On this day: Barak beats Bibi

Twelve years later, two of Israel's longest-serving statesmen are still at it, with Binyamin Netanyahu as Prime Minister and Ehud Barak his coalition partner and Defence Minister, now of the new Independence Party.

In 1999 the two were pitted against each other in only the second direct prime ministerial elections in Israel's history. After Netanyahu's surprise win in 1996, this was a chance for the left-of-centre to return to power.

Standing for the One Israel party (an alliance of three leftist parties), Barak trounced the incumbent Bibi. But the coalition he formed included the ultra-Orthodox party Shas, which ultimately triggered the other coalition party – the left-wing Meretz – to quit.

As Prime Minister Barak was in office less than two years. During his time in power he oversaw Israel's withdrawal from Southern Lebanon and took part in the 2000 Camp David Summit, President Bill Clinton's last ditch-attempt to revive the peace process.