduled general election.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Benjamin Netanyahu? Benjamin Netanyahu was born on October 21, 1949, making him 76 years old as of 2026.
What was Netanyahu’s role before entering politics? Before politics, he served in the Israeli military’s elite Sayeret Matkal unit and later worked as a diplomat, including a stint as Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations.
When did Netanyahu first become prime minister? He first became prime minister in 1996 and has since served multiple terms, including a continuous run from 2009 to 2021 and another term beginning in December 2022.
Is Benjamin Netanyahu the longest-serving prime minister in Israeli history? Yes. His combined time in office makes him the longest-serving prime minister in the country’s history.
What charges does Netanyahu face in his corruption trial? He faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust across three cases, commonly referred to as Case 1000, Case 2000, and Case 4000. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
What is the current status of the trial in 2026? Netanyahu’s testimony and cross-examination concluded in June 2026 after nearly a hundred hearings. The case was expected to continue through the summer before pausing for recess, with proceedings due to resume in the fall.
Has Netanyahu received a pardon? As of mid-2026, a formal pardon had not been granted, although mediation efforts led by Israel’s president explored the possibility of a negotiated resolution.
Is Netanyahu also facing international legal action? Yes. Separate from his domestic trial, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against him in relation to the conduct of the war in Gaza.
Who are Netanyahu’s family members? He has been married three times and has three children: a daughter, Noa, from his first marriage, and two sons, Yair and Avner, with his current wife, Sara Netanyahu.