President of Israel

President of the State of Israel
נשיא מדינת ישראל
Presidential Standard
Incumbent
Isaac Herzog
since 7 July 2021
StyleHis Excellency (formal, diplomatic)
ResidenceBeit HaNassi
AppointerKnesset
Term lengthSeven years, single term
Inaugural holderChaim Weizmann
Formation16 February 1949
WebsiteIsrael presidential website

The President of the State of Israel (Hebrew: נָשִׂיא מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, Nasi Medinat Yisra'el, or Hebrew: נָשִׂיא הַמְדִינָה, Nasi HaMedina, literally President of the State) is the head of state of Israel.

The position is filled with executive power effectively being exercised by the Prime Minister. The current president is Isaac Herzog, who took office on 7 July 2021. Presidents are elected by the Knesset for a seven-year term and are limited to a single term.

Background

Any Israeli resident citizen is eligible to run for President.

The first presidential election took place on 16 February 1949, and the winner was Chaim Weizmann.

Albert Einstein, a Jew but not an Israeli citizen, was offered the presidency in 1952[1] but turned it down, stating "I am deeply moved by the offer from our State of Israel, and at once saddened and ashamed that I cannot accept it. All my life I have dealt with objective matters, hence I lack both the natural aptitude and the experience to deal properly with people and to exercise official functions".[2] Ehud Olmert was reported to be considering offering the presidency to another non-Israeli, Elie Wiesel, but he was said to be "very not interested".[3]

List of presidents

See the main article: List of presidents of Israel

Living former presidents

As of 2021, there are two living former presidents:

  • Moshe Katsav (2000 – 2007) (1945-12-05) December 5, 1945 (age 79)
    Moshe Katsav
    (2000 – 2007)
    (1945-12-05) December 5, 1945 (age 79)
  • Reuven Rivlin (2014 – 2021) (1939-11-09) November 9, 1939 (age 85)
    Reuven Rivlin
    (2014 – 2021)
    (1939-11-09) November 9, 1939 (age 85)

The most recent serving and former president to die was Shimon Peres in September 2016.

References

  1. ↑ Eban, Abba (17 November 1952). "(Letter reprinted online) Offering the Presidency of Israel to Albert Einstein". JewishVirtualLibrary.org. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  2. ↑ "Albert Einstein on His Decision Not to Accept the Presidency of Israel". JewishVirtualLibrary.org. citing The Einstein Scrapbook (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2002). Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  3. ↑ Stern Stern Hoffman, Gil; Keinon, Herb (18 October 2006). "Olmert backs Peres as next president". Jerusalem Post.

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