Editing Benjamin Netanyahu (section)

=== Third term ===
{{Further|Thirty-third government of Israel}}
The [[2013 Israeli legislative election|2013 election]] returned Netanyahu's [[Likud Yisrael Beiteinu|Likud Beiteinu]] coalition with 11 fewer seats than the combined Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu parties had going into the vote.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Tobin |first1=Amir |last2=Birnbaum |first2=Ben |date=20 March 2015 |title='Is This Ship Sinking?' Inside the Collapse of the Campaign Against Netanyahu |url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/how-israels-left-lost-to-netanyahu |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322104203/http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/how-israels-left-lost-to-netanyahu |archive-date=22 March 2015 |access-date=21 March 2015 |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |location=New York City}}</ref> Nevertheless, as leader of what remained the largest faction in the Knesset, Israeli president Shimon Peres charged Netanyahu with the task of forming the [[Thirty-third government of Israel]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Hoffman |first=Gil |date=10 February 2009 |title=Kadima wins, but rightist bloc biggest |url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=132385 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127225603/http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=132385 |archive-date=27 January 2013 |access-date=17 June 2012 |newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]]}}</ref><ref name="swornh" /><ref name="swornr" /> The new coalition included the [[Yesh Atid]], [[The Jewish Home]] and [[Hatnuah]] parties and excludes the ultra-Orthodox parties at the insistence of Yesh Atid and the Jewish Home.

During Netanyahu's third term, he continued his policy of economic liberalization. In December 2013, the Knesset approved the Business Concentration Law, which intended to open Israel's highly concentrated economy to competition to lower consumer prices, reduce income inequality, and increase economic growth. Netanyahu had formed the Concentration Committee in 2010, and the bill, which was pushed forward by his government, implemented its recommendations. The new law banned multi-tiered corporate holding structures, in which a CEO's family members or other affiliated individuals held public companies which in turn owned other public companies, and who were thus able to engage in [[price gouging]]. Under the law, corporations were banned from owning more than two tiers of publicly listed companies and from holding both financial and non-financial enterprises. All conglomerates were given four to six years to sell excess holdings.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/01/07/overhaul-of-israels-economy-offers-lessons-for-united-states/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0|title=Overhaul of Israel's Economy Offers Lessons for United States|first=Steven|last=Davidoff|work=The New York Times Dealbook blog|date=7 January 2014|access-date=5 March 2017|archive-date=19 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119110124/https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/01/07/overhaul-of-israels-economy-offers-lessons-for-united-states/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/business/1.565986|title=What is Israel's new Business Concentration Law and why should we care?|date=29 December 2013|work=Haaretz|access-date=19 March 2014|archive-date=19 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319085801/http://www.haaretz.com/business/1.565986|url-status=live}}</ref> Netanyahu also began a campaign of port privatization to break what he viewed as the monopoly held by workers of the [[Israel Port Authority]], so as to lower consumer prices and increase exports. In July 2013, he issued tenders for the construction of private ports in [[Haifa]] and [[Ashdod]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-1000859155|title=Netanyahu: Era of ports monopoly is over|newspaper=Globes English|access-date=19 March 2014|archive-date=19 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319090026/http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-1000859155|url-status=live}}</ref> Netanyahu has also pledged to curb excess bureaucracy and regulations to ease the burden on industry.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/business/concentration-in-business/.premium-1.576937|title=Netanyahu vows to free economy of regulation and bureaucracy|date=27 February 2014|work=Haaretz|access-date=19 March 2014|archive-date=19 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319201254/http://www.haaretz.com/business/concentration-in-business/.premium-1.576937|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Visita a Israel para el Funeral de Estado de Shimon Peres (30022263895).jpg|thumb|Netanyahu, U.S. president [[Barack Obama]] and Israeli president [[Reuven Rivlin]] at the funeral of former Israeli president [[Shimon Peres]], Jerusalem, 30 September 2016]]
