Netanyahu leads Israel during conflict with Hamas and Hezbollah

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, is currently leading the country during its conflict with Hamas in Gaza and military actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon. He has been a dominant figure in Israeli politics for decades. Netanyahu first entered politics in 1988 as a member of the right-wing Likud party. He became prime minister in 1996, returning to power in November 2022 with a far-right coalition after a period of political instability and multiple elections. Under Netanyahu, the Israeli-Palestinian peace process has stalled, with increased settlement expansion in the West Bank. While facing criticism for his handling of the current conflict, recent military actions have improved his popularity among some Israelis.