The President of the State of Israel has a largely ceremonial role. The President has few powers and is elected to a seven-year term by a simple majority of the Knesset. A president cannot be re-elected to a second term. Until recently, the president was elected for a five-year term, and was allowed to serve up to two terms in office.
- Chaim Weizmann 1949-1952
- Itzhak Ben-Zvi 1952-1963
- Zalman Shazar 1963-1973
- Ephraim Katzir 1973-1978
- Yitzhak Navon 1978-1983
- Chaim Herzog 1983-1993
- Ezer Weizman 1993-2000
- Moshe Katsav since 2000
