Likud. Likud (Hebrew: הַלִּיכּוּד, translit. HaLikud, lit. The Consolidation) is the major center-right party[9][10] in Israel. It was founded in 1973 by Menachem Begin in an alliance with several right-wing and liberal parties. Likud's victory in the 1977 elections was a major turning point in the country's political history, marking the first time the left had lost power. A member of the party is often called a Likudnik (Hebrew: לִכּוּדְנִיק).[12] History[edit] Formation and Begin years[edit] Likud made a strong showing in its first elections in 1973, reducing the Alignment's lead to 12 seats. Shamir, Netanyahu's first term, and Sharon[edit] Shamir retired shortly after losing the election. In 1998, Netanyahu reluctantly agreed to cede territory in the Wye River Memorandum. Barak's "all-or-nothing" strategy failed, however, and early elections for Prime Minister were called for March 2001.
Kadima split[edit] Netanyahu's second term[edit] Partnership with Yisrael Beiteinu[edit] Charter[edit] Benjamin Netanyahu - Home. Benjamin Netanyahu. Benjamin Netanyahu - soldier, diplomat and the ninth Prime Minister of the State of Israel - was born in Tel Aviv in 1949 and grew up in Jerusalem. He spent his adolescent years in the United States, where his father - a noted historian - taught Jewish history. Returning to Israel in 1967 to fulfill his military obligations, Netanyahu volunteered for an elite commando unit of the IDF and participated in a number of daring operations, including the release of hostages from a hijacked Sabena Airlines aircraft at Ben-Gurion Airport, an operation in which he was wounded.
He was discharged from the IDF after six years with the rank of captain. Netanyahu then studied at MIT in Boston and received a B.Sc. in architecture and an M.Sc. in Management Studies. He also studied political science at MIT and Harvard University. In 1982 Netanyahu joined Israel's diplomatic mission in the United States - serving for two years as Deputy Chief of Mission under then-ambassador Moshe Arens.