Branches of GovernmentEnacted 1964
Basic Law: The President of the State חוק יסוד: נשיא המדינה
Defines the office of President as Israel's ceremonial head of state, elected by the Knesset for a single seven-year term (since the 1998 amendment took effect in 2000).
Key provisions
- Elected by secret ballot for one seven-year term. With multiple candidates, the first ballot requires 61 votes; a runoff is decided by the majority voting for a candidate.
- Open to any Israeli citizen and resident
- Signs laws and Knesset-approved treaties, accredits diplomats, and performs appointment duties assigned by law, including the appointment of judges.
- May pardon offenders and reduce or commute sentences
- Assigns government formation to a consenting MK after consulting parliamentary factions, under Basic Law: The Government.
- Enjoys immunity from prosecution; may be removed only by a three-quarters Knesset supermajority (90 of 120 MKs) for behavior unbecoming the office
Context
The 1964 Basic Law replaced earlier legislation governing the presidency. A 1998 amendment changed the renewable five-year term to a single seven-year term.
Notable amendments
- 1998: Reduced presidency to a single seven-year term (effective 2000, first applied to President Moshe Katsav), eliminating the option of a second consecutive five-year term
Today
Isaac Herzog was elected on 2 June 2021 and began his seven-year term on 7 July 2021.
Cite this page
Basic Law: The President of the State (1964). The State of Israel. https://thestateofisrael.com/basic-law/the-president-of-the-state