by tyler | Mar 8, 2024 | CNN, middleeast
Here’s a look at the life of Israel’s former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
Birth date: March 25, 1972
Birth place: Haifa, Israel
Birth name: Naftali Bennett
Father: Jim Bennett
Mother: Myrna (Lefko) Bennett
Marriage: Gilat Bennett (1999-present)
Children: Four children
Education: Hebrew University of Jerusalem, bachelor’s degree in Law
Military service: Israeli Defense Forces Sayeret Matkal and Maglan units, 1990-1996, Commander
Religion: Jewish
His parents are immigrants from San Francisco.
Is a former tech entrepreneur and millionaire.
Bennett is considered comparatively liberal on a handful of issues. Despite his religious background, he said that gay people should “fully have all the civil rights a straight person in Israel has,” the Times of Israel reported – though he also said that didn’t mean he would take action to ensure legal equality.
April 18, 1996 – During his military service, Bennett leads a unit into Lebanon during Israel’s “Operation Grapes of Wrath,” in which an Israeli artillery strike near a UN camp kills more than 100 civilians. The incident is known as the Qana Massacre.
1999 – Moves from Israel to New York to launch the tech start-up Cyota, a cybersecurity and anti-fraud software company.
2005 – Sells Cyota to RSA Security for $145 million.
2006-2008 – Serves as chief of staff under Benjamin Netanyahu.
2009 – Serves as CEO of Soluto, a software company, for several months.
January 2010-January 2012 – Serves as director of The Yesha Council, an organization representing Jewish settlements in the West Bank and their populations.
2012 – Leads the pro-settler party Jewish Home, making his desire to prevent the formation of a Palestinian state a central plank of his pitch to voters.
March 2013 – Appointed as Minister of Economy, Minister of Religious Services, Minister for Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs.
November 5, 2014 – Writes in an op-ed in the New York Times, “The old models of peace between Israel and the Palestinians are no longer relevant. The time has come to rethink the two-state solution.”
February 2015 – Appointed as Acting Senior Citizen Affairs Minister
May 2015 – Appointed as Minister of Education and Minister for Diaspora Affairs.
October 8, 2018 – The Times of Israel reports that Bennett says if he were defense minister, he would enact a “shoot to kill” policy on the border with Gaza. Asked if that would apply to children breaching the barrier, he replies: “They are not children – they are terrorists. We are fooling ourselves.”
2019 – Rebrands the Jewish Home party as “Yamina” after merging with another party.
May 30, 2021 – Bennett announces he is working toward a coalition agreement with Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist party Yesh Atid, to join a new government.
June 2, 2021 – Lapid announces an eight-party coalition agreement has been signed. Under the agreement, Bennett will focus on domestic issues during his two years as prime minister, before he hands the reins to Lapid in August 2023.
June 13, 2021 – Bennett is sworn in as Israel’s new prime minister after winning a confidence vote with 60 votes to 59, bringing an end to Netanyahu’s run as the country’s prime minister after more than 12 consecutive years in office.
December 12, 2021 – Bennett travels to the United Arab Emirates to meet with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan. Bennet is the first Israeli prime minister to visit the United Arab Emirates.
February 14, 2022 – Travels to Bahrain to meet with Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa. Bennett is the first Israeli prime minister to visit Bahrain.
June 29, 2022 – Bennett announces he will not run for reelection as prime minister, the day before the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, votes to dissolve itself, triggering new elections. Bennett’s coalition partner Lapid takes over as caretaker prime minister on July 1.
by tyler | Mar 7, 2024 | CNN, middleeast
Here’s a look at the life of Israel’s former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
Birth date: March 25, 1972
Birth place: Haifa, Israel
Birth name: Naftali Bennett
Father: Jim Bennett
Mother: Myrna (Lefko) Bennett
Marriage: Gilat Bennett (1999-present)
Children: Four children
Education: Hebrew University of Jerusalem, bachelor’s degree in Law
Military service: Israeli Defense Forces Sayeret Matkal and Maglan units, 1990-1996, Commander
Religion: Jewish
His parents are immigrants from San Francisco.
Is a former tech entrepreneur and millionaire.
