In a viral video, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded sharply to a question he was asked which compared him to James Bond. “Am I aware of the comparison? Well, nonsense. It’s Netanyahu; Benjamin Netanyahu,” said Netanyahu, exhibiting his usual style of sarcasm.
Man with phone : “Netanyahu, did you know that they’re now comparing you to James Bond?”
Netanyahu: “Nonsense. It’s Netanyahu; Benjamin Netanyahu” pic.twitter.com/VFwAC4PDJ6
— Vivid.🇮🇱 (@VividProwess) September 18, 2024
Following his victory in the election on November 1, 2022, Netanyahu was sworn in as Prime Minister for the sixth time on December 29. His new government, the most right-wing and religious in Israel’s history, consists of ultraorthodox parties, an ultranationalist faction, and his own Likud party.
Netanyahu is Israel’s prime minister for the longest time. His legacy can perhaps be labeled as an extreme right swing on the Israeli political spectrum.
Netanyahu was born in Jaffa in 1949 to a wealthy Jewish family that had immigrated to Israel from Poland in the late 19th century. Netanyahu spent his childhood in Jerusalem and migrated to the United States where he completed high school.
His mother, Tzila Segal, was born in what is now Israel as a Jew, while his father, Benzion Netanyahu (originally Benzion Mileikowsky), was born in Poland as a secular Jew who changed his name upon emigrating to Palestine. Netanyahu’s ancestry was the Spanish Jews.
Netanyahu’s father was a “Revisionist Zionist,” that is strongly identic with “Greater Israel” – two sides of the Jordan River. He was against the idea of negotiations with all Arab states surrounding Israel.
As Netanyahu takes Israel through this period of intense change politically and socially, this telling sharp remark speaks of his great presence and influence in Israeli politics.
