List of presidents of Israel facts for kids
This article tells you about the people who have been the President of Israel since the country was founded in 1948.
The President of Israel is the country's official head of state. This job is mostly about ceremonies and is not involved in daily politics. The President's special duties include signing every new law and international agreements. They also officially appoint the Prime Minister and welcome ambassadors from other countries.
The President also has some important roles in the government. They are the only official who can forgive or reduce sentences for prisoners. The President also chooses the head of the Bank of Israel and the leader of the national emergency service, Magen David Adom. They also officially appoint judges after they have been chosen.
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Early Leaders of Israel (1948–1949)
When Israel became an independent country on May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion announced its creation. Before the official government was fully set up, there was a group called the Provisional State Council.
Chaim Weizmann was the leader of this council. He acted as the head of state until he was officially elected as the first President of Israel in 1949.
Leaders | Elected | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Picture | Name (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | Political Party | |||
1 | David Ben-Gurion (1886–1973) |
14 May 1948 | 16 May 1948 | Mapai | — | ||
2 | Chaim Weizmann (1874–1952) |
16 May 1948 | 17 February 1949 | General Zionists | — |
Presidents of Israel (1949–Present)
So far, eleven people have served as President of Israel. Some of them served for two terms in a row. One president, Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, was elected three times, but he passed away early in his third term.
Isaac Herzog is the current President of Israel. He started his term in 2021.
President | Elected | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Picture | Name (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | Political Party | |||
1 | Chaim Weizmann (1874–1952) |
17 February 1949 | 25 November 1951 | General Zionists | 1949 | ||
25 November 1951 | 9 November 1952 | 1951 | |||||
– | Yosef Sprinzak (1885–1959) Acting |
9 November 1952 | 16 December 1952 | Mapai | – | ||
2 | Yitzhak Ben-Zvi (1884–1963) |
16 December 1952 | 30 October 1957 | Mapai | 1952 | ||
30 October 1957 | 30 October 1962 | 1957 | |||||
30 October 1962 | 23 April 1963 | 1962 | |||||
– | Kadish Luz (1895–1972) Acting |
23 April 1963 | 21 May 1963 | Mapai | – | ||
3 | Zalman Shazar (1889–1974) |
21 May 1963 | 26 March 1968 | Mapai | 1963 | ||
26 March 1968 | 24 May 1973 | 1968 | |||||
4 | Ephraim Katzir (1916–2009) |
24 May 1973 | 29 May 1978 | Alignment Labor |
1973 | ||
5 | Yitzhak Navon (1921–2015) |
29 May 1978 | 5 May 1983 | Alignment Labor |
1978 | ||
6 | Chaim Herzog (1918–1997) |
5 May 1983 | 23 February 1988 | Alignment Labor |
1983 | ||
23 February 1988 | 13 May 1993 | 1988 | |||||
7 | Ezer Weizman (1924–2005) |
13 May 1993 | 4 March 1998 | Labor | 1993 | ||
4 March 1998 | 13 July 2000 | 1998 | |||||
– | Avraham Burg (born 1955) Acting |
13 July 2000 | 1 August 2000 | One Israel Labor |
– | ||
8 | Moshe Katsav (born 1945) |
1 August 2000 | 1 July 2007 | Likud | 2000 | ||
– | Dalia Itzik (born 1952) Acting |
1 July 2007 | 15 July 2007 | Kadima | – | ||
9 | Shimon Peres (1923–2016) |
15 July 2007 | 24 July 2014 | Kadima | 2007 | ||
10 | Reuven Rivlin (born 1939) |
24 July 2014 | 7 July 2021 | Likud | 2014 | ||
11 | Isaac Herzog (born 1960) |
7 July 2021 | (Term ends in 2028) | Labor | 2021 |
Timeline of Presidents

Facts About the Presidents
This table shares some interesting facts about where and when each president was born and passed away.
No. | Name | Born | Died | Birthplace | Death Place | Burial Place |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chaim Weizmann | November 27, 1874 | November 9, 1952 | Motal, Russian Empire ![]() |
Rehovot![]() |
Rehovot![]() |
2 | Yitzhak Ben-Zvi | November 24, 1884 | April 23, 1963 | Poltava, Russian Empire ![]() |
Jerusalem![]() |
Har HaMenuchot![]() |
3 | Zalman Shazar | November 24, 1889 | October 5, 1974 | Mir, Russian Empire ![]() |
Jerusalem![]() |
Mount Herzl![]() |
4 | Ephraim Katzir | May 16, 1916 | May 30, 2009 | Kiev, Russian Empire ![]() |
Rehovot![]() |
Rehovot Cemetery![]() |
5 | Yitzhak Navon | April 9, 1921 | November 7, 2015 | Jerusalem, Mandatory Palestine ![]() |
Jerusalem![]() |
Mount Herzl![]() |
6 | Chaim Herzog | September 17, 1918 | April 17, 1997 | Belfast, United Kingdom ![]() |
Tel Aviv![]() |
Mount Herzl![]() |
7 | Ezer Weizman | June 15, 1924 | April 24, 2005 | Tel Aviv, Mandatory Palestine ![]() |
Caesarea![]() |
Or Akiva![]() |
8 | Moshe Katsav | December 5, 1945 | Yazd, Pahlavi Iran ![]() |
|||
9 | Shimon Peres | August 2, 1923 | September 28, 2016 | Vishnyeva, Poland ![]() |
Ramat Gan![]() |
Mount Herzl![]() |
10 | Reuven Rivlin | September 9, 1939 | Jerusalem, Mandatory Palestine ![]() |
|||
11 | Isaac Herzog | September 22, 1960 | Tel Aviv, Israel ![]() |