Benjamin Netanyahu’s ascent to the top was quick.

Netanyahu joined Israel's diplomatic mission in the US in 1982, working for two years as Deputy Chief of Mission under Ambassador Moshe Arens. He also participated in the inaugural delegation to the US-Israel strategic cooperation discussions. Netanyahu got deeply involved in global counterterrorism initiatives, which aided him at the beginning of his political career.

He was the Israeli ambassador to the UN from 1982 to 1984 after serving in the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. (1984-88). In his capacity as U.N. ambassador, Benjamin Netanyahu spearheaded the initiative that led to the establishment of the Nazi War Crimes Archives in 1987. He successfully oversaw a drive to declassify U.N. records on Nazi war crimes when he was a member of the organization. He was a crucial player in attempts to improve Israel's image and increase understanding of the country's security concerns among the American public and political class. He was a persuasive debater, articulate speaker, and media-oriented diplomat.

Following his return to Israel in 1988, Netanyahu was chosen by the right-wing Likud party to serve in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. Netanyahu advanced swiftly through the ranks to become Israel's, Deputy Foreign Minister under Moshe Arens and later David Levy. He was chosen as the Likud party's chairman and prime ministerial candidate five years later.