Israel has both a prime minister and a president because it’s a parliamentary democracy that separates the symbolic head of state from the political head of government.

Big idea in one line

  • The president is a largely ceremonial, unifying head of state, while the prime minister is the real political leader who runs the government and sets policy.

How Israel’s system is set up

Israel is a parliamentary republic, somewhat like many European countries. Instead of having one powerful president who does everything, its system splits roles:

  • A president who represents the state, signs laws and treaties, and symbolizes national unity above party politics.
  • A prime minister who controls the executive branch, leads the cabinet, and actually governs day to day.

This structure is meant to:

  • Keep the “face of the nation” relatively neutral and unifying.
  • Concentrate political battles and coalition‑making in the office of prime minister and the parliament (the Knesset).

What the president actually does

Think of the Israeli president as a referee and national figurehead, not a player in the political game. Key points:

  • Is the de jure head of state , but stands mostly outside day‑to‑day politics.
  • Performs ceremonial functions :
    • Signs every law and international treaty (except those affecting presidential powers).
* Formally appoints the prime minister and other key officials, such as the Governor of the Bank of Israel.
  • Acts as a symbol of unity , receiving foreign diplomats and representing Israel at state ceremonies.
  • Has a few important legal powers, like granting pardons or commuting sentences.

Crucially, the president does not run government policy and does not command the army or ministries.

What the prime minister does

If the president is the symbolic “face,” the prime minister is the “driver” of the state. The prime minister:

  • Is the head of government and chief executive.
  • Leads the cabinet and directs government policy across security, economy, and domestic issues.
  • Oversees the military and has major influence over legislation through control of the governing coalition.

How they get there:

  • After elections, the president consults party leaders in the Knesset and then nominates a member of Knesset to try to form a government.
  • That nominee has a limited time (usually 28 days) to build a majority coalition; if successful, they become prime minister after a Knesset confidence vote.
  • If they fail, the president can pick someone else, and if no coalition is possible, the Knesset can be dissolved and new elections called.

So, the president helps start the process, but the prime minister is the one who actually governs.

Why have both? (The “why” behind the design)

Historically and practically, Israel’s choice to have both roles serves several purposes:

  • Borrowed parliamentary model : Israel’s founders drew on European parliamentary systems (like the UK’s monarch + prime minister or Germany’s president + chancellor), which separate symbolic and executive roles.
  • Coalition politics : With many parties in the Knesset, someone neutral is needed to manage the transition after elections and decide who has the best chance to form a coalition; that neutral actor is the president.
  • Symbol vs. power : Having a president above day‑to‑day politics allows one office to embody national unity , while the inevitable fights over ideology and policy are focused on the prime minister and parliament.
  • Checks and balances (soft ones) : The president can dissolve the Knesset if no government can be formed within the legal time frame, which nudges politicians toward compromise but doesn’t let the president rule directly.

There’s ongoing debate inside Israel about whether the presidency is vital symbolism or an unnecessary extra layer, but the system has kept this split for decades.

Quick HTML table: roles at a glance

[8][7] [5][3] [5][7] [9][5] [7][9] [9][3]
Position Main role Type of power How chosen
President of Israel Head of state, national symbol, unifying figure.Mostly ceremonial; some formal powers like appointing a PM candidate and granting pardons.Elected by the Knesset for a single seven‑year term.
Prime Minister of Israel Head of government, leads cabinet and sets policy.Holds real executive power; runs ministries and oversees the military.Nominated by the president and approved by Knesset after forming a majority coalition.
**TL;DR:** Israel has both a prime minister and a president because its parliamentary system intentionally splits the **symbolic head of state** (president) from the **political head of government** (prime minister), letting one office focus on unity and ceremony while the other handles real executive power and partisan politics.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.