Bennett is considered comparatively liberal on a handful of issues. Despite his religious background, he said that gay people should “fully have all the civil rights a straight person in Israel has,” the Times of Israel reported – though he also said that didn’t mean he would take action to ensure legal equality.
April 18, 1996 – During his military service, Bennett leads a unit into Lebanon during Israel’s “Operation Grapes of Wrath,” in which an Israeli artillery strike near a UN camp kills more than 100 civilians. The incident is known as the Qana Massacre.
1999 – Moves from Israel to New York to launch the tech start-up Cyota, a cybersecurity and anti-fraud software company.
2005 – Sells Cyota to RSA Security for $145 million.
2006-2008 – Serves as chief of staff under Benjamin Netanyahu.
2009 – Serves as CEO of Soluto, a software company, for several months.
January 2010-January 2012 – Serves as director of The Yesha Council, an organization representing Jewish settlements in the West Bank and their populations.
2012 – Leads the pro-settler party Jewish Home, making his desire to prevent the formation of a Palestinian state a central plank of his pitch to voters.
March 2013 – Appointed as Minister of Economy, Minister of Religious Services, Minister for Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs.
November 5, 2014 – Writes in an op-ed in the New York Times, “The old models of peace between Israel and the Palestinians are no longer relevant. The time has come to rethink the two-state solution.”
February 2015 – Appointed as Acting Senior Citizen Affairs Minister
May 2015 – Appointed as Minister of Education and Minister for Diaspora Affairs.
October 8, 2018 – The Times of Israel reports that Bennett says if he were defense minister, he would enact a “shoot to kill” policy on the border with Gaza. Asked if that would apply to children breaching the barrier, he replies: “They are not children – they are terrorists. We are fooling ourselves.”
2019 – Rebrands the Jewish Home party as “Yamina” after merging with another party.
May 30, 2021 – Bennett announces he is working toward a coalition agreement with Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist party Yesh Atid, to join a new government.
June 2, 2021 – Lapid announces an eight-party coalition agreement has been signed. Under the agreement, Bennett will focus on domestic issues during his two years as prime minister, before he hands the reins to Lapid in August 2023.
June 13, 2021 – Bennett is sworn in as Israel’s new prime minister after winning a confidence vote with 60 votes to 59, bringing an end to Netanyahu’s run as the country’s prime minister after more than 12 consecutive years in office.
December 12, 2021 – Bennett travels to the United Arab Emirates to meet with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan. Bennet is the first Israeli prime minister to visit the United Arab Emirates.
February 14, 2022 – Travels to Bahrain to meet with Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa. Bennett is the first Israeli prime minister to visit Bahrain.
June 29, 2022 – Bennett announces he will not run for reelection as prime minister, the day before the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, votes to dissolve itself, triggering new elections. Bennett’s coalition partner Lapid takes over as caretaker prime minister on July 1.
by tyler | Dec 28, 2023 | CNN, middleeast
Here is a look at the life of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, who succeeded his half brother King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz on January 22, 2015.
Birth date: December 31, 1935
Birth place: Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Father: King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman al Saud
Mother: Hassa bint Ahmed al-Sudairi
Marriages: Wives’ names not available publicly, but according to Islamic tradition, he is allowed no more than four at a time.
Children: Exact number is not available publicly. Sons include: Sultan, Mohammed, Abdulaziz, Faisal, Khaled, Turki
Education: Attended the Princes’ School
Religion: Wahhabism (a conservative Islamic sect)
He is one of the “Sudairi Seven,” sons of King Abdulaziz who all share the same mother and who have been the most powerful within the House of Saud.
He was the third prince to be named the heir by King Abdullah, who ascended the throne in 2005.
He memorized the Quran by the time he was 10 years old.
Was known as the family disciplinarian and purportedly maintained a royal family “jail” where unruly or errant royal family members were kept.
His son Prince Sultan was a payload specialist on a 1985 Space Shuttle Discovery mission.
1955-1960 and 1963-2011 – Governor of Riyadh.
November 2011 – Becomes the minister of defense after the death of his brother Crown Prince Sultan.
April 11, 2012 – During an official visit to the United States, Prince Salman meets with US President Barack Obama.
June 18, 2012 – King Abdullah names him the crown prince and heir to the throne.
August 28, 2012 – Crown Prince Salman is left in charge of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the first time while the King is on “special leave.”
