Binyamin Netanyahu - Prime Minister of Israel from 1996-1999. Netanyahu is considered a political escape artist par excellence by both friends and opponents. Netanyahu served in an elite army unit, rising to the rank of captain. He studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and completed his master's degree in architecture and business administration. He served at the Israeli Embassy in Washington from 1982 to 1986, until his appointment as Israel's ambassador to the United Nations. Netanyahu was elected to the Knesset in 1988 and eventually took over the leadership of the Likud party in 1993. Netanyahu was instrumental in bringing the Likud back to power. During his administration, he weathered many crises, which threatened to bring down his government finally calling for early elections over his concessions at the Wye Plantation.