*Note: This episode of Big World was recorded with Guy Ziv prior to the agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates that was signed on August 13th, 2020.

Over his decades in and out of power, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has redefined what it means for Israel to be a Jewish democratic state. In this episode, Professor Guy Ziv joins Big World to discuss Netanyahu’s outsized role in Israeli politics.

Ziv explains how Netanyahu rose to power (2:17), how his stance toward a two-state solution has shifted (6:04), and his annexation plans for West Bank territory (7:19). He also breaks down how the prime minister has influenced foundational pieces of Israel’s democracy like press freedom (13:34) and rule of law (15:46).

Has the coronavirus pandemic helped Netanyahu stay in power (19:55)? On a democratic scale that includes leaders like Poland’s Andrzej Duda, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, and the US’s Donald Trump, where would Netanyahu be placed, and why (22:48)? Ziv answers these questions and discusses the prime minister’s relationship with religion (24:25) as well as if the corrosion of Israel’s democracy can be reversed with Netanyahu still in power (26:10).

At a time in which the upcoming US election looms large, Ziv shares the five practices he would institute to improve the US’s global standing in the world during our Take Five segment (18:06).