Editing Benjamin Netanyahu (section)

== Political positions ==
{{Conservatism in Israel|Politicians}}

=== Authoritarianism ===
In the years under Netanyahu's rule, Israel has been experiencing increasing [[authoritarianism]], [[democratic backsliding]], and corruption,<ref>{{cite journal|last=Moskovich|first=Yaffa|year=2009|title=Authoritarian Management Style in the Likud Party Under the Leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu|journal=International Journal of Leadership Studies|volume=4|issue=2|pages=141–160|url=https://www.regent.edu/acad/global/publications/ijls/new/vol4iss2/IJLS_V4Is2_Moskovich.pdf}}</ref><ref name="court">{{cite web|date=27 March 2025|title=Israeli parliament passes law expanding political control of judicial appointments|work=France 24|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250327-israel-parliament-passes-judicial-reform-law-opposition-challenges|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250327103906/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250327-israel-parliament-passes-judicial-reform-law-opposition-challenges|archive-date=27 March 2025|access-date=21 April 2025}}</ref><ref name="court2">{{cite web|last1=Eisen|first1=Norman|last2=Patel|first2=Mansi|last3=Smith|first3=Kai|date=10 April 2023|title=The corruption and autocracy nexus: The case of "King Bibi"|work=Brookings|url=https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-corruption-and-autocracy-nexus-the-case-of-king-bibi/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628192859/https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-corruption-and-autocracy-nexus-the-case-of-king-bibi/|archive-date=28 June 2023|access-date=21 April 2025}}</ref><ref name="weakens">{{cite web|last=Hirsch|first=Michal Ben-Josef|date=24 July 2024|title=As Hamas war drags on, Israeli democracy weakens further|work=The Conversation|url=https://theconversation.com/as-hamas-war-drags-on-israeli-democracy-weakens-further-234339|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240724124122/https://theconversation.com/as-hamas-war-drags-on-israeli-democracy-weakens-further-234339|archive-date=24 July 2024|access-date=21 April 2025}}</ref> in addition to [[expansionism]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Imbert|first=Louis|date=15 April 2025|title=Israel is pushing its dangerous expansionism on the Middle East|work=Le Monde|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2025/04/15/israel-is-imposing-its-dangerous-expansionism-on-the-middle-east_6740225_23.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250421042909/https://www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2025/04/15/israel-is-imposing-its-dangerous-expansionism-on-the-middle-east_6740225_23.html|archive-date=21 April 2025|access-date=21 April 2025}}</ref> During the Gaza War, Israel under Netanyahu had undergone censorship, such as with protests and news media.<ref>{{cite web|last=Young|first=Eve|date=4 April 2024|title=Israel Police censoring anti-war signs in protests, demonstrators say|work=The Jerusalem Post|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-795368|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404150927/https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-795368|archive-date=4 April 2024|access-date=21 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Fischer|first1=Sara|last2=Ravid|first2=Barak|date=1 April 2024|title=Netanyahu signals he will shutter local Al Jazeera bureau under new law|work=Axios|url=https://www.axios.com/2024/04/01/al-jazeera-shuttered-israel-netanyahu|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408222018/https://www.axios.com/2024/04/01/al-jazeera-shuttered-israel-netanyahu|archive-date=8 April 2024|access-date=21 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Matar|first=Haggai|date=20 May 2024|title=Israeli military censor bans highest number of articles in over a decade|url=https://www.972mag.com/israeli-military-censor-media-2023/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520153622/https://www.972mag.com/israeli-military-censor-media-2023/|archive-date=20 May 2024|access-date=21 April 2025}}</ref> Netanyahu's repeated attempts to revamp judicial systems have been accused of being efforts to elevate authoritarianism and protect the prime minister from corruption charges;<ref name="court"/><ref name="court2"/> he in turn accused the "leftist Deep state" of attempting to weaponize the justice system against him and the people of Israel.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tharoor|first=Ishaan|date=21 March 2025|title=Under Trump, the authoritarian age comes into focus|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/03/21/trump-authoritarian-erdogan-netanyahu-orban/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321115905/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/03/21/trump-authoritarian-erdogan-netanyahu-orban/|archive-date=21 March 2025|access-date=21 April 2025}}</ref> He additionally has spoken populist statements regarding [[Anti-Arab racism]] involving narratives of conflict with Jews, in particular of [[Anti-Palestinianism]].<ref name="weakens"/> Netanyahu's administration in recent years has been tailored towards far-right politics and has been described as the most far-right government in Israeli history. He has also allied his nation with other illiberal, authoritarian leaders from Hungary, Russia, and the United States.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Aron|first1=Hadas|last2=Holland|first2=Emily J.|year=2024|title=Illiberal Leaders in the International Arena: The Cases of Hungary and Israel|journal=The Journal of Illiberalism Studies|volume=4|number=2|pages=59–77|doi=10.53483/XCPW3576|doi-access=free}}</ref>

=== Israeli–Palestinian conflict ===
Netanyahu opposed the [[Oslo Accords]] from their inception. In 1993, he dedicated a chapter, entitled "Trojan Horse", of his book ''A Place Among the Nations'' to argue against the Oslo peace process. He asserted that [[Amin al-Husseini]] had been one of the masterminds of the Holocaust, and that Yasser Arafat was heir to the former's "alleged exterminationist Nazism".<ref>{{Cite journal | doi=10.1111/jore.12119|title = Holocaust Abuse| journal=Journal of Religious Ethics| volume=43| issue=4| pages=723–759|year = 2015|last1 = Sells|first1 = Michael A. | issn = 0384-9694 }}</ref> During his term as prime minister in the late 1990s, Netanyahu consistently reneged on commitments made by previous Israeli governments as part of the Oslo peace process, leading American peace envoy [[Dennis Ross]] to note that "neither President Clinton nor Secretary [of State Madeleine] Albright believed that Bibi had any real interest in pursuing peace."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/09/27/us-jewish-groups-help-make-palestinian-state-impossible.html |title=How U.S. Jews Stymie Peace Talks |last=Beinart |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Beinart |date=27 September 2010 |newspaper=The Daily Beast |access-date=17 March 2013 |archive-date=30 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530210231/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/09/27/us-jewish-groups-help-make-palestinian-state-impossible.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In a 2001 video, Netanyahu, reportedly unaware he was being recorded, said:

{{blockquote|They asked me before the election if I'd honor [the Oslo Accords] […] I said I would, but&nbsp;... I'm going to interpret the accords in such a way that would allow me to put an end to this galloping forward to the '67 borders. How did we do it? Nobody said what defined military zones were. Defined military zones are security zones; as far as I'm concerned, the entire Jordan Valley is a defined military zone. Go argue.<ref name=washingtonpost>{{cite news|title=Netanyahu: 'America is a thing you can move very easily'|first=Glenn|last=Kessler|author-link=Glenn Kessler (journalist)|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=16 July 2010|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkpoint-washington/2010/07/netanyahu_america_is_a_thing_y.html|access-date=17 July 2010|archive-date=30 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630145349/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkpoint-washington/2010/07/netanyahu_america_is_a_thing_y.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}

On 9 August 2009, speaking at the opening of his weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu promised not to repeat the "mistake" of the [[Israel's unilateral disengagement plan|Gaza unilateral pullout]], saying, "We will not repeat this mistake. We will not create new evacuees", and adding that "the unilateral evacuation brought neither peace nor security. On the contrary", and that "We want an agreement with two factors, the first of which is the recognition of Israel as the national state of the Jewish people and [the second is] a security settlement. In the case of Gaza, both of these factors were lacking". He also said, "Should we achieve a turn toward peace with the more moderate partners, we will insist on the recognition of the State of Israel and the demilitarization of the future Palestinian state".<ref name=sofer>{{cite news |last=Sofer |first=Roni |title=Netanyahu vows not to repeat 'mistake' of Gaza pullout |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3759065,00.html |publisher=[[Ynetnews]] |date=9 August 2009 |access-date=9 August 2009 |archive-date=10 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810185525/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3759065,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Netanyahu: I won't repeat Gaza evacuation mistake |first=Barak |last=Ravid |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/netanyahu-i-won-t-repeat-gaza-evacuation-mistake-1.281670 |newspaper=Haaretz |date=9 August 2009 |access-date=16 March 2013 |archive-date=24 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024092117/http://www.haaretz.com/news/netanyahu-i-won-t-repeat-gaza-evacuation-mistake-1.281670 |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2014, Netanyahu said:

{{blockquote|We don't just hand over territory, close our eyes and hope for the best. We did that in Lebanon and we got thousands of rockets. We did that in Gaza, we got Hamas and 15,000 rockets. So we're not gonna just replicate that. We want to see genuine recognition of the Jewish state and rock solid security arrangements on the ground. That's the position I've held, and it's only become firmer.<ref>{{cite news|first=Dovid|last=Efune|url=http://www.algemeiner.com/2014/10/06/netanyahu-says-stance-on-security-requirements-has-become-%E2%80%98firmer%E2%80%99-%E2%80%98we-don%E2%80%99t-just-hand-over-territory-close-our-eyes-and-hope-for-the-best%E2%80%99-interview/|title=Netanyahu Says Stance On Security Requirements Has Become 'Firmer'|work=Algemeiner Journal|date=6 October 2014|access-date=7 October 2014|archive-date=8 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008072442/http://www.algemeiner.com/2014/10/06/netanyahu-says-stance-on-security-requirements-has-become-%E2%80%98firmer%E2%80%99-%E2%80%98we-don%E2%80%99t-just-hand-over-territory-close-our-eyes-and-hope-for-the-best%E2%80%99-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

