Benjamin Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu is the prime minister of Israel, and assumed office on April 1, 2009. He previously served as Israel's prime minister from 1996-1999. Netanyahu is the leader of the Likud Party of Israel.

Netanyahu delivered a speech on June 14, 2009, and for the first time, endorsed the creation of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu set forth specific conditions, including the demilitarization of Palestinian territories and said Palestine would have to recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people. The White House hailed Netanyahu's speech as "an important step forward" in the Mid-East peace process.http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/14/white-house-calls-netanyahu-speech-important-step-forward/

Famous for hawkish positions on the plight of the Palestinians, Netanyahu has been viewed as less inclined to negotiate a peace settlement. On May 4, 2009, Netanyahu told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee that he was eager to begin peace talks with the Palestinians "without any delay and without any preconditions." However, his statement omitted any reference to an independent Palestinian state—a concept that has become mainstream, both in Israel and abroad.Reuters: Netanyahu says ready for peace talks right away (May 4, 2009)

Israel held a general election when Kadima leader Tzipi Livni failed to form a new government after the departure of former Kadima leader and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Netanyahu and Livni represented the opposing parties during the election. After the final vote count it was announced on February 12, 2009, that Livni won the vote count. However, both Livni and Netanyahu still failed to get the majority needed to govern. President Shimon Peres then announced that he had chosen Netanyahu as prime minister because he had a better chance to form a coalition. Netanyahu's Likud Party partnered with the center Labor Party, led by Ehud Barak, and three other right-wing parties.Los Angeles Times: In Israel, Netanyahu and super-sized Cabinet sworn in (April 1, 2009)

In December 2008, Israel launched air strikes on the Gaza Strip to stop Palestinian militants from firing rockets into Israel. Netanyahu talked about how he would approach the conflict, if his party wins the election in 2009, in an interview. Netanyahu said that ending the Hamas administration in the Gaza Strip would be a top priority and that it would be done "with all the means necessary to achieve it".Reuters: Israel's Netanyahu says Hamas must be uprooted (December 30, 2008)

In March 2009, after it was clear that Netanyahu would become the next Prime Minister of Israel, he said that his government would be "a partner of peace" to the Palestinians. In his speech to the Israeli Parliament when taking office on April 1, 2009, Netanyahu said that his government would give Palestinians "all the powers necessary to rule themselves, except those that would threaten Israel's existence and security."Los Angeles Times: In Israel, Netanyahu and super-sized Cabinet sworn in (April 1, 2009)

On May 18, 2009, President Obama and Netanyahu met, in Washington, for the first time since both took office. The two men discussed their differences in an Israeli two-state solution, regarding peace in the region, and the nuclear advancements of Iran.CNN: ...U.S.-Israeli disagreements(May 18, 2009)