The President of Israel is the head of state, a primarily ceremonial role representing the country's moral and unity-focused leadership. Since the establishment of the state in 1948, there have been 11 presidents.
Here is the complete list from the first president to the current incumbent:
1)Chaim Weizmann 1949–1952 Renowned chemist and Zionist leader.
2)Yitzhak Ben-Zvi 1952–1963 | Historian and longest-serving president.
3)Zalman Shazar 1963–1973 Author, poet, and politician.
4)Ephraim Katzir 1973–1978 | Biophysicist; served during the Yom Kippur War.
5)Yitzhak Navon 1978–1983 First Sephardic president; playwright and educator
6)Chaim Herzog 1983–1993 Former general and UN Ambassador; father of Isaac Herzog.
7)Ezer Weizman 1993–2000 Nephew of Chaim Weizmann; former Air Force commander.
8)Moshe Katsav 2000–2007 Resigned from office
9)Shimon Peres 2007–2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former Prime Minister.
10)Reuven Rivlin 2014–2021 | Former Speaker of the Knesset.
11)Isaac Herzog 2021–Present | Current President; former Chairman of the Jewish Agency.
Key Facts about the Presidency
-Selection:The President is elected by a simple majority of the Knesset (Israel's parliament).
-Term Limits: Following a 1998 law change, presidents now serve a single seven-year term. Previously, they could be re-elected for multiple five-year terms.
🇮🇱1948 Transition:Between the Declaration of Independence in May 1948 and Chaim Weizmann's formal inauguration in February 1949, David Ben-Gurion served as the de facto head of state in his capacity as Prime Minister, while Weizmann served as President of the Provisional State Council.
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