In April 2014, and again in June, Netanyahu spoke of his deep concerns when Hamas and the Palestinian Authority agreed and then formed a unity government, and was severely critical of both the United States and European governments' decision to work with the Palestinian coalition government.<ref>Peter Beaumont, [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/03/israel-us-palestinian-unity-government-netanyahu "Israel condemns US for backing Palestinian unity government"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325030301/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/03/israel-us-palestinian-unity-government-netanyahu |date=25 March 2019 }}, ''[[The Guardian]]'' 3 June 2014]</ref> He blamed Hamas for [[2014 kidnapping and murder of Israeli teenagers|the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers]] in June 2014,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/16/world/middleeast/netanyahu-blames-hamas-in-kidnapping-of-israeli-youths.html?_r=0|title=Netanyahu Says Three Were Taken by Hamas|author=Jodi Rudoren|date=15 June 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=24 February 2015|archive-date=24 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224105047/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/16/world/middleeast/netanyahu-blames-hamas-in-kidnapping-of-israeli-youths.html?_r=0|url-status=live}}</ref> and launched a massive search and arrest operation on the West Bank, targeting members of Hamas in particular, and over the following weeks hit 60 targets in Gaza.<ref name="Leas" >James Marc Leas, [http://www.councilforthenationalinterest.org/new/attack-first-kill-first-and-claim-self-defense/#.VN9NFE05Dcs "Attack First, Kill First and Claim Self-Defense: Palestine Subcommittee Submission to UN Independent Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214210857/http://www.councilforthenationalinterest.org/new/attack-first-kill-first-and-claim-self-defense/#.VN9NFE05Dcs |date=14 February 2015 }}. [[Council for the National Interest]]. (21 January 2015).</ref> Missile and rocket exchanges between Gaza militants and the IDF escalated after the bodies of the teenagers, who had been killed almost immediately as the government had good reasons to suspect, were discovered on 30 June 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.602189|title=Teens' bodies found|newspaper=Haaretz|date=1 July 2014|access-date=24 February 2015|archive-date=24 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224181422/http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.602189|url-status=live}}</ref> After several [[Hamas]] operatives were killed, either in an explosion or from an Israeli bombing, Hamas officially declared it would launch rockets from Gaza into Israel,<ref name="Leas" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-palestinians-israel-idUSKBN0F521P20140701|title=Israel mourns teenagers, strikes Hamas in Gaza|date=1 July 2014|author=Ori Lewis|publisher=Reuters|access-date=24 February 2015|archive-date=26 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326063556/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/01/us-palestinians-israel-idUSKBN0F521P20140701|url-status=live}}</ref> and Israel started [[Operation Protective Edge]] in the Gaza Strip, formally ending the November 2012 ceasefire agreement.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/idfs-operation-protective-edge-begins-against-gaza/2014/07/08/ | title=IDF's Operation 'Protective Edge' Begins Against Gaza | newspaper=The Jewish Press | access-date=8 July 2014 | archive-date=10 July 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140710004714/http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/idfs-operation-protective-edge-begins-against-gaza/2014/07/08/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The prime minister did a round of television shows in the United States and described Hamas as "genocidal terrorists" in an interview on CNN.<ref name="IsraelPM">{{cite news |title=Hamas genocidal terrorists says Netanyahu |date=21 July 2014 |url=http://www.israelnews.net/news/223948551/hamas-genocidal-terrorists-says-netanyahu |publisher=Israel News.Net |access-date=19 July 2014 |archive-date=19 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119110216/http://www.israelnews.net/news/223948551/hamas-genocidal-terrorists-says-netanyahu |url-status=live }}</ref> When asked if Gazan casualties from the operation might spark "a third intifada", Netanyahu replied that Hamas was working towards that goal.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.defenseone.com/threats/2014/07/why-benjamin-netanyahu-should-be-very-very-worried/89897/ |title=Why Benjamin Netanyahu Should Be Very, Very Worried |last1=Fournier |first1=Ron |date=28 July 2014 |website=Defense One |publisher=National Journal |access-date=29 July 2014 |archive-date=29 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729161153/http://www.defenseone.com/threats/2014/07/why-benjamin-netanyahu-should-be-very-very-worried/89897/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2014, Netanyahu's government approved a privatization plan to reduce corruption and politicization in government companies, and strengthen Israel's capital market. Under the plan, minority stakes of up to 49% in state-owned companies, including arms manufacturers, energy, postal, water, and railway companies, as well as the ports of Haifa and Ashdod.