January 22, 2015 – Officially becomes the new king of Saudi Arabia after the death of King Abdullah.
January 23, 2015 – King Salman affirms by royal decree Crown Prince Muqrin to succeed him as king and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef as second in line to the throne.
January 27, 2015 – Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama visit King Salman in Saudi Arabia.
February 10, 2015 – Prince Charles visits King Salman while on a six-day tour of the Middle East.
April 29, 2015 – King Salman relieves Crown Prince Muqrin of his position and appoints Mohammed bin Nayef as the new crown prince, next in line for the throne.
April 20, 2016 – Meets with Obama in Riyadh amid tensions between the US and Saudi Arabia over regional upheaval, falling oil prices and other points of contention.
May 20-22, 2017 – US President Donald Trump visits the king in Riyadh during his first overseas trip.
June 21, 2017 – Removes bin Nayef as crown prince and appoints his son, Mohammed bin Salman.
November 2017 – Orders an unprecedented purge of princes and government officials, alleging corruption. Hundreds of arrestees are detained at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Riyadh, which remains closed for more than two months.
October 2, 2018 – Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident and columnist for the Washington Post who lived in Virginia, vanishes after going inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Turkish authorities later say that Khashoggi was killed and dismembered in the building by a 15-member team. Saudi officials say that Khashoggi was killed during a botched attempt to abduct him.
October 14, 2018 – Calls Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss convening a working group to investigate Khashoggi’s killing, according to Saudi and Turkish media.
October 16, 2018 – US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visits King Salman and Prince bin Salman in Riyadh to talk about Khashoggi’s death. Both men deny having any knowledge of the violence at the consulate.
October 31, 2018 – Saudi Arabia’s chief prosecutor says evidence indicates Khashoggi was killed in an act of premeditated murder. Saudi officials maintain that King Salman and Prince bin Salman had no involvement.
July 23, 2020 – Undergoes surgery to remove his gallbladder.
July 15, 2022 – US President Joe Biden visits King Salman and Prince bin Salman in Jeddah. Biden indicates to Prince bin Salman that he believes bin Salman was to blame for the killing of Khashoggi.
by tyler | Dec 23, 2023 | CNN, middleeast
Here is a look at Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas leader in Gaza.
Birth date: 1962
Birth place: Shati refugee camp, near Gaza City
Father: Father was a fisherman
Marriage: Amal Haniyeh
Children: 13
Education: Islamic University of Gaza, 1987
Religion: Muslim
1987-1988 – Joins Hamas, during the first intifada.
1988 – Imprisoned for six months.
1989 – Sentenced to three years in prison.
1992 – Released from prison and deported to Lebanon.
December 1993 – Returns to Gaza and is appointed dean of the Islamic University.
1997 – Becomes an assistant to Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, leader of Hamas.
September 2003 – Haniyeh and Yassin are slightly injured when an Israeli airstrike targets them in Gaza City.
April 2004 – After the deaths of Hamas’s two previous leaders, Haniyeh is appointed part of a secret “collective leadership” with Mahmoud Zahhar and Said al-Siyam.
January 26, 2006 – Hamas wins a landslide victory in the Palestinian legislative elections. Hamas wins 76 seats, and Fatah 43 seats in the 132-seat Palestinian Legislative Council, giving Hamas a majority.
February 21, 2006 – Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas asks Haniyeh to assemble a government.
March 29, 2006 – Sworn in as prime minister of the Palestinian Authority.
December 14, 2006 – Haniyeh survives an assassination attempt at the border between Egypt and Gaza. However, one bodyguard is killed and one of Haniyeh’s sons is wounded. Hamas blames Fatah for the attack.
Early June 2007 – After a week of battles between Hamas and Fatah, Hamas seizes control of the Gaza Strip.
June 14, 2007 – Abbas dissolves the government and dismisses Haniyeh as prime minister. Haniyeh rejects this and remains the de facto leader in the Gaza Strip.
June 2009 – Former US President Jimmy Carter meets with Haniyeh in Gaza to discuss the Middle East peace process.
June 13, 2010 – Haniyeh meets with Arab League Secretary Amr Moussa in Gaza. Moussa is the first senior Arab leader to visit Gaza since 2006.
May 2, 2011 – Condemns the killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, referring to him as a Muslim holy warrior and the victim of American oppression.
