President of Israel
The first presidential election took place on the 16th of February 1949. Chaim Weizmann won that vote to become the inaugural president of Israel. The Knesset elected presidents by secret ballot requiring an absolute majority. If no candidate secured a majority in the initial rounds, the process continued until only two candidates remained. From 1949 through 2000, presidents served five-year terms and could serve up to two terms. Since 2000, the term length changed to a single seven-year period. Elections occurred in 1957, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2007, 2014, and 2021. Six elections between 1951 and 1988 featured no opposition candidate despite votes being held. Isaac Herzog was elected as the eleventh president on the 2nd of June 2021. His term officially began on the 9th of July 2021.
The Basic Law: The Presidency passed in 1964 defines the office's role within Israel's uncodified constitution. The president stands at the head of the State representing Israel abroad while fostering national unity domestically. Most presidential acts require the countersignature of the prime minister or another designated minister to have legal effect. Executive power rests with the Government led by the prime minister rather than the presidency itself. The presidency enjoys immunity from both civil suit and criminal prosecution for matters concerning official functions. This arrangement grants institutional independence from legislative, executive, and judicial branches. One constitutional scholar described the presidency as Israel's fourth branch of government allowing nonpartisan influence. Successive presidents exercise this influence to assure continuity and stability of state institutions.
The president signs bills passed by the Knesset into law except those pertaining to presidential powers. International or bilateral treaties approved by the Knesset receive ratification from the president. Acting on Government advice, the president endorses credentials of Israeli ambassadors abroad. Foreign diplomats present their credentials to the president upon arrival in Israel. A wide array of public officials receives appointment through presidential authority including judges and the governor of the Bank of Israel. Judges are appointed pursuant to nominations from the Judicial Selection Committee. Other appointments follow Government advice regarding the president of Magen David Adom. The president appoints members of the Council on Higher Education and the National Academy of Science. The Broadcasting Authority and the Authority to Rehabilitate Prisoners also receive leadership through these appointments. The Chief Rabbinical Council and the Wolf Foundation complete the list of bodies receiving presidential appointments.
The president holds broad power to pardon reduce or commute sentences for both soldiers and civilians. Decisions regarding clemency occur at the president's own discretion after receiving applicant information. The minister of justice or the minister of defense provides opinion consultation depending on the case type. Each Israeli president adopts a different approach to handling clemency which influences decision making. Reserve powers include matters of Government formation parliamentary dissolution and granting pardons. These functions comprise the discretionary authority granted to presidents regarding soldiers and civilians. The president reaches decisions after consulting other parties as required by law. This discretion allows presidents to refuse requests for clemency when deemed necessary.
Most Israeli presidents participated in national politics or Zionist activities before taking office. Chaim Weizmann was a leading research chemist who founded the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot. Zalman Shazar worked as an author poet and journalist before becoming president. Chaim Herzog served as a military leader attorney and diplomat prior to his presidency. The first Israeli presidents were born in the former Russian Empire. Yitzhak Navon became the first native-born president with Sephardi background. Chaim Herzog originated from Belfast United Kingdom representing Western European heritage. Moshe Katsav was born in Iran marking the first Mizrahi background for the office. Isaac Herzog is the first president born in modern Israel after independence declaration. He is also the first son of a former Israeli president to become president himself. As of 2024 only Chaim Weizmann and his nephew Ezer Weizman held close family ties to the presidency.
All Israeli presidents from Yitzhak Ben-Zvi to Ezer Weizman belonged to the Labor Party or its predecessors. These leaders remained politically moderate throughout their tenures. Moshe Katsav became the first Likud president breaking that pattern. The April 1978 election saw Labor's Yitzhak Navon win following Likud coalition failure. Israeli observers believed Navon provided unifying symbolic leadership during political controversy and upheaval. Prime Minister Menachem Begin faced polarizing leadership challenges at that time. Navon re-entered Labor politics in 1983 after five years of non-partisan service. Chaim Herzog succeeded him as Israel's sixth president having previously headed military intelligence. Likud's Moshe Katsav defeated Labor's Shimon Peres in 2000 by secret ballot. Albert Einstein turned down the presidency offer in 1952 stating he lacked natural aptitude for official functions. Elie Wiesel reportedly considered for the role expressed strong disinterest in accepting it.
Common questions
Who was the first president of Israel and when did he take office?
Chaim Weizmann won the first presidential election on the 16th of February 1949 to become the inaugural president of Israel. His term officially began following that vote which established him as the head of state.
How long is the current presidential term for the President of Israel compared to past terms?
Since 2000 presidents serve a single seven-year period instead of the five-year terms used from 1949 through 2000. The previous system allowed up to two consecutive five-year terms while the current rule limits service to one seven-year term.
What powers does the President of Israel hold regarding pardons and clemency?
The president holds broad power to pardon reduce or commute sentences for both soldiers and civilians at his own discretion. Decisions occur after receiving applicant information and consulting with the minister of justice or the minister of defense depending on the case type.
When was Isaac Herzog elected as the eleventh president of Israel?
Isaac Herzog was elected as the eleventh president on the 2nd of June 2021. His term officially began on the 9th of July 2021 marking him as the first president born in modern Israel after independence declaration.
Which Israeli presidents were not members of the Labor Party before taking office?
Moshe Katsav became the first Likud president breaking the pattern where all leaders from Yitzhak Ben-Zvi to Ezer Weizman belonged to the Labor Party. He defeated Labor's Shimon Peres in 2000 by secret ballot to assume the presidency.