[1/4] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sits between Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant as lawmakers gather at the Knesset plenum to vote on a bill that would limit some Supreme Court power, in Jerusalem July 24, 2023.
POLARIZINGPerhaps the most polarizing of Israel's leaders, but a supreme pragmatist, Netanyahu had always been seen as a recognizable conservative - pro-business and tough on security.
A stocky, imposing figure, his poise and flawless American English have underlined his outsized role on the world stage.
That meant closing ranks with religious and ultra-nationalist parties untroubled about upsetting Israel's allies with their openly expansionist agenda.
A lifelong security hardliner and a scourge of liberal opinion, Netanyahu described himself in his autobiography - "Bibi My Story" - as "conservative but decidedly not extreme".
Persons:
Benjamin Netanyahu, Yariv Levin, Yoav Gallant, Amir Cohen JERUSALEM, Netanyahu, Herzi Halevi, pragmatist, Israel's, Bibi, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, Joe Biden, James Mackenzie, Christina Fincher
Organizations:
REUTERS, Special Forces, West Bank, Thomson
Locations:
Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Israel