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-privatisation-idUSKCN0HU0RA20141005|title=Israel approves $4 billion privatization plan for next three years|date=5 October 2016|publisher=Reuters|access-date=30 June 2017|archive-date=18 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018083116/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-privatisation-idUSKCN0HU0RA20141005|url-status=live}}</ref> That same month, Netanyahu called criticism of settlements "against the American values", a remark that earned him a sharp rebuke from the White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, who noted that American values had resulted in Israel receiving not only consistent funding but protective technology such as Iron Dome. Netanyahu explained that he does not accept restrictions on where Jews could live, and said that Jerusalem's Arabs and Jews should be able to buy homes wherever they want. He said he was "baffled" by the American condemnation. "It's against the American values. And it doesn't bode well for peace. The idea that we'd have this ethnic purification as a condition for peace, I think it's anti-peace."<ref>{{cite news|access-date=7 June 2021|title=White House jabs Netanyahu over 'American values' critique|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/white-house-jabs-netanyahu-over-american-values-critique-114100700057_1.html|work=[[Business Standard]]|agency=[[Agence France-Presse]]|archive-date=7 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107152208/https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/white-house-jabs-netanyahu-over-american-values-critique-114100700057_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|access-date=7 June 2021|title=Netanyahu says US criticism of settlements is 'against American values'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/05/netanyahu-says-us-criticism-settlements-against-american-values|date=5 October 2014|work=The Guardian|agency=Associated Press|archive-date=7 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607093814/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/05/netanyahu-says-us-criticism-settlements-against-american-values|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.619534|title=White House Responds to Netanyahu: American Values Gave Israel the Iron Dome|first=Barak|last=Ravid|date=7 October 2014|newspaper=Haaretz|access-date=14 November 2014|archive-date=13 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113013859/http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.619534|url-status=live}}</ref> Not long thereafter, Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic reported that the relationship between Netanyahu and the White House had reached a new low, with the U.S. administration angry over Israel's settlement policies, and Netanyahu expressing contempt for the American administration's grasp of the Middle East.<ref name=crisis>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/10/the-crisis-in-us-israel-relations-is-officially-here/382031/|title=The Crisis in U.S.–Israel Relations Is Officially Here|first=Jeffrey|last=Goldberg|author-link=Jeffrey Goldberg|date=28 October 2014|work=The Atlantic|access-date=5 March 2017|archive-date=6 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151206191955/http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/10/the-crisis-in-us-israel-relations-is-officially-here/382031/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 2 December 2014, Netanyahu fired two of his ministers, Finance Minister [[Yair Lapid]], head of the centrist [[Yesh Atid]] party and Justice Minister [[Tzipi Livni]], head of [[Hatnua]]. The changes led to the dissolution of the government, with new elections expected on 17 March 2015.<ref>{{cite news |title=Knesset votes to dissolve, sets new elections for March 17 |date=8 December 2014 |newspaper=The Times of Israel |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-votes-unanimously-to-dissolve-ushering-in-new-elections/ |access-date=10 December 2014 |archive-date=16 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516081133/https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-votes-unanimously-to-dissolve-ushering-in-new-elections/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2015, Netanyahu was invited to address the US Congress. This speech marked Netanyahu's third speech to a joint session of Congress.<ref>{{cite news|title=Netanyahu to address US Congress in February|url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Netanyahu-invited-to-speak-to-joint-session-of-US-Congress-in-midst-of-election-campaign-388468|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|first=Herb|last=Keinon|date=1 January 2015|access-date=23 January 2015|archive-date=23 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123194118/http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Netanyahu-invited-to-speak-to-joint-session-of-US-Congress-in-midst-of-election-campaign-388468|url-status=live}}</ref> The day before announcing he would address Congress, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' reported that he tried to derail a meeting between U.S. lawmakers and the head of Mossad, [[Tamir Pardo]], who intended warning them against imposing further sanctions against Iran, a move that might derail nuclear talks.