Netanyahu had previously called U.S.-backed peace talks a waste of time,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/20/AR2009032000694_pf.html|first=Howard|last=Schneider|title=Poll Gives Netanyahu Positive Marks Despite Rift with US|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=20 March 2009|access-date=20 March 2009|archive-date=2 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402093058/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/20/AR2009032000694_pf.html|url-status=live}}</ref> while at the same time refusing to commit to the same [[two-state solution]] as had other Israeli leaders,<ref>{{cite news |title=Why isn't Netanyahu backing two-state solution? |first=Aluf |last=Benn |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/analysis-why-isn-t-netanyahu-backing-two-state-solution-1.271126 |newspaper=Haaretz |date=1 March 2009 |access-date=16 March 2013 |archive-date=20 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320022652/http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/analysis-why-isn-t-netanyahu-backing-two-state-solution-1.271126 |url-status=live }}</ref> until a speech in June 2009. He repeatedly made public statements which advocated an "economic peace" approach, meaning an approach based on economic cooperation and joint effort rather than continuous contention over political and diplomatic issues. This is in line with many significant ideas from the [[Peace Valley plan]].<ref name="haaretz 11-21-08">{{cite news |title=Netanyahu: Economics, not politics, is the key to peace |first=Raphael |last=Ahren |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/netanyahu-economics-not-politics-is-the-key-to-peace-1.257617 |newspaper=Haaretz |date=20 November 2008 |access-date=16 March 2013 |archive-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312084527/http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/netanyahu-economics-not-politics-is-the-key-to-peace-1.257617 |url-status=live }}</ref> He raised these ideas during discussions with former U.S. secretary of state [[Condoleezza Rice]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Netanyahu offers new peace vision |first=Roni |last=Sofer |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3619204,00.html |work=Ynet |date=7 November 2008 |access-date=16 March 2013 |archive-date=5 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005051308/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3619204,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Netanyahu continued to advocate these ideas as the Israeli elections approached.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/israel/article/netanyahu_holds_big_lead_in_prime_minister_race_polls_20090202/|first=Leslie|last=Susser|title=Netanyahu Holds Big Lead in Prime Minister Race Polls|newspaper=The Jewish Journal|date=2 February 2009|access-date=11 July 2009|archive-date=6 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406231013/https://jewishjournal.com/israel/article/netanyahu_holds_big_lead_in_prime_minister_race_polls_20090202/|url-status=live}}</ref> Netanyahu has said:

<blockquote> Right now, the peace talks are based on only one thing, only on peace talks. It makes no sense at this point to talk about the most contractible issue. It's Jerusalem or bust, or right of return or bust. That has led to failure and is likely to lead to failure again&nbsp;... We must weave an economic peace alongside a political process. That means that we have to strengthen the moderate parts of the Palestinian economy by handing rapid growth in those areas, rapid economic growth that gives a stake for peace for the ordinary Palestinians."<ref name="haaretz 11-21-08"/></blockquote>

In January 2009, prior to the February 2009 Israeli elections Netanyahu informed Middle East envoy Tony Blair that he would continue the policy of the Israeli governments of Ariel Sharon and Ehud Olmert by expanding settlements in the [[West Bank]], in contravention of the Road Map, but not building new ones.<ref>{{cite news |title=Likud allow settlement expansion |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7851140.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=26 January 2009 |access-date=16 March 2013 |archive-date=17 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917221726/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7851140.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Quote box
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| quote = Anyone who wants to thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state has to support bolstering Hamas and transferring money to Hamas. This is part of our strategy – to isolate the Palestinians in Gaza from the Palestinians in the West Bank.
| source = Benjamin Netanyahu, 2019<ref name="Vox15Oct">{{cite news |last1=Beauchamp |first1=Zack |title=Benjamin Netanyahu failed Israel |url=https://www.vox.com/23910085/netanyahu-israel-right-hamas-gaza-war-history |work=Vox |date=9 October 2023 |access-date=15 October 2023 |archive-date=10 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010010626/https://www.vox.com/23910085/netanyahu-israel-right-hamas-gaza-war-history |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shumsky |first1=Dmitry |title=Why Did Netanyahu Want to Strengthen Hamas? |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-10-11/ty-article/.premium/netanyahu-needed-a-strong-hamas/0000018b-1e9f-d47b-a7fb-bfdfd8f30000 |work=Haaretz |date=11 October 2023 |access-date=15 October 2023 |archive-date=15 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015020543/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-10-11/ty-article/.premium/netanyahu-needed-a-strong-hamas/0000018b-1e9f-d47b-a7fb-bfdfd8f30000 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

In 2013, Netanyahu denied reports that his government would agree to peace talks on the basis of the green line.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Israel-agrees-to-peace-talks-based-on-67-lines-320250 |title=Netanyahu denies agreeing to peace talks based on '67 lines. |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |date=18 July 2013 |access-date=31 January 2014 |archive-date=11 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111214857/http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Israel-agrees-to-peace-talks-based-on-67-lines-320250 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014 he agreed to the American framework based on the green line and said that Jewish settlers must be allowed the option of staying in their settlements under Palestinian rule.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/israeli-official-palestine-should-allow-settlers |title=Israeli official: Palestine should allow settlers |last1=Heller |first1=Aron |date=26 January 2014 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=26 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201232009/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/israeli-official-palestine-should-allow-settlers |archive-date=1 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Netanyahu-says-he-agreed-to-US-proposal-for-talks-with-Palestinians-based-on-67-lines-377983 |title=Netanyahu says he agreed to US proposal for talks with Palestinians based on '67 lines |date=3 October 2014 |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |access-date=2 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003024210/http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Netanyahu-says-he-agreed-to-US-proposal-for-talks-with-Palestinians-based-on-67-lines-377983 |archive-date=3 October 2014 }}</ref>

In 2014, Palestinian negotiator [[Saeb Erekat]] criticized Netanyahu, calling him "ideologically corrupt" and a war criminal.<ref name="Saeb">{{citation|title=Top Palestinian negotiator rips into 'discredited, useless' Abbas|newspaper=The Times of Israel|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/top-palestinian-official-recorded-upbraiding-mistaken-abbas/#ixzz39erFi2Ou|author=Elhanan Miller|date=12 June 2014|access-date=6 August 2014|archive-date=11 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811014244/http://www.timesofisrael.com/top-palestinian-official-recorded-upbraiding-mistaken-abbas/#ixzz39erFi2Ou|url-status=live}}</ref>

For years, Netanyahu backed [[Qatari support for Hamas|Qatari transfers]] of hundreds of millions of dollars to Gaza, in the hope that it would pacify Gaza, turn Hamas into an effective counterweight to the Palestinian Authority and prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Elbagir |first1=Nima |last2=Arvanitidis |first2=Barbara |last3=Platt |first3=Alex |last4=Ebrahim |first4=Nadeen |date=11 December 2023 |title=Qatar sent millions to Gaza for years – with Israel's backing. Here's what we know about the controversial deal |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/11/middleeast/qatar-hamas-funds-israel-backing-intl/index.html |access-date=19 July 2024 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schneider |first=Tal |date=8 October 2023 |title=For years, Netanyahu propped up Hamas. Now it's blown up in our faces |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-years-netanyahu-propped-up-hamas-now-its-blown-up-in-our-faces/ |access-date=19 July 2024 |website=The Times of Israel}}</ref> In 2019, Netanyahu said at a private Likud party meeting, "Anyone who wants to thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state has to support bolstering Hamas and transferring money to Hamas. This is part of our strategy – to isolate the Palestinians in Gaza from the Palestinians in the West Bank."<ref name="Vox15Oct" /><ref name=GuardianDoctrine>{{Cite news |last=Leifer |first=Joshua |date=21 November 2023 |title=The Netanyahu doctrine: how Israel's longest-serving leader reshaped the country in his image |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/21/the-netanyahu-doctrine-how-israels-longest-serving-leader-reshaped-the-country-in-his-image |access-date=19 July 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=12 March 2019 |title=Netanyahu: Money to Hamas part of strategy to keep Palestinians divided |url=https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/netanyahu-money-to-hamas-part-of-strategy-to-keep-palestinians-divided-583082 |access-date=25 November 2024 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}}</ref> Often, cash was delivered in suitcases by a Qatari official who was escorted by Israeli intelligence officers.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last1=Mazzetti |first1=Mark |last2=Bergman |first2=Ronen |date=10 December 2023 |title='Buying Quiet': Inside the Israeli Plan That Propped Up Hamas |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/10/world/middleeast/israel-qatar-money-prop-up-hamas.html |access-date=19 July 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> According to the ''New York Times'', Netanyahu continued backing the payments in response to Qatari questions as late as September 2023.<ref name=":0" /> In 2025, [[Shin Beth]] started an investigation into the alleged ties between Netanyahu's advisors and Qatar.<ref>{{cite news |title=Shin Bet launches inquiry into Netanyahu aides' ties with Qatar |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/shin-bet-launches-inquiry-into-netanyahu-aides-ties-with-qatar/ |access-date=22 February 2025 |publisher=The Times of Israel |date=15 February 2025}}</ref> 

