Presidents of Israel: the way of life and interesting facts

Israel is a fairly young state. However, 10 political figures managed to change in the history of the presidency. What were the presidents of Israel? What are they remembered by the world community?

Chaim Weizmann

He became the first President of Israel in 1949, four years after the end of World War II. In 1951, Chaim Weizmann was elected for a second term. He was born in a small town in the territory of modern Belarus, studied in Germany and Switzerland, was the president of the World Organization of Zionists. With the Nazis coming to power, Weizmann became the organizer of the immigration of Jews from Germany. He was also one of the founders of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The first president of Israel passed away in 1952.

Yitzhak Ben-Zvi

A month after the death of the first president, his post was occupied by Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, who had been the head of state for three full terms. He was born in Poltava (today it is the territory of Ukraine). In 1906, in the house of his father Ben-Zvi, they found weapons and exiled him to Siberia. Yitzhak himself managed to escape to Vilnius. Later he settled in Palestine and took a lively part in the political life of this country. In 1948 he became one of those who signed the Declaration on the Independence of Israel. Yitzhak Ben-Zvi died in 1963 in Jerusalem.

Zalman Shazar

There is such a joke that according to statistics, Belarusians are easier to get into the presidents of Israel than to the presidents of Belarus. And this is the absolute truth. An example was the third president of Israel, Zalman Shazar, a native of the Minsk province. He received a religious education, then went to study in Germany. In 1947 he was a member of the Jewish delegation to the UN General Assembly, where the issue of Israel's independence was decided. Zalman Shazar always led a very rich scientific and social life, wrote a lot in Hebrew and Yiddish: journalism, prose, poetry, scientific works.

Ephraim Katzir

The fourth president of Israel was born in Ukraine, then moved with his family to Palestine. At the age of 16 he became commander of a company of the Jewish organization "Hagan". After becoming a doctor of science, he specialized in biochemistry and received several international awards in this field.

Yitzhak Navon

Few presidents of Israel were born on their land. Yitzhak Navon is one of them. He was born in the capital of Israel. Yitzhak Navon graduated from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, taught Arabic in schools, conducted diplomatic activities in Uruguay and Argentina, worked in the Ministry of Culture and Education. He became the first President of Israel, who was on an official visit to Egypt. In 1992, Yitzhak Navon retired. The fifth president of Israel died in 2015.

Chaim Herzog

Chaim Herzog was born in the Irish city of Belfast. He emigrated to Palestine in 1935. During the Second World War as a volunteer served in the British Army. After his graduation he returned to Palestine, where he began to make a career. Chaim Herzog was the military attaché of Israel in the United States, commanded a military zone in Jerusalem, was promoted to major general. He left the army in 1962. In 1975, when the UN declared Zionism a form of fascism, the Duke defiantly went to the podium and tore the document. In 1983, he became president of Israel and stayed with him until 1993.

Ezer Weizmann

The seventh president of Israel was born in Tel Aviv, but had Belarusian roots. He was the nephew of the first Israeli president, Chaim Weizmann. During the Second World War he served in the British Army. After the end of hostilities, he returned to Palestine and took an active part in the development of the Jewish military education of the "Hagan", or rather its aviation, which later became the basis of the Israeli Air Force. He played a big role in the victory of Israel in the Six Day War with the Arabs in 1967.

During his entire political career, Chaim Weizmann received many accusations. In 1989, he was convicted of illegal contacts with members of the Palestine Liberation Organization, thereby undermining his authority in government circles. In 2000, Chaim Weizmann received a charge of corruption and was forced to leave his post after 7 years of presidency.

Moshe Katsav

The eighth president of Israel became famous for his scandal and imprisonment. He was born in Iran, but soon he moved with his family to Israel, studied at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He began his political career as the Mayor of Kiryat-Malakhi. And among the city governors of the country Moshe Katsav was the youngest. Later, he held various ministerial positions, and in 2001 he was nominated by the party for presidential elections. In 2006, Moshe Katsav was accused of sexual harassment, and in 2011 he was sentenced to imprisonment for 7 years. Scandalously famous president of Israel is currently serving a prison term.

Shimon Peres

Shimon Peres was born on the territory of Poland, in his childhood with his family he emigrated to Palestine, graduated from Harvard and began a career in the Ministry of Defense. Occupying key posts, he actively contributed to the development of Israel's military and aviation industry. Closely collaborated with the first prime minister of the country David Ben-Gurion, held a number of ministerial posts, was one of the participants in the peace process in the Middle East. In 2007, Perez was elected president of Israel, and from 2013 he was the oldest head of state in the world. At that time he was already 90. However, the age of the politician never embarrassed anyone. Many Israeli presidents were not young. Shimon Peres died in 2016 at the age of 93 years.

Reuven Rivlin

Now the position of the President of Israel is occupied by Reuven Rivlin. He was born in 1939 in Jerusalem, successfully completed military service, studied law in one of the universities of the capital, began his career in politics, which was very successful. Rivlin's activities were quite fruitful. So, in 2010 he organized a group of inter-parliamentary strategic cooperation between the Israeli Knesset and the Federation Council of Russia. President Rivlin became in 2014 and is to this day.