Benjamin Netanyahu makes history as Israel’s longest-serving leader

As Benjamin Netanyahu becomes Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, he is solidifying his place as country’s greatest political survivor and most dominant force in Israeli politics in his generation.

He has persevered through scandals, crises and conflicts, winning election after election even as country grows more bitterly polarized. His supporters credit him with keeping Israel safe and prosperous, maintaining its Jewish character and boosting its standing internationally.

His opponents, with equally visceral emotion, claim he has dashed hopes for peace with Palestinians, torn society apart with vicious attacks on mirity Arabs and left-wing opponents, and infused politics with a culture of corruption.

But as longevity of his 13-year rule is set to surpass that of Israel’s founding far David Ben-Gurion on July 20, all agree Netanyahu has left a permanent imprint on Israel.

“He thinks that he is right guy in right place. That he is one who will save Israel and le Israel to a safe haven,” said Aviv Bushinsky, a former Netanyahu aide. Israelis think that “things are good, so why should we change a winning horse,” he ded.

Just as he is about to cross a milestone, Netanyahu faces perhaps his greatest political challenge yet. After failing to form a parliamentary majority following April elections, country is holding a repeat vote on Sept. 17. following month, he faces a hearing with Israel’s attorney general, who has recommended indicting Netanyahu on corruption charges. If formal charges are filed, Netanyahu could be forced to step aside.

In contrast to his predecessors, 69-year-old hasn’t left his mark by winning a war or signing a peace accord. He has proudly resisted various peace initiatives and allowed West Bank settlements to flourish. signature achievements most associated with him, such as combatting Iran’s nuclear program, covertly striking weapons shipments to Israel’s enemies and building a border fence to stop flow of African migrants, h begun taking shape before he assumed office.

“His rule has been characterized by conservatism and hesitancy,” said opposition lawmaker Tamar Zandberg. “If he is going to be remembered for anything it’s going to be his idleness.”

Netanyahu has often said he would like to be remembered as “protector of Israel.” But mirers and critics alike say that what sets him apart is his unparalleled political acumen, a ruthless drive to win at all costs and an uncanny ability to sell his shifting policies to public.

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“He so deeply believes in himself and what he is doing, and his marketing skills are so amazing that he can argue for one thing and n opposite with same conviction. It’s an art form,” said Bushinsky.

A gifted orator in both English and Hebrew, he was elected for a single term in late 1990s on a platform of opposing Oslo accords with Palestinians. But once in office, he continued implementing m and even met with arch-enemy Yasser Arafat.

As finance minister in early 2000s, he cut taxes and rolled back entitlements to ultra-Orthodox Jewish community — only to reverse course once he returned to power to secure ir political backing. He wrote counterterrorism books in which he preached never to negotiate under threat, but as prime minister he released more than 1,000 prisoners in exchange for a single captive Israeli soldier in 2011.

Despite his tough talk, Netanyahu has shown relative moderation when it comes to using military force. Over past year, he has resisted calls by hard-line constituents to strike harder against Gaza militants.

Even after so long in power, Netanyahu has maintained an outsider im, railing at perceived enemies in media, judiciary and opposition. His tactics have mirrored those of his good friend, President Donald Trump, as well as or right-wing populist leers like Hungary’s Viktor Orban and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro — both of whom he has welcomed to Israel.

anti-establishment rhetoric, along with occasional incitement against country’s Arab mirity and political left, has played well among his base of tritional, working-class voters.

son of a historian — and a keen student of history himself — Netanyahu alrey holds record for being Israel’s youngest elected prime minister and for serving longest consecutive term.

Anshel Pfeffer, a columnist at Haaretz daily and author of a Netanyahu biography, called prime minister an “incredibly good political strategist” who has presided over a period of prosperity and relative quiet. Netanyahu often boasts of expanding ties with countries that once shunned Israel — including Arab states that share Israel’s enmity toward Iran — while rejecting demands for a Palestinian state.

“If you want one ideological legacy it’s that he has broken parigm that we need to end occupation or else we will be isolated,” said Pfeffer. “He has proven that is t true.”

Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said Netanyahu will be remembered as one who “buried” peace process and paved way to a future aparid state by deepening Israel’s control over West Bank, which it captured in 1967 Mideast war. “I think his legacy will be his success in making sure that any ray of hope to achieve peace based on two states along 1967 border is blocked,” he said.

In confronting President Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran in a brazen 2015 speech to Congress, Netanyahu also debunked conventional wisdom that an Israeli leer could t survive an open clash with an American president. Since Trump’s election in 2016, Netanyahu has enjoyed unprecedented backing, drawing frequent accusations of partisanship.

“ combination of a very difficult relationship with Obama ministration and exaggerated embrace of Trump potentially create a rift in quality of U.S.-Israel relations,” ted Dan Shapiro, Obama’s former ambassor to Israel. “When pendulum swings in or direction that will also be part of his legacy.”

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