[[File:Trump Peace Plan Map.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Netanyahu publicly supported the [[2020 Trump Israel–Palestine plan|Trump peace plan]] for the creation of a Palestinian state.]]
In January 2020, Netanyahu publicly supported [[2020 Trump Israel–Palestine plan|Trump's Israeli-Palestinian peace plan]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Netanyahu: Trump Middle East peace plan 'deal of the century' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-51289277/netanyahu-trump-middle-east-peace-plan-deal-of-the-century |publisher=BBC News |date=28 January 2020 |access-date=31 May 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728133534/https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-51289277/netanyahu-trump-middle-east-peace-plan-deal-of-the-century |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Halbfinger |first=David M. |date=9 November 2020 |title=Biden's Win Means a Demotion for Netanyahu and Less Focus on Israel |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/09/world/middleeast/biden-israel.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109100810/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/09/world/middleeast/biden-israel.html |archive-date=9 November 2020 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> After the peace proposal failed, Trump said Netanyahu "never wanted peace" with the Palestinians.<ref>{{cite news|title=Trump says Netanyahu "never wanted peace" with the Palestinians|url=https://www.axios.com/2021/12/13/trump-middle-east-peace-netanyahu|access-date=11 November 2023|archive-date=11 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231111184741/https://www.axios.com/2021/12/13/trump-middle-east-peace-netanyahu|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Choi |first=Joseph |date=13 December 2021 |title=Trump: Netanyahu 'never wanted peace' with Palestinians |url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/585520-trump-netanyahu-never-wanted-peace-with-palestinians-report/ |access-date=11 November 2023 |website=The Hill |language=en-US |archive-date=9 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109085836/https://thehill.com/policy/international/585520-trump-netanyahu-never-wanted-peace-with-palestinians-report/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Kushner: Trump Was Livid With Netanyahu Over Annexation and Considered Supporting Gantz |language=en |work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2022-08-01/ty-article/.premium/kushner-trump-was-livid-with-netanyahu-over-annexation-and-considered-supporting-gantz/00000182-5a9f-d339-a5ef-df9f195f0000 |access-date=11 November 2023 |archive-date=25 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125163814/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2022-08-01/ty-article/.premium/kushner-trump-was-livid-with-netanyahu-over-annexation-and-considered-supporting-gantz/00000182-5a9f-d339-a5ef-df9f195f0000 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Wade |first=Peter |date=13 December 2021 |title=Trump Blames Netanyahu, Not Himself, for Failed Israel-Palestine Peace Deal |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-blames-netanyahu-israel-palestine-peace-failure-1270936/ |access-date=11 November 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=11 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231111185355/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-blames-netanyahu-israel-palestine-peace-failure-1270936/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Former United States Secretary of State [[Rex Tillerson]] stated that on 22 May 2017, Netanyahu showed Donald Trump a fake and altered video of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas calling for the killing of children. This was at a time when Trump was considering if Israel was the obstacle to peace. Netanyahu had showed Trump the fake video to change his position in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/netanyahu-used-doctored-video-of-abbas-to-influence-trump-s-policy-woodward-reveals-1.9149688|title=Netanyahu used doctored video of Abbas to influence Trump's policy, Woodward reveals|work=Haaretz|date=12 September 2020}}</ref>

The U.S.-brokered [[Abraham Accords]] agreed to the full normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (the [[Israel–United Arab Emirates normalization agreement]]) and Bahrain, respectively (the [[Bahrain–Israel normalization agreement]]).<ref>{{cite web |title=The Abraham Accords |publisher=U.S. Department of State|website=state.gov |url=https://www.state.gov/the-abraham-accords/}}</ref> This was the first time any [[Arab country]] had normalized relations with Israel since [[Jordan]] in [[Israel–Jordan peace treaty|1994]]. The accords were signed by Bahrain's foreign minister, UAE's foreign minister and Netanyahu on 15 September 2020 at the [[South Lawn]] of the [[White House]] in Washington, D.C.<ref>{{cite news |title=Israel, UAE and Bahrain sign Abraham Accord; Trump says "dawn of new Middle East" |work=Press Trust of India |publisher=The Hindu |date=16 September 2020 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/israel-uae-and-bahrain-sign-abraham-accord-trump-says-dawn-of-new-middle-east/article32616867.ece}}</ref>

[[File:President Trump and The First Lady Participate in an Abraham Accords Signing Ceremony (50345629858).jpg|thumb|right|White House [[Abraham Accords]] signing ceremony on 15 September 2020]]
On 23 October 2020, U.S. president [[Donald Trump]] announced that [[Sudan]] will start to [[Israel–Sudan normalization agreement|normalize ties with Israel]], making it the third Arab state to do so as part of the Trump administration-brokered [[Abraham Accords]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump Announces US-Brokered Israel-Sudan Normalization |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/middle-east_trump-announces-us-brokered-israel-sudan-normalization/6197531.html |publisher=[[Voice of America]] |date=23 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Yes, Israeli-Sudanese normalization is a big deal |url=https://asiatimes.com/2020/10/yes-israeli-sudanese-normalization-is-a-big-deal/ |work=[[Asia Times]]|first=Shaiel|last=Ben-Ephraim |date=24 October 2020}}</ref> Sudan fought in wars against Israel in 1948 and 1967.<ref>{{cite news |title='Yes, yes, yes': Why peace with Khartoum would be true paradigm shift for Israel |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/yes-yes-yes-why-peace-with-khartoum-would-be-true-paradigm-shift-for-israel/ |work=The Times of Israel |date=23 October 2020}}</ref> Netanyahu thanked "President Trump and his team above all", saying that "together with him we are changing history&nbsp;... despite all the experts and commentators who said it was impossible. Israel was completely isolated and they told us we were heading into a political tsunami. What's happening is the absolute opposite."<ref>{{cite news |title=Netanyahu hints at Israel role in past Sudan raids, hails Mideast's changing map |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-hints-at-israeli-role-in-sudan-bombings-predicts-more-peace-deals/ |work=The Times of Israel |date=24 October 2020}}</ref> This was followed by [[Israel–Morocco normalization agreement|Morocco establishing relations with Israel in December]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=11 December 2020|title=Morocco latest country to normalise ties with Israel in US-brokered deal|publisher=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55266089}}</ref> In July 2024, [[Pakistan]] officially designated him a "terrorist", calling him responsible for the atrocities in Gaza.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/pakistan-calls-israel-s-netanyahu-a-terrorist-/7705182.html|title=Pakistan calls Israel's Netanyahu a "terrorist"|date=19 July 2024|work=Voice of America|access-date=21 July 2024}}</ref>

==== Bar-Ilan speech ====
In June 2009, Netanyahu delivered an address<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/full-text-of-netanyahu-s-foreign-policy-speech-at-bar-ilan-1.277922|title=Full text of Binyamin Netanyahu's Bar Ilan speech|date=15 June 2009|work=[[Haaretz]] |access-date=15 June 2009}}</ref> at [[Bar-Ilan University]], known as the "Bar-Ilan speech", at [[Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies]], that was broadcast live in Israel and across parts of the [[Arab world]], on the [[Israeli–Palestinian peace process]]. He endorsed for the first time the notion of a [[Palestinian state]] alongside Israel.<ref name=lays /> Netanyahu's speech could be viewed in part as a response to Obama's [[A New Beginning (speech)|4 June speech at Cairo]]. ''Yedioth Ahronoth'' claimed Obama's words had "resonated through Jerusalem's corridors".<ref>{{cite news|publisher=[[Ynetnews]]|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3726367,00.html|title=Ministers split over Obama's Cairo speech|date=4 June 2009|access-date=19 June 2009}}</ref>