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4637008,00.html|title=Report: Netanyahu tried to prevent Mossad briefing for US Senators on Iran|work=[[Ynet]]|date=15 March 2015|access-date=15 March 2015|archive-date=16 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316040104/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4637008,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/3744265/benjamin-netanyahu-israel-iran-nuclear-talks-obama/|title=Exclusive: Netanyahu Canceled Intel Briefing for U.S. Senators on Iran Dangers|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=14 March 2015|first=Massimo|last=Calabresi|access-date=15 March 2015|archive-date=15 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315124413/http://time.com/3744265/benjamin-netanyahu-israel-iran-nuclear-talks-obama/|url-status=live}}</ref> Leading up to the speech, on 3 March 2015, Israeli consuls general in the United States "expect[ed] fierce negative reaction from U.S. Jewish communities and Israel's allies". Objections included the arrangement of the speech without the support and engagement of the Obama administration and the timing of the speech before Israel's 17 March 2015 election. Seven American Jewish lawmakers met with [[Ron Dermer]], Israel's ambassador to the U.S. and recommended that Netanyahu instead meet with lawmakers privately to discuss Iran.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.640896|title=Consuls in U.S. warn: Israel's friends fear Netanyahu's speech to Congress will harm ties|work=Haaretz|first=Barak|last=Ravid|date=5 February 2015|access-date=5 February 2015|archive-date=5 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205064829/http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.640896|url-status=live}}</ref> In making the speech, Netanyahu claimed to speak for all Jews worldwide, a claim disputed by others in the Jewish community.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/01/dianne-feinstein-benjamin-netanyahu_n_6778748.html|title=Dianne Feinstein: Benjamin Netanyahu 'Arrogant' For Claiming To Speak For All Jews|work=The Huffington Post|date=1 March 2015|first=Sam|last=Levine|access-date=1 March 2015|archive-date=2 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150302153935/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/01/dianne-feinstein-benjamin-netanyahu_n_6778748.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/j-street-launches-campaign-against-netanyahu/|title=J Street launches campaign against Netanyahu|work=The Times of Israel|date=10 February 2015|first=Ilan|last=Ben Zion|access-date=1 March 2015|archive-date=1 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150301022228/http://www.timesofisrael.com/j-street-launches-campaign-against-netanyahu/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/a-special-place-in-hell/.premium-1.641702|title=How dare Netanyahu speak in the name of America's Jews?|work=Haaretz|date=9 February 2015|first=Bradley|last=Burston|access-date=21 March 2021|archive-date=27 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027025519/https://www.haaretz.com/blogs/a-special-place-in-hell/.premium-1.641702|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/news/1.645245|title=Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews protest in NYC over Netanyahu's speech|work=Haaretz|date=4 March 2015|first=Jacob|last=Kornbluth|access-date=21 March 2021|archive-date=22 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622085034/https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/news/1.645245|url-status=live}}</ref> Rebecca Vilkomerson, executive director of Jewish Voice for Peace, stated that "American Jews are largely appalled by the notion that Netanyahu, or any other Israeli politician – one that we did not elect and do not choose to be represented by – claims to speak for us."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/netanyahu-does-not-speak-for-all-american-jews-commentary/2015/02/20/9c456ecc-b943-11e4-bc30-a4e75503948a_story.html|title=Netanyahu does not speak for all American Jews|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=20 February 2015|first=Rebecca|last=Vilkomerson|access-date=21 March 2021|archive-date=10 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510151435/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/netanyahu-does-not-speak-for-all-american-jews-commentary/2015/02/20/9c456ecc-b943-11e4-bc30-a4e75503948a_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

As election day approached in what was perceived to be a close race in the 2015 Israeli elections, Netanyahu answered 'indeed' when asked whether a Palestinian state would not be established in his term. He said that support of a Palestinian state is tantamount to yielding territory for radical Islamic terrorists to attack Israel.<ref>Moran Azulay,[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4637673,00.html "Netanyahu says no Palestinian state if he remains PM"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317052401/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4637673,00.html |date=17 March 2015 }}. [[Ynet]]. (16 March 2015). "Whoever moves to establish a Palestinian state or intends to withdraw from territory is simply yielding territory for radical Islamic terrorist attacks against Israel"</ref> However, Netanyahu reiterated "I don't want a one-state solution. I want a peaceful, sustainable two-state solution. I have not changed my policy."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/us-says-it-will-re-evaluate-approach-to-israeli-palestinian-conflict-after-netanyahu-election-win/|title=Netanyahu Backtracks on Election Pledge to Refuse a Two-State Solution After Sharp Words from the US|publisher=Vice News|first=Harriet|last=Salem|date=19 March 2015|access-date=9 June 2015|archive-date=13 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713152617/https://news.vice.com/article/us-says-it-will-re-evaluate-approach-to-israeli-palestinian-conflict-after-netanyahu-election-win|url-status=live}}</ref>