(1949- ) A Jewish
Israeli political figure. A long-time member of the Likud party, and considered one of
Israel's most right-wing leaders. Netanyahu has served in numerous governmental positions, including Ambassador to the United Nations from 1984-1988, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1988-1991, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's cabinet from 1990-1991, Minister of Finance from 2003-2005 and Prime Minister from 1996-1999 and 2009 to the present, as of June 2015. During his long political career, he has participated in several peace processes with the Palestinians and Arab states, such as the 1991
Madrid Conference the signing of the 1998 Wye River Memorandum - part of the Oslo Process- with
Palestinian Authority Chairman
Yasser Arafat in 1998, and more recent rounds of peace talks hosted by the United States; however, through most of this time he has rejected the principle of "land for peace." Only in June 2009 did Netanyahu first express support for the idea of a
Palestinian state, on conditions that it be demilitarized, and formally recognize Israel as a Jewish state. He resigned from his position as Finance Minister to protest the 2005
Gaza Disengagement and has often vowed to continue building and expanding Israeli settlements located in
East Jerusalem and the
West Bank. See "
There is no reason to trust Benjamin Netanyahu," Edo Konrad, +972Mag, March 19, 2015.