City
Epaper

Netanyahu becomes Israel's longest-serving PM

By IANS | Published: July 20, 2019 12:12 PM

Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday became Israel's longest-serving Prime Minister, surpassing the record set by the country's founding father, David Ben Gurion.

Open in App

Netanyahu has led for 13 years and 127 days - one day more than Gurion, Israel's first prime minister.

He has held this role for 4,873 of Israel's 25,981 days of existence, which represents nearly 19 per cent of the country's entire history, The Jerusalem Post reported.

He secured his fifth term earlier this year but has called fresh elections after failing to form a government.

Netanyahu is currently facing a series of possible corruption charges and calls for him to resign. He has denied any wrongdoing and alleges that the case is politically motivated.

He won his first election in 1996, becoming Israel's youngest-ever prime minister at the age of 46. He is also the first leader born after the creation of the state in 1948.

As head of the right-wing Likud party, Netanyahu has a reputation as a hardliner on the Israel-Palestinian peace process, the BBC reported.

Although he carried out a partial withdrawal from the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank in 1998 - handing most of it over to the Palestinian authority - he is a staunch opponent of the land-for-peace formula.

He has since declared there will be no more evacuations of Jewish settlers or settlements under his rule, nor the creation of a full-fledged Palestinian state.

While Netanyahu remains popular with his party base, he is a divisive figure in Israel, where critics see him as venal and even anti-democratic.

He faces a tough challenge from political opponents, including former Prime Minster Ehud Barak and a former military chief-of-staff, who are seeking to topple him in the elections on September 17.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: israelNetanyahuGurionEhud BarakThe Jerusalem Post
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalIraqi Shiite Militia Claims Missile Attack on Haifa in Northern Israel

InternationalIsraeli Forces Kill Three Palestinians, Seize Weapons in West Bank Raid

InternationalIsrael Establishes New Iron Dome Battalion amid Rising Drone Attacks from Lebanon

InternationalHezbollah Shoots Down Israeli Drone over Lebanon

InternationalIsrael-Hamas War: At Least 150 Palestinians Killed in Israeli Strikes at Nuseirat Refugee Camp; Four Hostages Rescued in Gaza

International Realted Stories

InternationalTaiwan detects six Chinese military aircraft, seven naval vessels near its territory

InternationalUS: Eight, including two children injured in Michigan shooting; suspect found dead

InternationalQuad has transformed from budding security dialogue into multifaceted partnership with larger goals: Report

InternationalIsrael Defense Force Says 8 Soldiers Killed in Blast in Gaza’s Rafah

InternationalAwami Muslim League chief accuses General Bajwa of toppling Imran Khan-led govt