Who Is Miriam Haran? Benjamin Netanyahu’s Ex-Wife Wiki, Age, Kids, Net Worth, Husband, Family

Miriam Haran is an Israeli businesswoman, diplomat, and environmentalist who is best known as the first wife of Benjamin Netanyahu, the current and longest-serving prime minister of Israel. She was married to Netanyahu from 1972 to 1978 and they have one daughter, Noa Netanyahu-Roth, who is an ultra-Orthodox Jewish woman living in Jerusalem. Miriam Haran has had a distinguished career in various fields, including science, technology, housing, consumer affairs, and foreign affairs.
She is also a prominent figure in the Israeli civil society, serving as the chairman of several organizations that promote sustainable development, resource efficiency, and social justice.
Miriam Haran Wiki/Bio
Name | Miriam Haran |
---|---|
Birth date | September 13, 1949 |
Birth place | Israel |
Nationality | Israeli |
Ethnicity | Jewish |
Religion | Judaism |
Education | B.Sc. in Chemistry and Physics from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1972)Ph.D. in Environmental Chemistry from Brandeis University (1978) |
Occupation | Businesswoman, diplomat, environmentalist |
Ex-husband | Benjamin Netanyahu (m. 1972–1978) |
Daughter | Noa Netanyahu-Roth |
Current position | Chairman of the Weitz Center for Sustainable Development Chairman of the Israel Resource Efficiency Center Head of the MBA Program in Environmental Management at the Ono Academic College Member of the Board of Directors of several public companies |
Links | Twitter- #MiriamHaran Homepage- Newsunzip |
Biography
Miriam Haran was born on September 13, 1949 (age: 74 years, as of 2023), in Israel. She grew up in a religious Jewish family and was educated in the Israeli school system. She graduated from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and physics. She then moved to the United States to pursue her doctoral studies at Brandeis University, where she specialized in environmental chemistry and received her Ph.D. in 1978.
Height, Weight
- Height: 5 ft 1 in
- Weight: 66 kg
- Eye color: Hazel
Net Worth
2022 | $2M |
2023 | $5M |
Marriage to Benjamin Netanyahu, Kids and Divorce
Miriam Haran met Benjamin Netanyahu in 1971, when they were both students at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. They got married in 1972, shortly before Netanyahu left for the United States to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Miriam joined him there in 1974, after completing her undergraduate studies in Israel. They lived in Boston, where Miriam continued her doctoral studies at Brandeis University and Netanyahu earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture and management at MIT.
In 1978, Miriam gave birth to their only child, a daughter named Noa. However, their marriage was already in trouble, as Netanyahu was having an affair with a British Christian woman named Fleur Cates, whom he met at the university library. Miriam found out about the affair and filed for divorce, which was finalized in 1978. Netanyahu then married Cates in 1981, after she converted to Judaism. They divorced in 1988, after Netanyahu had several other affairs with different women.

Miriam Haran and Benjamin Netanyahu have remained estranged since their divorce, and they rarely see or speak to each other. Miriam has also kept a low profile in the media and has not commented publicly on Netanyahu’s political career or personal life. She has focused on her own professional and social activities, while raising her daughter Noa as a single mother.
Career and Achievements
Miriam Haran has had a successful and diverse career in both the public and private sectors, as well as in the academic and non-governmental fields. She has held several senior positions in the Israeli government, including:
- Director General of the Ministry of Environmental Protection from 1993 to 1999, where she was responsible for formulating and implementing the national environmental policy and legislation, as well as representing Israel in international environmental forums and negotiations.
- Deputy Head of Human Resources at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation from 1999 to 2000, where she was in charge of managing the personnel and budget of the ministry, as well as overseeing the training and development of the staff.
- Minister of Science and Technology from 1996 to 1997, where she was appointed by Prime Minister Netanyahu as part of his coalition cabinet. She oversaw the promotion and funding of scientific research and innovation in Israel, as well as the cooperation and coordination with other countries and organizations in the field of science and technology.
- Minister of Housing and Construction from 1996 to 1999, where she was also appointed by Prime Minister Netanyahu as part of his coalition cabinet. She supervised the planning and development of housing and infrastructure projects in Israel, especially in the areas of urban renewal, public housing, and rural settlement.
- Minister of Consumer Affairs from 1996 to 1999, where she was also appointed by Prime Minister Netanyahu as part of his coalition cabinet. She regulated and protected the rights and interests of consumers in Israel, as well as promoted consumer education and awareness.
Miriam Haran has also worked in the private sector, as well as in the academic and non-governmental fields, including:
- Chairman of the Board of Directors of Environmental Services Co. Ltd. from 2006 to 2011, where she led the company that provides waste management and recycling services in Israel and abroad.
- Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Israel Consumer Council from 2006 to 2011, where she headed the organization that represents and advocates for consumers in Israel and provides them with information and assistance.
- Member of the Board of Directors of several public companies, such as ICL Group Ltd., The Israel Land Development Co. Ltd., Dead Sea Works Ltd., and Rotem Amfert Negev Ltd., where she oversees the management and performance of these companies that operate in various sectors, such as chemicals, agriculture, real estate, and mining.
- Chairman of the Weitz Center for Sustainable Development since 2017, where she leads the organization that supports and empowers civil society organizations and local governments in Israel and around the world to advance sustainable development goals and practices.
- Chairman of the Israel Resource Efficiency Center since 2019, where she leads the organization that promotes and facilitates the efficient and sustainable use of natural resources in Israel and abroad.
- Head of the MBA Program in Environmental Management at the Ono Academic College since 2006, where she teaches and mentors students who aspire to become leaders and professionals in the field of environmental management and policy.
- Member of the General Assembly of the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies since 2006, where she participates in the research and policy analysis of various issues related to Jerusalem and Israel.

Current Status
Miriam Haran lives in Tel Aviv, Israel. She is the mother of one daughter, Noa Netanyahu-Roth, who was born in 1978. Noa is an ultra-Orthodox Jewish woman who follows the Breslov Hasidic sect. She is married to Daniel Roth, a businessman, and they have four children: Shmuel, David, Rachel, and Daniel. They live in the Mea Shearim neighborhood of Jerusalem, where they lead a modest and secluded lifestyle.
Miriam Haran has a distant and strained relationship with her daughter Noa, who has chosen a very different path from her mother. Miriam rarely sees or speaks to Noa, and they have almost no contact with each other. Miriam has also never met her four grandchildren, who have never seen their grandfather, Benjamin Netanyahu, either. Miriam and Noa occasionally meet in a discreet and hidden cafe in Jerusalem, where they are not recognized as mother and daughter.

Miriam Haran has never remarried after her divorce from Benjamin Netanyahu. She has devoted her life to her career and social causes, as well as to her personal interests and hobbies, such as reading, writing, traveling, and gardening. She is regarded as a smart, independent, and influential woman, who has made significant contributions to Israel and the world in various fields. She is also respected and admired by many people who know her or work with her, as well as by the public who follow her activities and achievements.