Place of Birth: Tel Aviv, Israel
Date of Birth: 21 October, 1949
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish
Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician. He has been Prime Minister of Israel, since 29 December, 2022, and, previously, from 18 June, 1996 to 6 July, 1999, and, from 31 March, 2009 to 13 June, 2021. He has also been Chairman of Likud, since 20 December, 2005, and, previously, from 3 February, 1993 to 6 July, 1999; Leader of the Opposition, from 3 February, 1993 to 18 June, 1996, again, from 16 January, 2006 to 31 March, 2009, and again, from 28 June, 2021 to 29 December, 2022; as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs, from 2002 to 2003, from 2012 to 2013, and again, from 2015 to 2019, Minister of Finance, from 2003 to 2005, and Minister of Defense, from 2018 to 2019, among many other duties.
His father, Benzion Netanyahu (born Benzion Mileikowsky), a scholar, was a Polish Jewish emigrant, born in Warsaw, who moved with his family to Israel in 1920. His mother, Tzila (Segal), was born in Petah Tikva, Israel, of Lithuanian Jewish, Polish Jewish, and Belarusian Jewish descent. His uncle was mathematician Elisha Netanyahu. He is married to educational and career psychologist Sara Netanyahu (born Sara Ben-Artzi). He has a daughter with his former wife Miriam Weizmann, and two children with Sara. His brother, Yonatan Netanyahu, was an Israel Defense Forces officer, who was killed while commanding the elite unit Sayeret Matkal during Operation Entebbe, in 1976. His younger brother is physician, author, and playwright Iddo Netanyahu.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has said that a DNA test taken by his brother Iddo showed him to have Sephardi ancestry.
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s paternal grandfather was Nathan Mileikowsky (the son of Zvi/Tzvi Hirsch Milikovsky/Mileikovsky and Liba Gitl Milikovsky). Nathan, a rabbi, educator, writer, and political activist, was born in Krevo, Lithuania, now Belarus. Zvi was the son of Chaim Mileikovsky/Mileikowsky, Halevi, and Pesia/Pessia. Liba was the daughter of Avigdor Leib.
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s paternal grandmother was named Sarah Lurie (the daughter of Ben Zion/Bentsel Lurie). Sarah was born in Šeduva, Lithuania. Ben was the son of Girsh Lurie and Ette.
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s maternal grandfather was named Binyamin Segal (the son of Hersz Zwi Segal, Halevi, and Rachel).
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s maternal grandmother was Chana Malka Markus (the daughter of Avraham Marcus/Markus and Chaia Sorah Dworsky). Chana was born in Lazdijai, Lazdijai, Alytus, Lithuania. Avraham was born in Kovno, Lithuania, the son of Tsvi “Hirshe” Markus and Perl Galanty. Chaia was born in Suwalki, Poland, the daughter of Azriel Zelig Dworsky and Batia/Baszka Dvoresky.
Prime Minister Netanyahu is a third cousin, twice removed, of American actor Leo Howard. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s maternal great-grandmother, Chaia Sorah Dworsky, was a sister of Leo’s maternal great-great-great-grandfather, Jacob Dworsky.
