Before becoming Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu studied at MIT and worked at Boston Consulting Group; how his business career shaped his economic policies

Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing one of his biggest tests of his political career as people cast ballots in the country's first legislative election since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. Netanyahu is the country's longest-serving Prime Minister.

This election is crucial for Netanyahu and is seen as a referendum on his leadership and what Israelis really want. According to local media reports, the content looks very tight as Israel decides upon its future.

Apart from his political career, Netanyahu’s personal life and early moves are not known to many people.

Education and early career

Netanyahu studied architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). There he reportedly earned a bachelor's degree. He also studied business management at MIT and earned a master's degree.

After completing his education he worked at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in the late 1970s. His time in the US gave him experience in business management and the private-sector approach to economic problems.

After a few years, he returned to Israel and became involved in public service and diplomacy. He served as Israel's ambassador to the United Nations from 1984 to 1988. There he gained international diplomatic experience before becoming a leading political figure.

He became Israel's prime minister for the first time in 1996.

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Netanyahu's role and reforms

From 1996 to 1999, he supported economic liberalisation. His official biography identifies measures including easing foreign-currency restrictions, accelerating privatisation and reducing the budget deficit.

He then served as the finance minister from 2003 to 2005. At that time, he reportedly had direct responsibility for economic policy. His official biography shows reforms involving taxation, public expenditure, welfare, privatisation and capital markets.

The country's economy returned to growth after contracting in 2001 and 2002. The IMF estimated real GDP growth of 1.3% in 2003.

Netanyahu's supporters hailed him and credited his reforms with improving investor confidence and encouraging growth.

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Netanyahu's economic vision

In a July 2019 interview with TIME, he argued that Israel's military capabilities had helped the country achieve international success in technology, business and diplomacy. Netanyahu presented military innovation and private enterprise as complementary drivers of Israel's economic strength.