While covering the 'Bibigate' scandal during his first run for the Likud Leadership, many described Netanyahu as the 'macho' leader that would electrify the Israeli public in first run for Prime Minister.
"In May, his victory was described as a ``coronation`` as leader of the Likud at Tel Aviv`s Yad Eliyahu coliseum. His public opinion ratings some weeks surpass those of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
``Men have seen a kind of Mediterranean macho in him,`` said David Hoenig, a Tel Aviv public relations executive.Most Americans know Netanyahu as the handsome former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations who became king of the sound bite during the Gulf War and later during the Middle East peace talks. He went on to become deputy foreign minister under Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir`s government. Now he is a member of the Knesset, the parliament. Bantam Books has just published a paperback of his autobiography...."