October 23, 2012 – Meets with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the first official head of state to visit since Egypt and Israel instituted a blockade in 2007.
April 4, 2013 – Haniyeh is appointed deputy head of Hamas, and Khaled Meshaal is reelected chief.
May 6, 2017 – Elected by Hamas’ Shura Council to replace Meshaal.
December 7, 2017 – In response to US President Donald Trump recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Haniyeh calls for a Palestinian “infitada,” or uprising to fight against “occupation” by Israelis.
January 31, 2018 – The United States designates Haniyeh as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
December 8, 2019 – Haniyeh arrives in Turkey, the first stop on a tour. It is his first international tour since he was elected in May 2017.
January 6, 2020 – Speaks at the funeral of Qasem Soleimani, the leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force, who was killed by a US Airstrike in Iraq on January 3. Haniyeh lauds Soleimani as a martyr.
August 1, 2021 – Hamas officials announce that Haniyeh has been reelected as leader.
October 13, 2022 – Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah agree to a reconciliation agreement brokered by Algeria. Its aim is to pave way to elections. Haniyeh releases a statement saying that the movement is satisfied with the meetings with officials from Fatah to end the divide.
November 16, 2023 – In a press release, the Israel Defense Forces announce that Haniyeh’s residence in Gaza was struck by Israeli fighter jets.
by tyler | Dec 23, 2023 | CNN, middleeast
Here is a look at Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas leader in Gaza.
Birth date: 1962
Birth place: Shati refugee camp, near Gaza City
Father: Father was a fisherman
Marriage: Amal Haniyeh
Children: 13
Education: Islamic University of Gaza, 1987
Religion: Muslim
1987-1988 – Joins Hamas, during the first intifada.
1988 – Imprisoned for six months.
1989 – Sentenced to three years in prison.
1992 – Released from prison and deported to Lebanon.
December 1993 – Returns to Gaza and is appointed dean of the Islamic University.
1997 – Becomes an assistant to Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, leader of Hamas.
September 2003 – Haniyeh and Yassin are slightly injured when an Israeli airstrike targets them in Gaza City.
April 2004 – After the deaths of Hamas’s two previous leaders, Haniyeh is appointed part of a secret “collective leadership” with Mahmoud Zahhar and Said al-Siyam.
January 26, 2006 – Hamas wins a landslide victory in the Palestinian legislative elections. Hamas wins 76 seats, and Fatah 43 seats in the 132-seat Palestinian Legislative Council, giving Hamas a majority.
February 21, 2006 – Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas asks Haniyeh to assemble a government.
March 29, 2006 – Sworn in as prime minister of the Palestinian Authority.
December 14, 2006 – Haniyeh survives an assassination attempt at the border between Egypt and Gaza. However, one bodyguard is killed and one of Haniyeh’s sons is wounded. Hamas blames Fatah for the attack.
Early June 2007 – After a week of battles between Hamas and Fatah, Hamas seizes control of the Gaza Strip.
June 14, 2007 – Abbas dissolves the government and dismisses Haniyeh as prime minister. Haniyeh rejects this and remains the de facto leader in the Gaza Strip.
June 2009 – Former US President Jimmy Carter meets with Haniyeh in Gaza to discuss the Middle East peace process.
June 13, 2010 – Haniyeh meets with Arab League Secretary Amr Moussa in Gaza. Moussa is the first senior Arab leader to visit Gaza since 2006.
May 2, 2011 – Condemns the killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, referring to him as a Muslim holy warrior and the victim of American oppression.
October 23, 2012 – Meets with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the first official head of state to visit since Egypt and Israel instituted a blockade in 2007.
April 4, 2013 – Haniyeh is appointed deputy head of Hamas, and Khaled Meshaal is reelected chief.
May 6, 2017 – Elected by Hamas’ Shura Council to replace Meshaal.
December 7, 2017 – In response to US President Donald Trump recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Haniyeh calls for a Palestinian “infitada,” or uprising to fight against “occupation” by Israelis.
January 31, 2018 – The United States designates Haniyeh as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
December 8, 2019 – Haniyeh arrives in Turkey, the first stop on a tour. It is his first international tour since he was elected in May 2017.