As part of his proposal, Netanyahu demanded full demilitarization of the proposed state, with no army, rockets, missiles, or control of its airspace, and said Jerusalem would be [[Positions on Jerusalem|undivided Israeli territory]]. He stated that the Palestinians should recognize Israel as the Jewish national state with an undivided Jerusalem. He rejected a [[Palestinian right of return|right of return]] for Palestinian refugees, saying, "any demand for resettling Palestinian refugees within Israel undermines Israel's continued existence as the state of the Jewish people." He stated that a complete stop to [[Israeli settlement|settlement building]] in the [[West Bank]], as required by the 2003 [[road map for peace]], was impossible and the expansions would be limited based on the "natural growth" of the population, including immigration, with no new territories taken. Nevertheless, Netanyahu affirmed that he accepted the road map.<ref>{{cite news |title=Netanyahu's speech: Yes to road map, no to settlement freeze |first1=Barak |last1=Ravid |first2=Aluf |last2=Benn |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/netanyahu-s-speech-yes-to-road-map-no-to-settlement-freeze-1.277711 |newspaper=Haaretz |date=11 June 2009 |access-date=16 March 2013}}</ref> He did not discuss whether or not the settlements should be part of Israel after peace negotiations, simply stating that the "question will be discussed".<ref name=lays>{{cite news |title=Netanyahu wants demilitarized PA state |first=Herb |last=Keinon |author-link=Herb Keinon |url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=145486 |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |date=14 June 2009 |access-date=6 March 2013}}</ref>

In a response to Obama's statements in his Cairo speech, Netanyahu remarked, "there are those who say that if the Holocaust had not occurred, the State of Israel would never have been established. But I say that if the State of Israel would have been established earlier, the Holocaust would not have occurred." He said, "this is the homeland of the Jewish people, this is where our identity was forged." He stated that he would be willing to meet with any "Arab leader" for negotiations without preconditions, specifically mentioning [[Syria]], Saudi Arabia, and [[Lebanon]].<ref name=lays /> The address represented a new position for Netanyahu's government on the peace process.<ref name=huff />

Right-wing members of Netanyahu's governing coalition criticized his remarks for the creation of a Palestinian State, believing all of the land should come under Israeli sovereignty. [[Likud]] [[Knesset|MK]] [[Danny Danon]] said Netanyahu went "against the Likud platform",<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3731827,00.html |title=Netanyahu defends speech to party hardliners|last=Sofer|first=Roni|date=15 June 2009|publisher=[[Ynetnews]]|access-date=17 September 2009}}</ref> while [[Knesset|MK]] [[Uri Orbach]] of [[Habayit Hayehudi]] said it had "dangerous implications".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3731290,00.html|title=Likud members say PM gave in to US pressure|date=14 June 2009 |work=[[Ynet]]|access-date=17 September 2009}}</ref> Opposition party [[Kadima]] leader [[Tzipi Livni]] remarked that she thinks Netanyahu does not really believe in the [[two-state solution]] at all; she thought he only said what he did as a feigned response to international pressure.<ref name=Livni>{{cite news |title=Livni: Netanyahu doesn't believe in two-state solution |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/livni-netanyahu-doesn-t-believe-in-two-state-solution-1.279472 |newspaper=Haaretz |date=7 July 2009 |access-date=16 March 2013}}</ref> [[Peace Now]] criticized the speech, stating it did not address the Palestinians as equal partners in the peace process. The Secretary General of Peace Now, said, "It's a rerun of Netanyahu from his first term".<ref>{{cite news|publisher=[[Peace Now]] |title=Peace Now Response to Bibi Netanyahu's Speech |url=http://www.fmep.org/analysis/analysis/peace-now-response-to-bibi-netanyahus-speech |date=15 June 2009 |access-date=8 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923183725/http://www.fmep.org/analysis/analysis/peace-now-response-to-bibi-netanyahus-speech |archive-date=23 September 2013 }}</ref>

On 9 August 2009, speaking at the opening of a government meeting, Netanyahu repeated his claims from the Palestinians: "We want an agreement with two factors, the first of which is the recognition of Israel as the national state of the Jewish people and (the second of which is) a security settlement".<ref name=sofer />

Netanyahu's speech provoked mixed reaction from the international community.<ref name="rfi">{{cite news|url=http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/114/article_4023.asp|title=Netanyahu speech provokes mix of international reactions|date=15 June 2009|publisher=[[Radio France]]|access-date=16 September 2009|archive-date=19 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619043335/http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/114/article_4023.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Palestinian National Authority]] rejected the conditions on a Palestinian State. [[Saeb Erekat]] said, "Netanyahu's speech closed the door to permanent status negotiations". [[Hamas]] spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said it reflected a "racist and extremist ideology"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3731300,00.html|title=Hamas slams Netanyahu's 'racist, extremist' ideology |date=14 June 2009|work=[[Ynet]]|access-date=11 August 2009}}</ref> and called on Arab nations to "form stronger opposition".<ref name=huff>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/14/netanyahu-peace-speech-is_n_215337.html|title=Netanyahu Peace Speech: Israeli Prime Minister Appeals To Arab Leaders For Peace|date=14 June 2009 |first=Josef |last=Federman |work=The Huffington Post |access-date=14 June 2009}}</ref> [[Palestinian Islamic Jihad]] labeled it "misleading" and demanded stronger opposition to Israel from Arab nations.<ref name=xin>{{cite news |publisher=Xinhua News Agency|title=Netanyahu's speech vexes Arabs|author1=Muhammad Yamany|author2=Chen Gongzheng |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/16/content_11548122.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616232616/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/16/content_11548122.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 June 2009|date=15 June 2009|access-date=16 June 2009}}</ref> According to ''[[The Jerusalem Post]]'', some leaders advocated a third intifada in response to the speech.<ref name=lays />

The [[Arab League]] dismissed it, declaring that "Arabs would not make concessions regarding issues of Jerusalem and refugees" and that "we know his history and style of evasion", adding that the Arab League would not recognize Israel as a Jewish state.<ref name=xin /> Referring to Netanyahu's demand that Palestinians recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people, Egypt's president [[Hosni Mubarak]] remarked, "You won't find anyone to answer that call in Egypt, or in any other place." Issuing a less blunt response, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the speech was "not complete" and it hoped for another, "different Israeli proposal...built on the commitment to the two-state solution".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/15/palestinians-condemn-neta_n_215527.html|title=Palestinians Condemn Netanyahu Speech |format=video|date=15 June 2009 |first=Stewart |last=Whatley |work=The Huffington Post |access-date=15 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/syria-netanyahu-s-policy-has-everything-but-peace-1.278102 |title=Syria: Netanyahu's policy has everything but peace |work=Haaretz |date=15 June 2009 |access-date=26 May 2011 }}</ref> [[Media of Syria|Syrian state media]] condemned the speech and wrote "Netanyahu has confirmed that he rejects the Arab peace initiative for peace along with all the initiatives and resolutions of the Security Council to relative peace."<ref name=rfi /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=145545|title=PM calls Mubarak to clarify stance|date=16 June 2009|work=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|access-date=17 June 2012}}</ref>

Lebanese President [[Michel Suleiman]] said "Arab leaders should be more united and preserve the spirit of resistance to face the Israeli stands regarding the peace process and the Palestinian refugee issue." He called on the international community to exert more pressure on Israel to accept the Arab Peace Initiative, as he said "Israel still has a will of military confrontation which can be proved in its offensives on Lebanon and the Gaza Strip."<ref name=xin /> Jordanian officials said "The ideas presented by Netanyahu do not live up to what was agreed on by the international community as a starting point for achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the region."<ref name=xin /> Former Iranian president [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]] referred to the speech as "bad news".<ref name=rfi />

The [[Czech Republic]] praised Netanyahu's address. "...this is a step in the right direction. The acceptance of a Palestinian state was present there", said Foreign Minister [[Jan Kohout]], whose country held the EU's presidency at the time.<ref name="eu1"/> President Obama's [[press secretary]], [[Robert Gibbs]], said the speech was an "important step forward".<ref name=xin /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/06/14/white-house-reacts-to-netanyahus-speech/|title=White House reacts to Netanyahu's speech|date=14 June 2009|publisher=CNN|access-date=16 September 2009|archive-date=28 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828090154/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/06/14/white-house-reacts-to-netanyahus-speech/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Obama stated that "this solution can and must ensure both Israel's security and the Palestinians' legitimate aspirations for a viable state".<ref name=rfi /> Swedish Foreign Minister [[Carl Bildt]] stated that "the fact that he uttered the word state is a small step forward". He added that "whether what he mentioned can be defined as a state is a subject of some debate".<ref name=rfi /><ref name="eu1">{{cite news |title=EU gives cautious welcome to Netanyahu speech |first=Mark |last=John |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-40333120090615 |work=Reuters |date=15 June 2009 |access-date=16 March 2013 |archive-date=2 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102062917/http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-40333120090615 |url-status=dead }}</ref> France praised the speech but called on Israel to cease building settlements in the West Bank. French Foreign Minister [[Bernard Kouchner]] stated, "I can only welcome the prospect of a Palestinian state outlined by the Israeli prime minister."<ref name=rfi /><ref name=eu1 /> The [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia)|Foreign Ministry of Russia]] called the speech "a sign of readiness for dialogue" but said "it does not open up the road to resolving the Israeli–Palestinian problem. The conditions on the Palestinians would be unacceptable."<ref name=rfi />

