The year 1973 marked a significant transition for Iddo Netanyahu, who suspended his undergraduate studies at Cornell University to serve in the Yom Kippur War. Born in Jerusalem in 1952, he maintains a multifaceted career as an Israeli physician and writer, dividing his professional focus between the diagnostic demands of radiology and the creative requirements of contemporary playwriting.
Early Life and Education
The son of Benzion and Cela Netanyahu, Iddo spent portions of his childhood in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania, attending local schools before the family returned to Israel. He completed his secondary education in Jerusalem. His academic path took him to Cornell University, followed by a medical degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem School of Medicine. His clinical training included post-doctoral work at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., and Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.
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Between 1970 and 1973, Netanyahu served in Sayeret Matkal, following in the footsteps of his brothers. While his career path leads through the medical field, he currently maintains a part-time practice as a radiologist. His professional development occurred within a global medical framework that increasingly relied on diagnostic imaging, with his clinical background providing a technical foundation for his broader intellectual pursuits.
Literary and Dramatic Output
Since 2008, Netanyahu has transitioned from prose to a primary focus on playwriting. His theatrical works, including A Happy End, Worlds In Collision, and Don Samuel Abravanel, have been staged in cities ranging from Tel Aviv and New York to Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Tashkent. In 2022, his play Don Samuel Abravanel received the President of Warsaw Prize. His written works span multiple languages and include thematic explorations of historical figures like Viktor Frankl, Albert Einstein, and Immanuel Velikovsky.
Documentation of the Entebbe Raid
Netanyahu authored specific accounts regarding the 1976 hostage rescue mission involving his brother, Yonatan. His publications on this subject include Yoni's Last Battle: The Rescue at Entebbe, 1976, which was subsequently re-released under the title Entebbe: A Defining Moment in the War on Terrorism – The Jonathan Netanyahu Story. He also compiled Sayeret Matkal at Entebbe, a volume consisting of documents and interviews concerning the operation.
Fast facts
- Born: 1952, Jerusalem
- Citizenship: Israel
- Occupations: Physician, writer, playwright, radiologist
- Education: Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Cornell University
- Military service: Sayeret Matkal (1970–1973)
- Notable award: President of Warsaw Prize (2022)
- Languages: English, Hebrew
Questions readers ask
What medical specialty does Iddo Netanyahu practice?
He works as a radiologist.
What is the subject of his play Don Samuel Abravanel?
The play focuses on the legalistic murder of a Jewish leader in Medieval Spain and the resulting consequences.
Achievements
- Fields: radiology, medicine and literary activity
