Prime Minister of Israel
The prime minister of Israel (Hebrew: רֹאשׁ הַמֶּמְשָׁלָה, romanized: Rosh HaMemshala, lit. 'Head of the Government', Hebrew acronym: רה״מ; Arabic: رئيس الحكومة, Ra'īs al-Ḥukūma) is the head of government and chief executive of the State of Israel.
| Prime Minister of Israel | |
|---|---|
| Hebrew: רֹאשׁ הַמֶּמְשָׁלָה Arabic: رئيس الحكومة | |
Prime Ministerial Standard | |
| Prime Minister's Office | |
| Style | His Excellency |
| Residence | Beit Aghion |
| Nominator | Knesset |
| Appointer | President |
| Term length | Four years, renewable indefinitely |
| Inaugural holder | David Ben-Gurion |
| Formation | 14 May 1948 |
| Deputy | Alternate Prime Minister |
| Salary | US$170,000 annually |
| Website | pmo.gov.il |
Israel is a parliamentary republic with a president as the head of state. The president's powers are largely ceremonial, while the prime minister holds the executive power. The official residence of the prime minister, Beit Aghion, is in Jerusalem. The current prime minister is Benjamin Netanyahu of Likud, the ninth person to hold the position (excluding caretakers).
Following an election, the president nominates a member of the Knesset to become prime minister after asking party leaders whom they support for the position. The first candidate the president nominates has 28 days to put together a viable coalition. He then presents a government platform and must receive a vote of confidence from the Knesset to become prime minister. In practice, the prime minister is usually the leader of the largest party in the governing coalition. Between 1996 and 2001, the prime minister was directly elected, separately from the Knesset.