Isaac Herzog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Isaac Herzog
|
|
|---|---|
|
יצחק הרצוג
|
|
.JPG)
Official portrait, 2021
|
|
| 11th President of Israel | |
| Assumed office 7 July 2021 |
|
| Prime Minister | |
| Preceded by | Reuven Rivlin |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 25 November 2013 – 31 July 2018 |
|
| Prime Minister | Benjamin Netanyahu |
| Preceded by | Shelly Yachimovich |
| Succeeded by | Tzipi Livni |
| Minister of Welfare and Social Services | |
| In office 21 March 2007 – 17 January 2011 |
|
| Prime Minister | |
| Preceded by | Ehud Olmert |
| Succeeded by | Moshe Kahlon |
| Minister of Diaspora, Society and the Fight Against Antisemitism | |
| In office 21 March 2007 – 31 March 2009 |
|
| Prime Minister | Ehud Olmert |
| Preceded by | Natan Sharansky |
| Succeeded by | Yuli-Yoel Edelstein |
| Minister of Tourism | |
| In office 4 May 2006 – 21 March 2007 |
|
| Prime Minister | Ehud Olmert |
| Preceded by | Avraham Hirschson |
| Succeeded by | Yitzhak Aharonovich |
| Minister of Housing and Construction | |
| In office 10 January 2005 – 23 November 2005 |
|
| Prime Minister | Ariel Sharon |
| Preceded by | Tzipi Livni |
| Succeeded by | Ze'ev Boim |
| Member of the Knesset | |
| In office 17 February 2003 – 31 July 2018 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 September 1960 Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Political party | Zionist Union (2015–2018) Israeli Labor Party (until 2024) |
| Spouse | Michal Herzog |
| Children | 3 |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Herzog family |
| Alma mater | |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Israel Defense Forces |
| Years of service | 1978 |
| Rank | Rav séren (Major) |
| Unit | Unit 8200 |
Isaac "Bougie" Herzog (Hebrew: יצחק "בוז׳י" הרצוג, romanized: Yitskhak "Buzhi" Hertsog; born 22 September 1960) is an Israeli politician. Since 2021, he has been serving as the President of Israel. He is the first president to be born in Israel after the country became independent.
Isaac Herzog is the son of Chaim Herzog, who was also a former Israeli president. Isaac is a lawyer. He worked as the Government Secretary from 1999 to 2001. He was a member of the Knesset (Israel's parliament) from 2003 to 2018. He also held several important jobs in the government between 2005 and 2011. This included being the Minister of Welfare and Social Services.
Herzog led the Labor Party and the Zionist Union group from 2013 to 2017. He was the Leader of the Opposition from 2013 to 2018. He was chosen as president in the 2021 Israeli presidential election and started his term on 7 July 2021. He is the first son of an Israeli president to become president himself.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Isaac "Bougie" Herzog was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. His father, Major-General Chaim Herzog, was the sixth president of Israel from 1983 to 1993. His mother, Aura Ambache, started the Council for a Beautiful Israel.
Isaac's father was born in Ireland, and his mother was born in Egypt. Their families came from Jewish communities in Eastern Europe. Isaac has two brothers and one sister. His grandfather, Rabbi Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog, was a very important religious leader. He was the first chief rabbi of Ireland and later the chief rabbi of Israel. Abba Eban, who was Israel's third foreign minister, was his uncle.
When Isaac's father worked for Israel at the United Nations, Isaac lived in New York City. He went to school there and also studied at Cornell University and New York University.
When he returned to Israel in 1978, he joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He served as a major officer in Unit 8200, which is part of the Israeli Intelligence Corps. After his military service, Herzog studied law at Tel Aviv University. He worked at a law firm that his father had started.
Political Career
Even though he didn't win a seat in the 1999 elections, Herzog became the secretary of the government for Ehud Barak until 2001. From 2000 to 2003, he was the chairman of the Israel Anti-Drug Authority.
In 2003, Herzog won a seat in the Knesset as a member of the Labor Party. He became the Minister of Housing and Construction in 2005. He later resigned from this role. Before the 2006 elections, he was a top candidate on the Labor Party's list.
He was first appointed Minister of Tourism in Ehud Olmert's government. Later, he became the Minister of Social Affairs and also the Minister of the Diaspora, Society, and the Fight Against Antisemitism. After the 2009 elections, he was appointed Minister of Welfare and Social Services and Minister of the Diaspora. In 2009, he also helped coordinate humanitarian aid for people in Gaza. He left the government in 2011.