=== Economic views ===
{{Quote box|width=290px|align=right|quote=You want to have a [[meritocracy]]. You want to have initiative, risk, talent, the ability to create new products, new services to be rewarded&nbsp;... It's always been about competition. That's what human progress is about. You want to siphon it into productive ways.|source=Benjamin Netanyahu, ''The Marker'', 2014<ref name="haaretz.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/business/.premium-1.585126|title=Netanyahu: Corporate media is responsible for Israeli crony capitalism|first=Guy|last=Rolnik|work=Haaretz|date=11 April 2014}}</ref>}}
By 1998, Netanyahu had acquired a reputation as "the advocate of the free-market" and in 1999 told the ''Jerusalem Post'': "Peace is an end of itself [...] peace, without free markets, will not produce growth. But free markets without peace do produce growth."<ref>{{cite book|last=Hofmann|first=Sabine|date=12 April 2016|orig-year=2012|chapter=Regional Cooperation Under Conflict: Israeli–Arab Business Cooperation in the Middle East |title=Beyond Regionalism?: Regional Cooperation, Regionalism and Regionalization in the Middle East|edition=1st ed. ebook|editor1-first=Cilja|editor1-last=Harders|editor2-first=Matteo|editor2-last=Legrenzi|publisher=Ashgate Publishing Company|location=Burlington, Vermont|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=g1oWULcHdZAC&pg=PA191#v=onepage&q&f=false 191]|isbn=978-1-315-56925-3|doi=10.4324/9781315569253|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g1oWULcHdZAC|via=[[Google Books]]|postscript=none}}, quoting {{cite journal |last1=Barak |first1=Jeff |last2=Harman|first2=Danna|date=11 May 1999|title='The only peace that will hold is a peace we can defend'|journal=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|volume=LXVII|number=20228|page=A8–A9, A14 |id={{ProQuest|1440970870}}|ref=noharv}}</ref> As prime minister in his first term, he significantly reformed the banking sector, removing barriers to investment abroad, mandatory purchases of government securities and direct credit. As Minister of Finance (2003–2005), Netanyahu introduced a major overhaul of the Israeli economy. He introduced a welfare to work program, he led a program of privatization, reduced the size of the public sector, reformed and streamlined the taxation system and passed laws against monopolies and cartels with the aim of increasing competition.<ref name="Likud Leaders 2015"/> Netanyahu extended capital gains taxes from companies to individuals, which allowed him to enlarge the tax base while reducing taxes on incomes.<ref>''Arik: The Life of Ariel Sharon'', By David Landau (Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group 2014), Chapter 14</ref> As the Israeli economy started booming and unemployment fell significantly, Netanyahu was widely credited by commentators as having performed an 'economic miracle' by the end of his tenure.<ref name="Likud Leaders 2015"/> Direct investment in the Israeli economy had increased by an annualized 380%.<ref>[http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-1000016013 Foreign investment in Israel at record levels] Globes, 26 September 2005,  Zeev Klein</ref> On the other hand, his critics have labelled his economic views as [[Margaret Thatcher]]-inspired "popular capitalism".<ref>''The Political Right in Israel: Different Faces of Jewish Populism'', by Dani Filc (Routledge, 2009), p. 65</ref>

Netanyahu defines capitalism as "the ability to have individual initiative and competition to produce goods and services with profit, but not to shut out somebody else from trying to do the same".<ref name="haaretz.com"/> He says that his views developed while he was working as an economic consult for [[Boston Consulting Group]]: "It was the first time that the Boston Consulting Group looked at governments and worked for governments. They wanted to do a strategic plan for the government of Sweden. I was on that case and looked at other governments. So I went around to other governments in Europe in 1976 and I was looking at Britain. I was looking at France. I was looking at other countries, and I could see that they were stymied by concentrations of power that prevented competition. And I thought, hmm, as bad as they are, ours was worse because we had very little room for private sector competition to the extent that we had government-controlled or union-controlled companies, and so you really didn't get the competition or the growth&nbsp;... And I said, well, if I ever have a chance, I'll change that."<ref name="haaretz.com"/>

=== Views on counter-terrorism ===
{{Quote box
| width = 290px
| align = right
| quote = The essence of democratic societies, and that which distinguishes them from dictatorships, is the commitment to resolve conflict in a nonviolent fashion by settling issues through argument and debate&nbsp;... The salient point that has to be underlined again and again is that nothing justifies terrorism, that it is evil per se – that the various real or imagined reasons proffered by the terrorists to justify their actions are meaningless.
| source = Benjamin Netanyahu, 1995<ref name="Farrar, Straus and Giroux">{{cite book |title=Fighting Terrorism: How Democracies Can Defeat Domestic and International Terrorism |year=1995 |publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux |isbn=978-0-374-15492-9 |page=[https://archive.org/details/fightingterroris00neta/page/19 19] |url=https://archive.org/details/fightingterroris00neta/page/19 }}</ref>
}}

Netanyahu has said his own "hard line against all terrorists" came as a result of his brother's death. [[Yoni Netanyahu]] had been killed while leading the hostage-rescue mission at [[Operation Entebbe]].<ref>[[Gordon Thomas (author)|Thomas, Gordon]]. ''Gideon's Spies: The Secret History of the Mossad'', [[Macmillan Publishers]] (2009) p. 145 {{ISBN missing}}</ref>

In addition to having taken part in counter-terrorist operations during his service in the military, Netanyahu has published three books on the subject of fighting terrorism. He identifies terrorism as a form of [[totalitarianism]], writing: <blockquote>The more far removed the target of the attack from any connection to the grievance enunciated by the terrorists, the greater the terror&nbsp;... Yet for terrorism to have any impact, it is precisely the lack of connection, the lack of any possible involvement or "complicity" of the chosen victims in the cause the terrorists seek to attack, that produces the desired fear. For terrorism's underlying message is that every member of society is "guilty", that anyone can be a victim, and that therefore no one is safe... In fact, the methods reveal the totalitarian strain that runs through all terrorist groups... It is not only that the ends of the terrorists do not succeed in justifying the means they choose; their choice of means indicate what their true ends are. Far from being fighters for freedom, terrorists are the forerunners of tyranny. Terrorists use the techniques of violent coercion in order to achieve a regime of violent coercion.<ref>{{cite book |title=Fighting Terrorism: How Democracies Can Defeat Domestic and International Terrorism |year=1995 |publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux |isbn=978-0-374-15492-9 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/fightingterroris00neta/page/8 8–9] |url=https://archive.org/details/fightingterroris00neta/page/8 }}</ref></blockquote>Netanyahu cautions that:<blockquote>The trouble with active anti-terror activities... is that they do constitute a substantial intrusion on the lives of those being monitored.</blockquote>He believes there is a balance between civil liberties and security, which should depend on the level of sustained terrorist attacks in a country. During periods of sustained attack, there should be shift towards security, due to "the monstrous violation of personal rights which is the lot of the victims of terror and their families".<ref name="fightingterroris00neta-33">{{cite book |title=Fighting Terrorism: How Democracies Can Defeat Domestic and International Terrorism |year=1995 |publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux |isbn=978-0-374-15492-9 |page=[https://archive.org/details/fightingterroris00neta/page/33 33] |url=https://archive.org/details/fightingterroris00neta/page/33 }}</ref> But this should be regularly reviewed, with an emphasis on guarding civil liberties and individual privacy wherever and whenever security considerations allow:<ref name="fightingterroris00neta-33" /> "The concern of civil libertarians over possible infringements of the rights of innocent citizens is well placed, and all additional powers granted the security services should require annual renewal by the legislature, this in addition to judicial oversight of actions as they are taken in the field."<ref name="fightingterroris00neta-142">{{cite book |title=Fighting Terrorism: How Democracies Can Defeat Domestic and International Terrorism |year=1995 |publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux |isbn=978-0-374-15492-9 |page=[https://archive.org/details/fightingterroris00neta/page/142 142] |url=https://archive.org/details/fightingterroris00neta/page/142 }}</ref>

He advises tighter immigration laws as an essential tool to preemptively combat terrorism: "This era of immigration free-for-all should be brought to an end. An important aspect of taking control of the immigration situation is stricter background checks of potential immigrants, coupled with the real possibility of deportation."<ref name="fightingterroris00neta-142"/>

He also cautions that it is essential that governments do not conflate terrorists with those legitimate political groups that may or may not hold extremist views, but which advance their positions by means of debate and argument: "Democracies have their share of anti-immigrant or anti-establishment parties, as well as advocates of extreme nationalism or internationalism&nbsp;... [T]hey are often genuinely convinced participants in democracy, accepting its basic ground rules and defending its central tenets. These can and must be distinguished from the tiny splinters at the absolute fringes of democratic society, which may endorse many similar ideas, but use them as a pretext to step outside the rubric of the democratic system".<ref name="Farrar, Straus and Giroux"/>

In particular, [[Ronald Reagan]] was an admirer of Netanyahu's work on counter-terrorism, and Reagan recommended Netanyahu's book ''Terrorism: How the West Can Win'' to all senior figures in his administration.<ref name=star/>

