Issac Herzog sworn in as Israel’s 11th president
Isaac Herzog, Israel’s 11th president succeeding Reuven Rivlin entered office yesterday and pledged allegiance in the Knesset Plenum in a special ceremony, attended by all members of the Knesset.
President Isaac Herzog (L) and President Reuven Rivlin. (Shalev Shalom/TPS)
Herzog’s father, Haim Herzog, was the 6th president of the State of Israel and his grandfather, Yitzhak Isaac Halevi Herzog, after whom he was named, served as the chief rabbi of Israel.
Herzog was elected by 87 MKs, and achieved the largest-ever majority in an election to Israel’s president.
Commenting on the social polarization during his address to the Knesset, President Herzog said that he intended to embark on a “journey among the rift lines of Israeli society.”
“I will embark upon a journey among the rift lines and fault lines of Israeli society; a journey aimed at finding the unifying factor within the differences, the healing factor among the fragments—a journey aimed at finding us anew,” he stated.
“I will embark on this path with the goal of encountering the pain, looking directly at it, and giving an attentive ear and heart to the difficulty and the fears, even at the most volatile points,” he added.
“In my role as President of the State, I undertake to help the Government of Israel to defend the justification of Israel’s cause around the world and its right to defend itself. To assist in the battle against antisemitism and hatred of Israel, and to achieve the sought-after peace with our neighbours,” he declared.
Herzog, aka “Bougie,” 60, is married to Michal, a lawyer, and has three sons.
He has a long history of public service. He served as a Member of the 16th–20th Knessets from 2003–2018, and as a Minister in the 30th–32nd Israeli governments.
He served as Minister of Welfare and Social Services, Minister of Housing and Construction, Minister of Tourism, and Minister for Diaspora, Society and the Fight Against Antisemitism, Member of the Security Cabinet of Israel responsible for humanitarian coordination with Gaza, and Leader of the Opposition.
Until his election, he served as the Chairman of the Jewish Agency.
, Israel’s 11th president, entered office on Wednesday and pledged allegiance in the Knesset Plenum in a special ceremony, attended by all Members if Knesset, succeeding Reuven Rivlin.
Herzog’s father, Haim Herzog, was the 6th president of the State of Israel, and his grandfather, Yitzhak Isaac Halevi Herzog, after whom he was named, served as the chief rabbi of Israel.
Herzog was elected by 87 MKs, and achieved the largest-ever majority in an election to Israel’s president.
Commenting on the social polarization during his address to the Knesset, President Herzog said that he intended to embark on a “journey among the rift lines of Israeli society.”
“I will embark upon a journey among the rift lines and fault lines of Israeli society; a journey aimed at finding the unifying factor within the differences, the healing factor among the fragments—a journey aimed at finding us anew,” he stated.
“I will embark on this path with the goal of encountering the pain, looking directly at it, and giving an attentive ear and heart to the difficulty and the fears, even at the most volatile points,” he added.
“In my role as President of the State, I undertake to help the Government of Israel to defend the justification of Israel’s cause around the world and its right to defend itself. To assist in the battle against antisemitism and hatred of Israel, and to achieve the sought-after peace with our neighbors,” he declared.
Herzog, aka “Bougie,” 60, is married to Michal, a lawyer, and has three sons.
He has a long history of public service. He served as a Member of the 16th–20th Knessets from 2003–2018, and as a Minister in the 30th–32nd Israeli governments.
He served as Minister of Welfare and Social Services, Minister of Housing and Construction, Minister of Tourism, and Minister for Diaspora, Society and the Fight Against Antisemitism, Member of the Security Cabinet of Israel responsible for humanitarian coordination with Gaza, and Leader of the Opposition.
Until his election, he served as the Chairman of the Jewish Agency.
