Netanyahu Marks 77th Birthday Amidst Election Campaign

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is celebrating his 77th birthday on Wednesday, October 21st, amidst a heated election campaign for the Knesset, scheduled for October 27th. Born in Tel Aviv in 1949, Netanyahu holds the record for the longest cumulative tenure as Israel's Prime Minister. Since first being elected in 1996, he has served three non-consecutive terms, navigating significant political and security events, international agreements, and facing political crises, public criticism, and a criminal trial.

Beyond his public persona, Netanyahu's life includes lesser-known stories, from his childhood nickname that became a political brand to a near-secret wedding, a mysterious military operation on Mount Hermon, and a controversial pistachio ice cream flavor. His personal life encompasses three marriages and three children: Noa Rot, from his first marriage to Miki Weizman; and Avner and Yair, from his marriage to Sara Ben-Artzi. While Noa maintains a low public profile, Yair has become a prominent, often controversial, figure on social media. Avner, the younger son, gained recognition for his success in Bible quizzes and served in the IDF, generally avoiding political controversy.

Netanyahu's career also features intriguing details from his time abroad. While studying at MIT, he used the name Benjamin Nitay and appeared on a Boston TV program in 1978 discussing the establishment of a Palestinian state, stating, "Television is a boxing ring for me." He briefly interrupted his studies to participate in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, returning to MIT to complete his degrees in architecture and business administration rapidly. During his graduate studies, he co-authored a paper on the computerization of the newspaper industry, exploring technological impacts on media operations.

His military service included participation in the 1972 Sabena hijacking rescue operation, where he was wounded by friendly fire. He also reportedly took part in a classified mission on Mount Hermon. In 1989, while serving as Deputy Foreign Minister, he was surprisingly named Israel's most attractive man by a women's magazine. His 1991 wedding to Sara Ben-Artzi was a small, private affair with only 25 guests.

Financially, Netanyahu's assets, primarily real estate in Jerusalem and Caesarea, were estimated in 2020 to be worth between 35 and 40 million shekels. His personal wealth is also derived from lecture fees and business consulting during periods out of public office. A significant personal event was the death of his older brother, Yoni Netanyahu, during the 1976 Entebbe rescue operation, which profoundly impacted him and led to his extensive involvement in combating international terrorism. In 1993, during his campaign for Likud leadership, Netanyahu publicly disclosed an extramarital affair and alleged blackmail attempt related to a tape, a scandal that earned the moniker "the hot tape" and occurred less than two years after his marriage to Sara.

As he turns 77, Netanyahu, who holds the record for the longest-serving Prime Minister, faces another election. His tenure has been marked by significant political and security events, including criticism following the October 7th attacks and ongoing legal battles. The article concludes by wishing him a happy birthday and posing the question of whether he will celebrate his 80th birthday as Prime Minister.