=== Death penalty ===
In 2017, Netanyahu called for the [[death penalty]] to be imposed on the perpetrator of the [[2017 Halamish stabbing attack]].<ref name="DeathPenaltyHalamish">{{cite news|title=Netanyahu demands death penalty for Halamish terrorist|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-demands-death-penalty-for-halamish-terrorist/|access-date=27 July 2017|work=The Times of Israel|date=27 July 2017}}</ref> Representatives in his government introduced a bill which would allow the death penalty for [[terrorism]] to the [[Knesset]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liberman-to-advance-bill-setting-death-penalty-for-terrorists/|title=Israeli leaders push for 'terrorist' death penalty|agency=Agence France-Presse|work=The Times of Israel|date=17 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.faz.net/1.5347505|title=Gesetzesinitiative: Israel will Todesstrafe für Terroristen einführen|via=www.faz.net|newspaper=Faz.net}}</ref> In a preliminary vote in January 2018, 52 of 120 members of the Israeli parliament voted in favor while 49 opposed, to make it easier for judges to hand down the death penalty. The amendment to the penal code would still require three more readings if it is to become law.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-palestinians-deathpenalty/israeli-death-penalty-advocates-win-preliminary-vote-in-parliament-idUSKBN1ES1DT|title=Israeli death penalty advocates win preliminary vote in parliament|publisher=Reuters|date=3 January 2018}}</ref>

=== LGBT rights ===
Netanyahu supports equal rights for [[LGBT]] (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) persons. He said: "The struggle for every person to be recognized as equal before the law is a long struggle, and there is still a long way to go&nbsp;... I am proud that Israel is among the most open countries in the world in relation to the LGBT community discourse."<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/landedpages/printarticle.aspx?id=405669 PM to LGBT community: Israel among world's most open countries] 6 November 2015, ''The Jerusalem Post''</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Omri Nahmias |date=11 June 2015 |url=http://news.walla.co.il/item/2862577 |script-title=he:נתניהו בירך את קהילת הלהט"ב: "ישראל – מהפתוחות בעולם" |language=he |trans-title=Netanyahu congratulates the LGBT community: "Israel – one of the most open in the world" |publisher=[[Walla!]]}}</ref> During an event held for the annual community rights day at the Knesset, Netanyahu said that he was "asked to come here in the middle of my busy schedule to say one thing to the male and female members of the LGBT community: We must be guided by the conviction that every person is created in the image of God."<ref>[https://www.knesset.gov.il/spokesman/eng/PR_eng.asp?PRID=11963 "Knesset marks Gay Community Rights Day; PM Netanyahu: 'We must be guided by the conviction that every person is created in the imago dei{{'"}}] Publicized: 23 February 2016, Knesset Press Releases</ref> However, some of his coalition government's party members opposed [[Same-sex marriage in Israel|same-sex marriage]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-709331/amp|title= Israel's MKs surveyed on gay marriage|date=14 June 2022|work=The Jerusalem Post|archive-date=14 June 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220614023228/https://m.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-709331/amp}}</ref>

=== Ethiopian Jewish integration ===
[[File:Flickr - Government Press Office (GPO) - A memorial service of Ethiopian immigrants.jpg|thumb|upright|Netanyahu at a memorial service of Ethiopian Israeli immigrants, in honor of their friends who died on their way to Israel]]

In 2015, after Ethiopian Jewish protests against police brutality, Netanyahu said: "We will bring a comprehensive plan to the government to assist you in every way. There is no room for racism and discrimination in our society, none&nbsp;... We will turn racism into something contemptible and despicable."<ref>{{cite news|first=Judah Ari|last=Gross|date=17 May 2015|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-failed-ethiopian-community-president-says-at-memorial|title=Israel failed Ethiopian community, president says at memorial|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref>

=== African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem ===
Netanyahu supports the integration of the [[African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem]] into Israeli society, and takes part in celebrations in honor of this community's "exodus" from America to Israel, which occurred in 1967. In 2012, Netanyahu expressed appreciation towards "the cooperative society that is working towards the inclusion of the Hebrew Israelite community in Israeli society at large," and declared that the experience of the community in the land of Israel is "an integral part of the Israeli experience."<ref>{{cite news|first=Andrew|last=Esensten|date=25 May 2012|url=http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/anglo-file/african-hebrew-israelites-mark-their-modern-day-exodus-from-u-s.premium-1.432537|title=African Hebrew Israelites mark their modern day exodus from U.S|work=Haaretz}}</ref>

=== Iran ===
{{See also|Iran–Israel relations|Nuclear program of Iran}}
In an 8 March 2007 interview with [[CNN]], opposition leader Netanyahu claimed that "there is only one difference between Nazi Germany and the Islamic Republic of Iran, namely that the first entered a worldwide conflict and then sought atomic weapons, while the latter is first seeking atomic weapons and, once it has them, will then start a world war." Netanyahu repeated these remarks at a news conference in April 2008.<ref name=Haaretz16042008>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/975574.html |title=Report: Netanyahu says 9/11 terror attacks good for Israel |work=[[Haaretz]] |date=16 April 2008 |access-date=29 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416053833/http://www.haaretz.com/news/report-netanyahu-says-9-11-terror-attacks-good-for-israel-1.244044 |archive-date= 16 April 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This was similar to earlier remarks that "it's 1938, and Iran is Germany, and Iran is racing to arm itself with [[atomic bombs]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/787766.html |first=Peter |last=Hirschberg |title=Netanyahu: It's 1938 and Iran is Germany; Ahmadinejad is preparing another Holocaust |work=[[Haaretz]] |date=14 November 2006 |access-date=29 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407122943/http://www.haaretz.com/news/netanyahu-it-s-1938-and-iran-is-germany-ahmadinejad-is-preparing-another-holocaust-1.205137 |archive-date= 7 April 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 20 February 2009, after being asked to be the prime minister of Israel, Netanyahu described Iran as the greatest threat that Israel has ever faced: "Iran is seeking to obtain a nuclear weapon and constitutes the gravest threat to our existence since the war of independence."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Byers |first1=David |last2=Hider |first2=James |date=20 February 2009 |title=Binyamin Netanyahu targets Iran after he is appointed Prime Minister |url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/binyamin-netanyahu-targets-iran-after-he-is-appointed-prime-minister-62vgfg7fvg3?region=global |access-date=2025-04-25 |work=[[The Times]] |location=London}}</ref> Speaking before the UN General Assembly in New York on 24 September 2009, Netanyahu expressed a different opinion than Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech at the forum, saying those who believe Tehran is a threat only to Israel are wrong. "The Iranian regime", he said, "is motivated by fanaticism&nbsp;... They want to see us go back to medieval times. The struggle against Iran pits civilization against barbarism. This Iranian regime is fueled by extreme fundamentalism."<ref name=un-1/><ref name=un-2/> "By focusing solely on Iran", columnist [[Yossi Melman]] speculated that Netanyahu's foreign policy, "...&nbsp;took the Palestinian issue off the world agenda." After four days of shelling from the Iranian-funded [[Palestinian Islamic Jihad]], Melman asked, "Is it worth initiating a crisis with Iran? Will the Israeli public be able to cope with Iran's response?"<ref name="Tab 15Mar2012">{{cite news |url=http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/94134/under-fire/ |title=Under Fire |first=Yossi |last=Melman |date=15 March 2012 |newspaper=Tablet |access-date=16 March 2012}}</ref>

