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Raised in [[Jerusalem]], Benjamin Netanyahu received his high school education in the United States when he moved with his parents to Cheltenham, [[Pennsylvania]], a suburb of [[Philadelphia]]. To this day Prime Minister Netanyahu speaks fluent English with an American accent. Even as an adult, he is often referred to as his boyhood nickname "Bibi".<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/02/20/idUSL8592809 FACTBOX-Five facts about Benjamin Netanyahu] Reuters, February 20, 2009</ref>  Additionally, Netanyahu's father was a professor of Jewish history at [[Cornell University]]. He returned to Israel in 1967 and enlisted in the Israeli Defense Forces and participated in the Yom Kippur War, where he reached the rank of captain. Netanyahu would go on to continue to live in the United States when he received a Bachelor's degree in architecture from the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] in 1975, a Master's degree in business management from MIT, and would go on to study political science at MIT and [[Harvard University]]. Netanyahu joined Boston Consulting Group, an international business consulting firm and later senior management of Rim Industries in Jerusalem.

Raised in [[Jerusalem]], Benjamin Netanyahu received his high school education in the United States when he moved with his parents to Cheltenham, [[Pennsylvania]], a suburb of [[Philadelphia]]. To this day Prime Minister Netanyahu speaks fluent English with an American accent. Even as an adult, he is often referred to as his boyhood nickname "Bibi".<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/02/20/idUSL8592809 FACTBOX-Five facts about Benjamin Netanyahu] Reuters, February 20, 2009</ref>  Additionally, Netanyahu's father was a professor of Jewish history at [[Cornell University]]. He returned to Israel in 1967 and enlisted in the Israeli Defense Forces and participated in the Yom Kippur War, where he reached the rank of captain. Netanyahu would go on to continue to live in the United States when he received a Bachelor's degree in architecture from the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] in 1975, a Master's degree in business management from MIT, and would go on to study political science at MIT and [[Harvard University]]. Netanyahu joined Boston Consulting Group, an international business consulting firm and later senior management of Rim Industries in Jerusalem.

==Political Career==

==Political career==

In 1979 and 1984 Mr. Netanyahu initiated two international conferences that emphasized the need to fight against terrorist organizations and regimes that provide them support. Members included Vice President [[George H.W. Bush]] and Secretary of State [[George Shultz]]. <ref>http://www.zionism-israel.com/bio/Benjamin_Nethanyahu.htm</ref> After serving as deputy chief of mission at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC., he was appointed Israel's ambassador to the [[United Nations]]. During his tenure he fought for the declassification of the United Nations archives on crimes committed by [[Nazi]] [[Germany]].  

In 1979 and 1984 Mr. Netanyahu initiated two international conferences that emphasized the need to fight against terrorist organizations and regimes that provide them support. Members included Vice President [[George H.W. Bush]] and Secretary of State [[George Shultz]].<ref>http://www.zionism-israel.com/bio/Benjamin_Nethanyahu.htm</ref> After serving as deputy chief of mission at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC., he was appointed Israel's ambassador to the [[United Nations]]. During his tenure he fought for the declassification of the United Nations archives on crimes committed by [[Nazi]] [[Germany]].  

==Prime Minister of Israel==

==Prime Minister of Israel==

In 1988, Netanyahu returned to Israel and was elected as a member of the [[Knesset]], the legislator of Israel. During the 1991 [[Persian Gulf War]] Netanyahu was a member of Israeli delegation to the Madrid Peace Conference, which was the first direct negotiations between Israel and [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], and a joint [[Jordanian]]-[[Palestinian]] delegation. In 1993, Netanyahu became chairman of the right-of-center Likud party. He was elected Israel's 9th Prime Minister in 1996 and sworn in after the approval of the Knesset. During his three year term the number of terror attacks  in Israel drastically decreased. On economics he governed as a free-market conservative, accelerated privatization of government-owned companies and reduced the budget deficit. By the time of Netanyahu's reelection he had alienated the political left, while also the political right for his negotiations with [[Yasser Arafat]] and the Palestinians. He was defeated in May 1999 by Ehud Barak.  

In 1988, Netanyahu returned to Israel and was elected as a member of the [[Knesset]], the legislator of Israel. During the 1991 [[Persian Gulf War]] Netanyahu was a member of Israeli delegation to the Madrid Peace Conference, which was the first direct negotiations between Israel and [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], and a joint [[Jordanian]]-[[Palestinian]] delegation. In 1993, Netanyahu became chairman of the right-of-center Likud party. He was elected Israel's 9th Prime Minister in 1996 and sworn in after the approval of the Knesset. During his three year term the number of terror attacks  in Israel drastically decreased. On economics he governed as a free-market conservative, accelerated privatization of government-owned companies and reduced the budget deficit. By the time of Netanyahu's reelection he had alienated the political left, while also the political right for his negotiations with [[Yasser Arafat]] and the Palestinians. He was defeated in May 1999 by Ehud Barak.  

[[Image:BenjaminNetanyahu452.jpg|right|Benjamin Netanyahu press conference, 02/20/09.|thumb]]

[[Image:BenjaminNetanyahu452.jpg|right|Benjamin Netanyahu press conference, 02/20/09.|thumb]]

From 2003 through 2005 Netanyahu served as Finance Minister in the [[Ariel Sharon]] administration. He advocated policies that reduced government, strengthened the private sector, cut taxes, and privatized pensions. During his tenure [[unemployment]] dropped and the Israeli economy went from shrinking 1% to growing 4.2% in 2004. <ref>http://www.netanyahu.org/biography.html</ref> On February 10, 2009 legislative elections, the right-wing parties won a majority of seats in the Knesset, and they selected Netanyahu to serve a second term as Prime Minister. He was sworn in on March 13, 2009.

From 2003 through 2005 Netanyahu served as Finance Minister in the [[Ariel Sharon]] administration. He advocated policies that reduced government, strengthened the private sector, cut taxes, and privatized pensions. During his tenure [[unemployment]] dropped and the Israeli economy went from shrinking 1% to growing 4.2% in 2004.<ref>http://www.netanyahu.org/biography.html</ref> On February 10, 2009 legislative elections, the right-wing parties won a majority of seats in the Knesset, and they selected Netanyahu to serve a second term as Prime Minister. He was sworn in on March 13, 2009.

==2009 Speech at the United Nations==

==2009 Speech at the United Nations==