Netanyahu was prime minister for the entire decade, becoming the longest serving prime minister in Israel’s history despite being accused of bribery, breach of trust and moral turpitude.He was able to outmanoeuvre and dispose of many potential rivals and adversaries.

There were repeated military clashes with Hamas and its allies in Gaza in which the air force was utilised, amidst targeted killings of Islamist leaders and civilian casualties.

Israel had developed the Iron Dome system which neutralised any incoming missiles from Gaza. However Iranian forces progressively embedded itself in Syria, aided by its ally, Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Netanyahu who was close to the US Republicans and President Obama repeatedly clashed over questions such as peace and negotiations with the Palestinians. John Kerry’s shuttle diplomacy came to nothing.

The election of Donald Trump allowed Netanyahu to promote the West Bank settlements. Trump authorised the transfer of the US Embassy to Jerusalem. The Trump Plan which would have allowed Israel to annex part of the West Bank was side-lined by the Abraham Accords. Diplomatic relations were established between Israel and the UAE and other states in the Arab world and beyond. The decade ended with Netanyahu’s court cases and the advent of the coronavirus. Israel became a world leader in vaccine manufacture and roll-out.