January 6, 2020 – Speaks at the funeral of Qasem Soleimani, the leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force, who was killed by a US Airstrike in Iraq on January 3. Haniyeh lauds Soleimani as a martyr.
August 1, 2021 – Hamas officials announce that Haniyeh has been reelected as leader.
October 13, 2022 – Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah agree to a reconciliation agreement brokered by Algeria. Its aim is to pave way to elections. Haniyeh releases a statement saying that the movement is satisfied with the meetings with officials from Fatah to end the divide.
November 16, 2023 – In a press release, the Israel Defense Forces announce that Haniyeh’s residence in Gaza was struck by Israeli fighter jets.
by tyler | Dec 23, 2023 | CNN, middleeast
Here is a look at the life of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, who succeeded his half brother King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz on January 22, 2015.
Birth date: December 31, 1935
Birth place: Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Father: King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman al Saud
Mother: Hassa bint Ahmed al-Sudairi
Marriages: Wives’ names not available publicly, but according to Islamic tradition, he is allowed no more than four at a time.
Children: Exact number is not available publicly. Sons include: Sultan, Mohammed, Abdulaziz, Faisal, Khaled, Turki
Education: Attended the Princes’ School
Religion: Wahhabism (a conservative Islamic sect)
He is one of the “Sudairi Seven,” sons of King Abdulaziz who all share the same mother and who have been the most powerful within the House of Saud.
He was the third prince to be named the heir by King Abdullah, who ascended the throne in 2005.
He memorized the Quran by the time he was 10 years old.
Was known as the family disciplinarian and purportedly maintained a royal family “jail” where unruly or errant royal family members were kept.
His son Prince Sultan was a payload specialist on a 1985 Space Shuttle Discovery mission.
1955-1960 and 1963-2011 – Governor of Riyadh.
November 2011 – Becomes the minister of defense after the death of his brother Crown Prince Sultan.
April 11, 2012 – During an official visit to the United States, Prince Salman meets with US President Barack Obama.
June 18, 2012 – King Abdullah names him the crown prince and heir to the throne.
August 28, 2012 – Crown Prince Salman is left in charge of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the first time while the King is on “special leave.”
January 22, 2015 – Officially becomes the new king of Saudi Arabia after the death of King Abdullah.
January 23, 2015 – King Salman affirms by royal decree Crown Prince Muqrin to succeed him as king and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef as second in line to the throne.
January 27, 2015 – Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama visit King Salman in Saudi Arabia.
February 10, 2015 – Prince Charles visits King Salman while on a six-day tour of the Middle East.
April 29, 2015 – King Salman relieves Crown Prince Muqrin of his position and appoints Mohammed bin Nayef as the new crown prince, next in line for the throne.
April 20, 2016 – Meets with Obama in Riyadh amid tensions between the US and Saudi Arabia over regional upheaval, falling oil prices and other points of contention.
May 20-22, 2017 – US President Donald Trump visits the king in Riyadh during his first overseas trip.
June 21, 2017 – Removes bin Nayef as crown prince and appoints his son, Mohammed bin Salman.
November 2017 – Orders an unprecedented purge of princes and government officials, alleging corruption. Hundreds of arrestees are detained at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Riyadh, which remains closed for more than two months.
October 2, 2018 – Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident and columnist for the Washington Post who lived in Virginia, vanishes after going inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Turkish authorities later say that Khashoggi was killed and dismembered in the building by a 15-member team. Saudi officials say that Khashoggi was killed during a botched attempt to abduct him.
October 14, 2018 – Calls Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss convening a working group to investigate Khashoggi’s killing, according to Saudi and Turkish media.
October 16, 2018 – US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visits King Salman and Prince bin Salman in Riyadh to talk about Khashoggi’s death. Both men deny having any knowledge of the violence at the consulate.
October 31, 2018 – Saudi Arabia’s chief prosecutor says evidence indicates Khashoggi was killed in an act of premeditated murder. Saudi officials maintain that King Salman and Prince bin Salman had no involvement.
July 23, 2020 – Undergoes surgery to remove his gallbladder.
July 15, 2022 – US President Joe Biden visits King Salman and Prince bin Salman in Jeddah. Biden indicates to Prince bin Salman that he believes bin Salman was to blame for the killing of Khashoggi.