According to [[Uzi Eilam]], a retired [[brigadier general]] and the ex-director of Israel's Atomic Energy Commission, Netanyahu is using the threat of atomic Iran as a means of reaching his own goals. Directly blaming Netanyahu, he said: "Netanyahu is using the Iranian threat to achieve a variety of political objectives." He also said: "These declarations are unnecessarily scaring Israel's citizens, given Israel is not party to the negotiations to determine whether Iran will or will not dismantle its nuclear program."<ref name="Ynet">{{cite news|last1=Bergman|first1=Ronen|author-link=Ronen Bergman|title=Ex-atomic agency chief: Netanyahu using scare tactics on Iran nuclear program|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4517536,00.html |work=Ynet|date=5 August 2014 |access-date=15 February 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Prime Minister and Defense Minister at Weaponry Display.jpg|thumb|left|Standing with [[Ministry of Defense (Israel)|Israeli Minister of Defense]] [[Ehud Barak]], Netanyahu holds an Iranian instruction manual for the [[C-704|anti-ship missile]] captured in [[Victoria Affair]], March 2011.]]
By 2012, Netanyahu is reported to have formed a close, confidential relationship with Defense Minister [[Ehud Barak]] as the two men considered possible Israeli military action against Iran's nuclear facilities,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/28/world/middleeast/netanyahu-and-barak-bond-over-israels-iran-crisis.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=all |title=2 Israeli Leaders Make the Iran Issue Their Own |last=Bonner |first=Ethan |newspaper=The New York Times |date=28 March 2012 |access-date=28 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/R42443.pdf |title=Israel: Possible Strike Against Iran's Nuclear Facilities |publisher=[[Congressional Research Service]] |date=28 September 2012 |access-date=2 October 2012}}</ref> following Israel's established [[Begin Doctrine]]. The pair were accused of acting on "messianic" impulses by Yuval Diskin, former head of the [[Shin Bet]], who added that their warmongering rhetoric appealed to "the idiots within the Israeli public".<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.timesofisrael.com/ex-intelligence-chief-diskin-says-netanyahu-barak-not-fit-to-lead-israel-and-wrong-on-iran/ |title= Netanyahu, Barak 'not fit to lead Israel' and wrong on Iran |last= Shmulovich |first= Michael |date= 28 April 2012 |newspaper= The Times of Israel |access-date=29 April 2012 }}</ref> Diskin's remarks were supported by former Mossad chief Meir Dagan,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/olmert-opposes-iran-strike/ |title=Olmert opposes strike on Iranian nuclear program |date=25 April 2012 |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The Times of Israel |access-date=30 April 2012 |quote=Meir Dagan, Israel's ex-Mossad chief, told the station he supported Diskin. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919025443/http://www.timesofisrael.com/olmert-opposes-iran-strike/ |archive-date=19 September 2010 }}</ref> who himself had previously said that an attack on Iran was "the stupidest thing I have ever heard".<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/former-mossad-chief-israel-air-strike-on-iran-stupidest-thing-i-have-ever-heard-1.360367 |title= Former Mossad chief: Israel air strike on Iran 'stupidest thing I have ever heard' |first= Yossi|last=Melman |date= 7 May 2011 |newspaper= [[Haaretz]] |access-date=28 April 2012 }}</ref> A few weeks later, the [[RAND Corporation]] (a leading American think-tank that advises the [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]]) also openly disagreed with Netanyahu's belligerent stance: "In doing so, and without naming names, RAND sided with former Mossad chief Meir Dagan and former head of the Shin Bet Yuval Diskin."<ref>{{cite news |title=Top U.S. think tank warns against Israeli, American strike on Iran |first=Amir |last=Oren |url=http://www.haaretz.com/misc/iphone-article/top-u-s-think-tank-warns-against-israeli-american-strike-on-iran.premium-1.430697 |newspaper=Haaretz |date=16 May 2012 |access-date=16 March 2013}}</ref>

Early in 2012, he used the opening ceremony for Israel's Holocaust Remembrance Day to warn against the dangers of an Iranian nuclear bomb, saying he was following the example of Jewish leaders during World War II who struggled to raise the alarm about the Nazis' genocidal intentions.<ref name = "SaSe 18Apr2012">{{cite news |url= http://www.timesofisrael.com/warning-of-iranian-threat-is-the-best-way-to-honor-holocaust-victims/ |title= PM: 'Warning of Iranian threat is best way to honor Holocaust victims' |last= Ser |first= Sam |date= 18 April 2012 |newspaper= The Times of Israel |access-date=18 April 2012 }}</ref> Israeli academic [[Avner Cohen]] accused Netanyahu of showing "contempt" for the Holocaust by putting it to "political use",<ref name="AC 19Mar2012">{{cite news |url= http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/netanyahu-s-contempt-for-the-holocaust-1.419462 |title= Netanyahu's contempt for the Holocaust |author= Avner Cohen |author-link= Avner Cohen |date= 19 March 2012 |newspaper= [[Haaretz]] |access-date=31 March 2012 }}</ref> and former Israeli foreign minister [[Shlomo Ben-Ami]] similarly condemned Netanyahu's "vulgar manipulation of the memory of the Holocaust".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/iran-s-nuclear-grass-eaters |title= Iran's Nuclear Grass Eaters |author= Shlomo Ben-Ami |date= 4 April 2012 |publisher= Project Syndicate |access-date=5 April 2012 }}</ref> Immediately after the [[2012 Burgas bus bombing]], Netanyahu confirmed that the attack had been undertaken in coordination with Iran.<ref>{{cite news |title=Netanyahu: Hezbollah, directed by Iran, carried out Burgas terror attack |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-hezbollah-directed-by-iran-carried-out-burgas-terror-attack/ |newspaper=The Times of Israel |date=19 July 2012 |access-date=16 March 2013}}</ref>
[[File:Demonstrations and protests against United States recognition of Jerusalem in Tehran 032.jpg|thumb|Protest against [[United States recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel|U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel]], Tehran, 11 December 2017]]
Netanyahu stated during a 29 July meeting that, in his opinion, "all the sanctions and diplomacy so far have not set back the Iranian programme by one iota".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nation.com.pk/30-Jul-2012/iran-unmoved-by-curbs-says-netanyahu|newspaper=[[The Nation (Pakistan)|The Nation]]|location=Pakistan|date=30 July 2012|title=Iran unmoved by curbs, says Netanyahu|access-date=30 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927193049/http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/international/30-Jul-2012/iran-unmoved-by-curbs-says-netanyahu|archive-date=27 September 2013}}</ref> And in August he stated that the United States only might respond to a massive attack against Israel.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/diplomania/netanyahu-if-israel-attacks-iran-i-will-take-responsibility-for-the-consequences-1.455853 |title=Netanyahu: If Israel attacks Iran, I will take responsibility for the consequences |last=Ravid |first=Barak |date=3 August 2012 |newspaper=Haaretz |access-date=17 March 2013}}</ref> On 28 September 2012, Netanyahu gave a speech to the UN General Assembly in which he set forward a "red line" of 90% uranium enrichment, stating that if Iran were to reach this level, it would become an intolerable risk for Israel.<ref>{{cite news |title=Netanyahu: Red Line is when Iran Reaches 90% of Enriched Uranium |first=Gil |last=Ronen |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/160353 |publisher=Arutz Sheva |date=27 September 2012 |access-date=6 March 2013}}</ref> Netanyahu used a cartoon graphic of a bomb to illustrate his point, indicating three stages of uranium enrichment, noting that Iran had already completed the first stage, and stating that "By next spring, at most by next summer at current enrichment rates, [Iran] will have finished the medium enrichment and move on to the final stage. From there, it's only a few months, possibly a few weeks before they get enough enriched uranium for the first bomb."<ref>{{cite web|access-date=7 June 2021|title=Report: Mossad was less alarmed than Israel premier on Iran|date=23 February 2015 |url=https://apnews.com/article/d2cf525e85f6492c8dc07c2cbabe1913|via=[[AP News]]}}</ref> At the time, according to cables leaked in 2015, Mossad's assessment was that Iran did not appear ready to enrich uranium to levels required for a nuclear bomb.<ref>Seumas Milne, Ewen MacAskill and Clayton Swisher (23 February 2015). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/23/leaked-spy-cables-netanyahu-iran-bomb-mossad "Leaked cables show Netanyahu's Iran bomb claim contradicted by Mossad"]. ''[[The Guardian]]''.</ref>

In an October 2013 interview with BBC Persian Service, Netanyahu praised the history of Persia and said: "If the Iranian regime has nuclear weapons, the Iranian people will never be free of dictatorship and will live in eternal servitude."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.netanyahu.org.il/en/news/686-pm-netanyahu-is-interviewed-for-the-first-time-in-the-persian-language-media|date=3 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007122509/http://netanyahu.org.il/en/news/686-pm-netanyahu-is-interviewed-for-the-first-time-in-the-persian-language-media|archive-date=7 October 2013|title=PM Netanyahu is Interviewed for the First Time in the Persian-language Media |publisher=The Prime Minister of Israel Official Website}}</ref>

The U.S. military's [[2020 Baghdad International Airport airstrike]], which killed the high-level Iranian General [[Qasem Soleimani]], brought strong reactions from around the world. Netanyahu praised the air strike, saying that Trump had acted "swiftly, forcefully and decisively".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.euronews.com/2020/01/03/a-declaration-of-war-and-an-escalation-the-world-reacts-to-soleimani-killing |title=Qassem Soleimani: Iranians mourn as world reacts to death of Iran's top military official |publisher=[[Euronews]] |date=3 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103083046/https://www.euronews.com/2020/01/03/a-declaration-of-war-and-an-escalation-the-world-reacts-to-soleimani-killing |archive-date=3 January 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Bank of China terror financing case ===
In 2013, Netanyahu found himself caught between conflicting commitments made to the family of American terror victim [[Death of Daniel Wultz|Daniel Wultz]] and the Government of China. Although Netanyahu was reported to have previously promised U.S. Representative [[Ileana Ros-Lehtinen]] that Israel would fully cooperate in the terror-financing case against Bank of China in U.S. District Court, the prime minister reportedly made a conflicting promise to the Government of China prior to a state visit to China in May 2013.<ref name=slate>{{cite magazine|last=Loeffler|first=James| url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2014/02/wultz_vs_bank_of_china_daniel_wultz_parents_attempt_to_use_domestic_courts.html | title=Uncivil Damages: American victims of terrorism are suing a Chinese bank. Israel is trying to stop them |magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |location=New York |date=13 February 2014 |access-date=13 February 2014}}</ref> Attorney [[David Boies]], lead counsel for the Wultz family, told ''The Wall Street Journal'', "While we are respectful of China's interests, and of the diplomatic pressure to which Israel has been subjected, those interests and that pressure cannot be permitted to obstruct the ability of American courts to hear critical evidence."<ref name=davidboies>{{cite news |last=Balmer |first=Crispian |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/israel-china-case-idUSL6N0JW2EQ20131217 |title=U.S. court urged to reject Israeli attempt to silence witness |work=Reuters |location=Jerusalem |date=17 December 2014 |access-date=17 December 2014 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402103423/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/17/israel-china-case-idUSL6N0JW2EQ20131217 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=arutzsheva>{{cite news|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/170191#.U2bwZK1kE9Y| title=Families Urge PM: Don't Give Into Terror |publisher=Arutz Sheva |location=Miami |date=23 July 2013 |access-date=17 July 2013}}</ref>

