As Prime Minister he negotiated with Yasser Arafat (in the form Wye accords), but many claimed he tried to stall any progress. He currently does not support the concept of a future Palestinian state.
After being defeated by Ehud Barak in the 1999 Israeli general elections, Netanyahu temporarily retired from politics.
In 2002 after the Labour party left the government and vacated the position of foreign minister, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon appointed Netanyahu as Foreign Minister. Netanyahu challenged Sharon for the leadership of the Likud party, but failed to oust Sharon. After elections in 2003, Netanyahu accepted the post of Finance Minister in a newly formed Sharon coalition.
He is the author of several books, including A Durable Peace, Fighting Terrorism, and A Place Among the Nations. His older brother Yonatan was killed during a successful raid in 1976 to rescue Israeli hostages held at Entebbe, Uganda after an airline hijacking.