Isaac Herzog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Isaac Herzog
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יצחק הרצוג
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Official portrait, 2021
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| 11th President of Israel | |
| Assumed office 7 July 2021 |
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| Prime Minister |
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| Preceded by | Reuven Rivlin |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 25 November 2013 – 31 July 2018 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| Prime Minister | Ehud Olmert |
| Preceded by | Natan Sharansky |
| Succeeded by | Yuli-Yoel Edelstein |
| Minister of Tourism | |
| In office 4 May 2006 – 21 March 2007 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 September 1960 Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Political party | The Democrats |
| Other political affiliations |
Labor (until 2024) Zionist Union (2015–2018) |
| Spouse | Michal Herzog |
| Children | 3 |
| Parents |
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| 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 (born September 22, 1960) is an Israeli politician. Since 2021, he has been the 11th 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 President of Israel. 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 held several important jobs in the government between 2005 and 2011. This included being the Minister of Welfare and Social Services. Herzog was also the leader of the Israeli Labor Party from 2013 to 2017. He served as the Leader of the Opposition from 2013 to 2018. In 2021, he was elected President of Israel. He is the first son of a former Israeli president to become president himself.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Isaac "Bougie" Herzog was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. His father, Chaim Herzog, was a Major-General and the Sixth President of Israel. 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, Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog, was a very important religious leader. He was the first Chief Rabbi of Ireland and later the Chief Rabbi of Israel. Isaac's uncle, Abba Eban, was Israel's third foreign minister.
When his father worked for Israel at the United Nations, Isaac lived in New York City. He went to the Ramaz School there. He also studied at Cornell University and New York University. During summers, he attended Camp Ramah.
In 1978, Isaac returned to Israel and joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He became 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.
His Political Journey
Even though he didn't win a seat in the 1999 elections, Herzog became the secretary of the government. He worked in Ehud Barak's government 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 with his party in November 2005.
Before the 2006 elections, Herzog was a top candidate on the Labor Party's list. He was first appointed Minister of Tourism. Later, in 2007, he became the Minister of Social Affairs. He also served as the Minister of the Diaspora, Society, and the Fight Against Antisemitism. In 2009, he was appointed Minister of Welfare and Social Services. He also helped coordinate humanitarian aid for 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 November 22, 2013, Isaac Herzog was elected leader of the Labor Party. He won against the previous leader, Shelly Yachimovich. This made him the Leader of the Opposition. Herzog focused on security and finding a solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Shortly after his election, he met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He told Abbas he supported a "two-state solution" for peace.
In June 2014, Herzog spoke about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He said Netanyahu was not working well with other countries. He also said Netanyahu had not offered a peace plan with Palestinians. Herzog believed this put Israel's safety at risk.
Before the 2015 elections, Herzog formed an alliance with Tzipi Livni. Their joint list was called Zionist Union. They aimed to prevent Netanyahu's party from winning. The Zionist Union won 24 seats in the 2015 election. This made them the largest opposition group.
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In July 2017, Herzog was not re-elected as the Labor Party leader. However, he remained the official Leader of the Opposition in the Knesset. Later, he resigned from the Knesset to become the chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel.
Chairman of the Jewish Agency
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In June 2018, Herzog was chosen to lead the Jewish Agency for Israel. This organization connects Jewish people around the world with Israel. Herzog wanted to help bridge the gap between Jewish communities and the State of Israel.
He also spoke about fighting against antisemitism (hatred of Jewish people) worldwide. At a ceremony in Brussels, he asked European leaders to fight antisemitism. In March 2019, the Jewish Agency started helping employees pay for surrogacy services. This allowed more people, including gay and single parents, to have children.
President of Israel
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On May 19, 2021, Herzog announced he would run for president. On June 2, 2021, the Knesset elected him as president. He received more votes than any other presidential candidate in Israel's history. He was sworn in on July 7, 2021.
In his first speech as president, Herzog called for unity in Israeli society. He also spoke about building bridges between Israel and Jewish communities globally. Herzog stressed the importance of dealing with the climate crisis.
Since becoming president, Herzog has made several important visits to other countries. On January 30, 2022, he visited the United Arab Emirates. In March 2022, he visited Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey. His visit to Turkey was important for improving relations between the two countries.
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On March 29, 2022, Herzog made a public visit to Amman, Jordan. He met with King Abdullah II. They talked about strengthening the relationship between Israel and Jordan. They also discussed keeping peace in the region.
Herzog has also focused on connecting with different communities within Israel. On October 29, 2021, he attended a memorial for the victims of the 1956 Kafr Qasim Massacre. He apologized on behalf of the State of Israel. This was the first time an Israeli official had done so at this ceremony.
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In October 2021, Herzog started the Israeli Climate Forum. This group works to fight the climate crisis. Herzog also shared his idea for a "Renewable Middle East." He believes the climate crisis can create chances for countries in the Middle East to work together.
In November 2021, Herzog visited the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. He said that the Jewish people's historical connection to Hebron should be recognized.
In December 2021, Herzog launched his "Think Good" campaign. This campaign aims to stop cyberbullying. It works with Meta (the company that owns Facebook) to promote respectful online discussions.
In October 2023, Herzog spoke about the Israel–Hamas war. He said that accusations against Israel regarding a hospital explosion were false. He also stated that Hamas fighters had instructions for making chemical weapons.
On December 1, 2023, Herzog attended a climate summit in Dubai. He met with the Emir of Qatar there.
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In March 2024, Herzog called US President Joe Biden a "great friend of Israel." On November 12, 2024, Herzog visited Washington, D.C., and met with President Biden.
On November 21, 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders. Herzog criticized this decision. He said it ignored that Israel was attacked and has a right to defend itself. He also said it ignored that Israel is a democracy following international law.
Personal Life
Herzog is married to Michal, who is a lawyer. They have three sons. He lives in the same house in Tel Aviv where he grew up.
Images for kids
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Official portrait, 2021
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Isaac Herzog's signature
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Emblem of Israel
See also
In Spanish: Isaac Herzog para niños