In August 2013, Ros-Lehtinen, chair of the House Middle East and South Asia subcommittee, told the ''Miami Herald'' she raised the issue while leading a congressional delegation to Israel, stressing to Israeli officials the importance of them providing the Wultz family what they need for their lawsuit.<ref name=miamiherald>{{cite news|last=Benn |first=Evan |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/08/22/3580282/weston-family-faces-frustration.html |title=Weston family faces frustration of court fight after grief of terror bombing |work=Miami Herald |location=Miami |date=22 August 2013 |access-date=22 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823013443/http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/08/22/3580282/weston-family-faces-frustration.html |archive-date=23 August 2013 }}</ref> "I am hopeful that we can bring this case to a conclusion that is satisfactory to the family, but we need community support to not waver at this critical time," Ros-Lehtinen said.<ref name=miamiherald/>

U.S. Representative [[Debbie Wasserman Schultz]], chair of the [[Democratic National Committee]], also spoke out on the issue with the ''Miami Herald'': "In South Florida, we all know too well of the tragic circumstances surrounding the cowardly terrorist attack that took [[Death of Daniel Wultz|Daniel Wultz's]] innocent life. I have been working, hand in hand with the Wultz family and the state of Israel to ensure any and all of those involved in this terrorist activity, including the Bank of China, pay for their crimes so that justice can be served."<ref name=miamiherald/>

=== Defense and security ===
[[File:Btselem-south israel2.jpg|thumb|Israelis in Ashkelon run for shelter following a missile alert during [[Operation Protective Edge]]]]
In 2011, Netanyahu arranged for 1000 Hamas and Fatah prisoners to be [[Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange|swapped]] for [[Gilad Shalit]], including terrorists with "blood on their hands".<ref>{{cite news |title=Hamas: Israel Crossed its Own Red Lines |first=Gabe |last=Kahn |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/148897 |publisher=Arutz Sheva |date=18 October 2011 |access-date=16 March 2013}}</ref> Israeli officials estimate that 60% of those who are released "resume terrorism attacks".<ref>{{cite news |title=Gilad Shalit Release: Israel's Joy Tempered by Memories of an Intifadeh |first=Karl |last=Vick |url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2097192,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018173731/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2097192,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 October 2011 |newspaper=Time |date=18 October 2011 |access-date=17 March 2013}}</ref>

In 2011, Israeli General Staff concluded that the armed forces cannot maintain their battle readiness under Netanyahu's proposed cuts.<ref>{{cite news|first=Amos|last=Harel|author-link=Amos Harel|url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/idf-battle-readiness-to-suffer-if-budget-cut-senior-officers-warn-1.389238?localLinksEnabled=false|title=IDF battle readiness to suffer if budget cut, senior officers warn|work=Haaretz|date=11 October 2011}}</ref> However Netanyahu decided to cut social programs instead, and promised to increase the defense budget by about six percent.<ref>{{cite news |title=Netanyahu decides not to cut Israel's defense budget in 2012 |first=Moti |last=Bassok |url=http://www.haaretz.com/business/netanyahu-decides-not-to-cut-israel-s-defense-budget-in-2012-1.403639 |newspaper=Haaretz |date=26 December 2011 |access-date=16 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Israel to increase defence budget by $700m |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/01/20121961921721933.html |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date=9 January 2012 |access-date=17 March 2013}}</ref> In spite of this, the Israeli military still fell NIS 3.7&nbsp;million short from its projected budget, which could damage their war capabilities.<ref>[[Amos Harel|Harel, Amos]]. [http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/idf-to-ground-warplanes-freeze-iron-dome-production-over-budget-woes-1.412441?localLinksEnabled=false "IDF to ground warplanes, freeze Iron Dome production over budget woes"]. ''Haaretz''. 12 February 2012.</ref> According to a U.S. State Department representative in November 2011, under the leadership of Netanyahu and Obama, Israel and the United States have enjoyed unprecedented security cooperation.<ref>Shapiro, Andrew J. [https://2009-2017.state.gov/t/pm/rls/rm/176684.htm "Ensuring Israel's Qualitative Military Edge"]. U.S. State Department, 4 November 2011.</ref>

Under Netanyahu's leadership, the Israeli [[National Security Council (Israel)|National Security Council]] has seen an expanded role in foreign policy planning and decision-making.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/inside-israels-white-house-how-netanyahu-runs-the-country/|title=Inside Israel's White House: How Netanyahu runs the country|author=Haviv Rettig Gur|date=6 January 2014|newspaper=The Times of Israel|access-date=6 January 2014}}</ref>

During the [[Gaza war]] he called for Israel to assume "overall security responsibility" over the Gaza Strip, saying "we've seen what happens when we don't have it [...] what we have is the eruption of Hamas terror on a scale that we couldn't imagine".<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 November 2023 |title=Israel fights Hamas in 'depths' of Gaza City and foresees control of enclave's security after war |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-11-7-2023-6e1425d218de6a73f8a51e4c036cfd39 |access-date=7 November 2023 |website=[[AP News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Israel-Hamas war: Netanyahu says Israel will have 'overall security' role in Gaza for 'indefinite period' |url=https://news.sky.com/story/israel-hamas-war-netanyahu-says-israel-will-have-overall-security-role-in-gaza-for-indefinite-period-13002439 |access-date=7 November 2023 |website=[[Sky News]]}}</ref>

===Illegal immigration===
In his 1995 book ''Fighting Terrorism: How Democracies Can Defeat Domestic and International Terrorism'', Netanyahu strongly argued that tightening immigration laws in the West is the most effective method to combat terrorism. "This era of immigration free-for-all should be brought to an end", he wrote in 1995.<ref name="fightingterroris00neta-142"/>

In 2012, the Netanyahu government passed the "Prevention of Infiltration Law", which mandated automatic detention of all people, including asylum-seekers, who enter Israel without permission. Amnesty International called it "an affront to international law".<ref>{{cite web |date=8 October 2012 |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2012/10/28/israel-asylum-seekers-blocked-border |title=Israel: Asylum Seekers Blocked at Border |publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]] |access-date=16 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=10 January 2012 |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/news/new-israeli-detention-law-violates-asylum-seekers-rights-2012-01-10 |title=Israel: New detention law violates rights of asylum-seekers |publisher=[[Amnesty International]] |access-date=16 September 2014 |archive-date=22 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822042351/http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/new-israeli-detention-law-violates-asylum-seekers-rights-2012-01-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Between 2009 and 2013, approximately 60,000 people [[Illegal immigration from Africa to Israel|crossed into Israel from various African countries]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Israel to jail illegal migrants for up to three years |first=Allyn |last=Fisher-Ilan |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-israel-immigrants-idUKBRE8520DX20120603 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102062917/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-israel-immigrants-idUKBRE8520DX20120603 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 January 2016 |publisher=Reuters |date=3 June 2012 |access-date=16 March 2013}}</ref> Netanyahu said that "this phenomenon is very grave and threatens the social fabric of society, our national security and our national identity."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/may/20/israel-netanyahu-african-immigrants-jewish|title=Israel PM: illegal African immigrants threaten identity of Jewish state|work=The Guardian|date=20 May 2012|first=Harriet|last=Sherwood}}</ref> Many of these migrants are held in [[Immigration detention|detention camps]] in the Negev desert.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/10743910/We-are-prisoners-here-say-migrants-at-Israels-desert-detention-camp.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/10743910/We-are-prisoners-here-say-migrants-at-Israels-desert-detention-camp.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title='We are prisoners here', say migrants at Israel's desert detention camp|first=Robert|last=Tait|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=4 April 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> When the Supreme Court of Israel declared the "Prevention of Infiltration Law" illegal for permitting immediate and indefinite detention of asylum seekers from Africa, Netanyahu requested new legislation to work around the Supreme Court ruling.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel/1.620115|title=Jewish refugee organization slams Netanyahu on asylum seekers|work=Haaretz|date=10 October 2014}}</ref>

Netanyahu is critical of what he sees as the overly open immigration policy of EU nations. Netanyahu has urged the leaders of [[Hungary]], [[Slovakia]], [[Czech Republic]] and [[Poland]] to close their borders to [[illegal immigration]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-overheard-comments-netanyahu-lashes-eus-crazy-policy-on-israel|title=In hot mic comments, Netanyahu lashes EU's 'crazy' policy on Israel|last=Ahren|first=Raphael|date=19 July 2017|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref>