President of Israel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids President of the State of Israel |
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Presidential standard
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| Style | His Excellency |
| Residence | Beit HaNassi |
| Appointer | Knesset |
| Term length | Seven years, non-renewable |
| Inaugural holder | Chaim Weizmann |
| Formation | 16 February 1949 |
| Deputy | Speaker of the Knesset |
| Salary | US$173,255 annually |
| Website | Israel presidential website |
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The President of the State of Israel is the official head of state of Israel. This means the president is the main representative of the country. While important, the president's role is mostly ceremonial. This means they perform official duties but do not make big decisions about how the country is run. The real power is with the cabinet and the prime minister.
The current president is Isaac Herzog. He started his job on July 7, 2021. Presidents are chosen by the Knesset (Israel's parliament). They serve for one seven-year term and cannot be re-elected.
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Choosing the President
The President of Israel is chosen by the Knesset. Members of the Knesset vote in a secret ballot. A candidate needs more than half of the votes to win. If no one gets enough votes in the first two rounds, the candidate with the fewest votes is removed. This continues until only two candidates are left.
From 1949 to 2000, presidents served for five years. They could be elected up to two times. Since 2000, a president serves only one seven-year term.
Any Israeli citizen can become president. There is no age limit. If the president's term ends, or if they pass away or resign, the job becomes open. The Knesset can also remove a president for bad behavior. This needs three-quarters of the Knesset members to agree.
The president's term does not depend on the Knesset's term. This helps keep the government stable. Israel does not have a vice president. If the president cannot do their job, the speaker of the Knesset takes over temporarily.
The first president, Chaim Weizmann, was elected on February 16, 1949.
What the President Does
The president's main job is to represent Israel. They represent the country to other nations. They also help bring people together within Israel. The president is a symbol of the Israeli state. They approve decisions made by the government. They also make sure the public's wishes are carried out.
The president's powers are similar to those of heads of state in other countries with parliaments. These powers are set out in a law called "Basic Law: The Presidency." This law was passed in 1964. Another law, "Basic Law: The Government," also talks about the president's powers.
However, the president is not the main leader of the government. The "Basic Law: The Government" clearly states that the Government has the power. The prime minister leads the government. Most of the president's actions need the prime minister's approval to become legal. So, the president's role is mostly ceremonial.
The president cannot be sued or charged with crimes for things they do in their official job. This rule helps the president stay independent from other parts of the government. This makes the presidency a special part of Israel's government. It allows presidents to influence things without being part of a political party. They help keep state institutions stable. They also talk to the public about important national issues.
Everyday Tasks
The president signs new laws passed by the Knesset. They also approve international agreements. The president helps welcome foreign diplomats to Israel. They also approve Israeli ambassadors who go to other countries.
The president appoints many important officials. These include judges and the head of the Bank of Israel. They also appoint the head of Magen David Adom (like the Red Cross). Other appointments include the head of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities. Judges are chosen by a special committee. All other appointments are made with the government's advice.
Special Powers
The president has some special powers. These include forming the government, dissolving the Knesset, and granting pardons. These are called the president's "reserve powers."
Forming the Government
One of the president's most important powers is helping to form a new government. After an election, it is hard for one party to win enough seats to govern alone. The president talks to leaders of all the political parties. They try to find out who can get enough support to lead the Knesset.
Then, the president asks a member of the Knesset to try and form a government. If that person succeeds, they become the prime minister. If they fail, the president asks someone else. If no government is formed in time, the president can dissolve the Knesset. This means new elections will be held.
Ending the Knesset's Term
The prime minister can ask the president to dissolve the Knesset. This happens if the government has lost its support. The president can say no to this request. If the president says no, the prime minister might have to resign. This power helps stop a prime minister from using their power unfairly. For example, it prevents them from calling many new elections just to get their way.
Presidential Pardons
The president has the power to pardon people. This means they can forgive someone for a crime. They can also reduce or change sentences for soldiers and civilians. The president decides this on their own. They get information from the person asking for the pardon. They also ask for opinions from others. They usually talk to the Minister of Justice or the Minister of Defense. Each president handles pardons differently.
Other Activities
The president gives out special honors. One is the "Righteous Among the Nations" award. This is for people who saved Jews during the Holocaust. They also present the Wolf Prize for achievements in science and art. The president also gives out the Presidential Medal of Honor. They also award scholarships for doctoral students.
The president takes part in the Israel Prize ceremony. This award is given every year on Yom Ha'atzmaut. The president also gives speeches at the start of Knesset meetings. They also speak at official ceremonies for Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) and Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day).
Past Presidents
Most Israeli presidents were involved in politics or Zionist activities before becoming president. Zionism is the movement to create and support a Jewish state in the land of Israel. Some presidents were also famous in other areas. For example, Chaim Weizmann was a scientist. He founded the Weizmann Institute of Science. Zalman Shazar was a writer and journalist. Chaim Herzog was a military leader and diplomat.
The first Israeli presidents were born in the former Russian Empire. The first president born in Israel was Yitzhak Navon. He was also the first with a Sephardi background. Sephardi Jews are from the Middle East, North Africa, and Spain. The first president from Western Europe was Chaim Herzog. He was born in Belfast, United Kingdom. The first president with a Mizrahi background was Moshe Katsav. Mizrahi Jews are from the Middle East. He was born in Iran.
Isaac Herzog is the first president born in the modern state of Israel. He is also the first son of a former Israeli president to become president. His father was Chaim Herzog. As of 2024, the only other presidents with close family ties were Chaim Weizmann and his nephew Ezer Weizman.
Political Connections
Many early Israeli presidents were connected to the Labor Party. They were seen as politically moderate. Moshe Katsav was the first president from the Likud party.
In 1952, Albert Einstein, a famous scientist, was offered the presidency. He was Jewish but not an Israeli citizen. He turned down the offer. He said he was better at dealing with science than with people.
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See also
In Spanish: Presidente de Israel para niños