In 2011, Herzog tried to become the leader of the Labor Party but was not successful.
Leader of the Opposition
On 22 November 2013, Isaac Herzog was elected as the leader of the Labor Party. This made him the Leader of the Opposition. As leader, he focused on security and finding a solution for the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Soon after being elected, he met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to show his support for a peaceful two-state solution.
| Presidential styles of Isaac Herzog |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Reference style | His Excellency, The Honorable כבוד הנשיא |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency, Honorable President כבוד הנשיא |
| Alternative style | Mr. President אדוני הנשיא |
In June 2014, Herzog spoke about the importance of Israel working with other countries. He said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needed to do more to work with the international community and the President of the United States, Barack Obama.
Before the 2015 elections, Herzog formed a group called the Zionist Union with Tzipi Livni. Their goal was to try and prevent Netanyahu from becoming prime minister again. In the 2015 election, their group won 24 seats, while Netanyahu's party won 30. This made the Zionist Union the largest opposition group.
In July 2017, Herzog was no longer the leader of the Labor Party. He later resigned from the Knesset to become the chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel.
Chairman of the Jewish Agency
In June 2018, Herzog was chosen to be the chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel. This organization works to connect Jewish people around the world with the State of Israel. One of his main goals was to bring Jewish people closer together. He also spoke about the importance of fighting antisemitism, which is hatred towards Jewish people.
Herzog urged European leaders to fight antisemitism and adopt a clear definition of it. In March 2019, the Jewish Agency became the first public organization in Israel to help its employees pay for surrogacy services abroad. This helped people, including gay and single parents, become parents.
President of Israel
.jpg)
.jpeg)
On 19 May 2021, Herzog announced he would run for president. On 2 June 2021, he was elected as president by the Knesset. He received more votes than any other presidential candidate in Israel's history. He was sworn in on 7 July 2021. This made him the first son of a former Israeli president to also become president.
In his first speech as President, Herzog asked Israelis to heal divisions in society. He also called for building bridges within Israel and with Jewish communities around the world. He stressed the importance of dealing with the climate crisis.
Since becoming president, Herzog has made several important visits to other countries. On 30 January 2022, he made a historic visit to the United Arab Emirates. In March 2022, he visited Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey. In Turkey, he met with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. These visits showed a desire to improve relationships between the countries. During his visit to Turkey, Herzog also met with the Jewish community in Istanbul.
.jpg)
On 29 March 2022, Herzog made a historic public visit to Amman, Jordan. He met with King Abdullah II to discuss strengthening the relationship between Israel and Jordan. They also talked about keeping the region stable and promoting peace.
As part of his efforts to connect with different communities in Israel, Herzog visited Kafr Qasim on 29 October 2021. He participated in a memorial for the victims of the 1956 Kafr Qasim massacre. He apologized on behalf of the State of Israel, being the first Israeli official to do so at the official ceremony. He said that harming innocent people is always wrong.
.jpeg)
In October 2021, Herzog started the Israeli Climate Forum. This group brings together government officials and citizens to work on solutions for the climate crisis. He also shared his vision for a "Renewable Middle East," where countries in the region could work together on climate issues.
On 28 November 2021, Herzog lit candles for the first night of Hanukkah at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. He stated that the Jewish people's historical connection to Hebron should be recognized.
In December 2021, Herzog launched his "Think Good" campaign. This campaign, in partnership with Meta, aimed to fight cyberbullying and encourage respectful online conversations.
On 1 December 2023, Herzog attended the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. There, he met with Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
On 28 March 2024, Herzog said he considered U.S. President Joe Biden to be a "great friend of Israel."
.jpg)
On 12 November 2024, Herzog visited Washington, D.C., and met with U.S. President Joe Biden.
On 21 November 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. Herzog spoke against the ICC's decision. He said it ignored that Israel was attacked and has the right to defend its people. He also said Israel is a democracy that follows international law and works to help civilians.
In 2025, Herzog's Voice of the People project took place. This initiative brought together Jewish people from around the world to discuss important issues and create plans for the future.
Personal Life
Herzog is married to Michal, who is also a lawyer. They have three sons. He lives in the same house in Tzahala, Tel Aviv, where he grew up.
Images for kids
-
Isaac Herzog's signature
See also
In Spanish: Isaac Herzog para niños
