The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic by its state structure. This means that most of the powers to manage the country are in the hands of the parliament, which here is called the Knesset. Its members, by secret ballot, elect a president every seven years, always new, there is no second term for this post in Israel.

In July 2007, Shimon Peres (born 2.08.1923) took over this post. The real power, like in any parliamentary republic, is possessed by the Knesset and the prime minister, the president plays a more representative, formal role.