Benjamin Netanyahu was born in Tel Aviv in 1949, shortly after the founding of the State of Israel. He spent much of his youth in the United States pursuing his education before returning to Israel following the death of his older brother. Drawing on his military background, he moved into public life and became Israel's ambassador to the United Nations in 1984, where he built a reputation as a strong advocate for his country.

Netanyahu entered domestic politics in the early 1990s, becoming leader of the Likud party in 1993 and prime minister in 1996. Over the decades, he has served multiple terms, making him Israel's longest-serving prime minister. Throughout his leadership, he has portrayed himself as the nation's protector, particularly on matters of security.

In recent years, however, allegations of corruption and concerns over national security failures have divided public opinion. His response to the conflict in Gaza following the October 7 attacks by Hamas has drawn criticism both within Israel and internationally. Now aligned with United States President Donald Trump in launching what they describe as major combat operations against Iran, Netanyahu faces renewed scrutiny over whether this conflict will reinforce his image as 'Mr Security' or deepen regional instability.