Talk:Prime Minister of Israel

untitled
The table is misleading now because it says that Sharon "Left office" and "Took office" in 2005, which is false. He has only left the post as leader of Likud, and continues to serve on the same term of office as PM. It is not necessary to make a new row for someone who just has switched party. Levi Eshkol, who also switched party during his term, does not have two rows. /Slarre 18:04, 24 November 2005 (UTC)
 * Eshkol didn't switch parties. His original party, Mapai, merged with other parties (Ahdut HaAvoda and Rafi) and became known as the Labour party. Mapai was the dominant part of the merged party. Sharon's case is very different. He and several other members were a minority who split from their original party and found a new party. This move was against the majority of the ruling party.--Nitsansh 00:25, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

Why is the table showing rightwing parties as blue and leftwing parties as red? Is it different in Israel than in the United States? Jerse 20:21, 20 January 2007 (UTC)

Why Isn't Olmert considered the 12th PM?

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It's confusing to say Ariel Sharon has not yet been declared permanently incapacitated without a date on the assertion. Should read "As of [date], Ariel Sharon has not yet been declared permanently incapacitated."
 * According to my calculation, on April 14th, 100 days after Sharon was declared "temporarily incapable", his status will officially change to "permanently incapable" and Olmert's title will change from substitute of the PM (ממלא מקום ראש הממשלה) to acting PM (ראש הממשלה בפועל) until a new government, most likely headed by Olmert, will be approved by the Knesset and sworn in. For all practical purposes, Olmert has almost all the power of PM, whether he is substitute, acting or elected. The only authority that a temporary PM doesn't have, whether he is a substitute or acting, is to call for early elections. However, the legal advisor to the government has decreed that it's not appropriate for a "lame duck" PM and government to make major policy decisions.--Nitsansh 00:32, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

As to Peres in 1995, he was active PM right after Rabin's murder, but within a few weeks he formed a new government.--Nitsansh 00:25, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

New Prime Minister
a new prime minister was recently elected —Preceding unsigned comment added by 151.199.194.68 (talk) 14:26, 1 October 2008 (UTC)
 * Spring 2006 isn't exactly recent. If you are talking about Livni, she has not yet become Prime Minister - she has to form a government first. пﮟოьεԻ   5  7  14:28, 1 October 2008 (UTC)

Queston regarding change in election system
I came here specifically looking for an answer to these questions: When did Israel change its method of electing the PM and why? Unfortunately, the information given here only confuses me more. This paragraph—

''The Basic Law was amended in 1992, providing for the direct election of the Prime Minister, separate from the Knesset election. Three elections were held under this system: 1996, 1999, and 2001. (2001 was the only time that a Prime Ministerial election was held without a Knesset election. Thus, from 2001-2003 Ariel Sharon (Likud) was Prime Minister while Labour held a plurality of Knesset seats.) In 2001, the Basic Law was amended again, abolishing direct elections and reverting to the original system. Thus, in 2003 and subsequent elections, the Prime Minister is chosen by a majority in the Knesset''

either appears to presume that the reader already understands the system, or else is nonsensical. To say that there were three elections "under this system", but only 2001 was a PM election w/o Knesset election, means that we must be talking about two different types of elections, right? So, in other words, the elections of 1996 and 1999 were Knessett, and 2001 for PM? Is that right? If so, the writing here is incredibly poor, if for no other reason than the fact that it's taken me all the time I've been typing here to figure out the one possible way it could be correct. If they are different types of elections, then they shouldn't be included in some kind of sequence labeled "this system", which leads the reader to believe that they were all the same type of election.

On top of this, this information directly contradicts the information found in the Politics of Israel article, which says that 1996 was the only time a PM was elected directly.

Anyway, I knew that Israel had gone to a direct election, and had inferred from news accounts last month that they had reverted, but I know nothing more than that now after reading these two articles. I love Wikipedia, but this has disappointed me, and I wish someone who knows something about this could straighten this up.

I'd also like an explanation for the switch. I have some guesses, but I'd like more info. Unschool 05:32, 8 April 2006 (UTC)


 * OK, I'll try to explain: In 1992 Israel changed the election system, from what was a classic party list system into a unique (and untried before) mixed system in which MPs are elected via party lists and the Prime Minister is elected directly via a seperate ballot. In 1996 and 1999, on elections day, Israelis voted in two different ballots: one for prime minister and one for a party. In 2001 Israelis voted only for prime minister, without changing the formation of the Knesset. That's why Sharon, even though he was elected with a wide majority, wasn't the head of the largest party in the parliament. In 2001 the system was changed to the old single-ballot party list, with a few "improvements", chief among them is the introduction of a constructive vote of no confidence.
 * The (stated) reasons for the switch in 1992 are the inherent instability of the party list system coupled with absolute proportional representation (and a very low suffrage). It was believed that if the PM would be elected directly, he would be able to form more stable coalitions, by removing the threat of rival coalitions offering their own candidate (in the coalition building process after every election). In effect, the new system actually produced more instability, because it generated a motivation to vote for smaller parties. This created fragmented Knessets, where no one party had a clear majority. Thus the system was changed back. The introduction of the constructive vote of no confidence is supposed to enhance the stability of the government, by forcing the opposition in parliament to propose an alternate candidate for prime minister, rather than just going to new elections. The suffrage was also changed, and now stands at 2% of valid votes, rather than 1% at most of Israel's history.


 * I hope this helps. If you have any other questions, I'll be happy to answer. The paragraph in the article, by the way, is fine by me - but if you think you can write it better, I won't object. --Lidless Eye 12:19, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

Confused about numbering of PMs in table
Why isn't Yigal Allon number 4? I understand that he was acting PM and only served for a brief time; but the same is true of the current PM, Ehud Olmert. --ChrisWinter 21:21, 31 July 2006 (UTC)

09125246982 Majid Shirkhani (talk) 14:32, 14 July 2015 (UTC)

Requirements
I remember learning that only Jews could be PM, but I can't find any source of it. Although I haven't looked in the Basic Law.Metallurgist (talk) 04:36, 27 May 2009 (UTC)
 * This is not true. The only requirements as far as the Basic law: The government is concerned is that the PM must be a member of the Knesset (which in turn means they are bound by Basic law: The Knesset, which requires them to an Israeli citizen who is at least 21 years old and not to be the president, chief rabbi, judge, state comptroller, chief of staff of the IDF, rabbi/priest/imam or senior civil servant/soldier). пﮟოьεԻ   5  7  08:14, 27 May 2009 (UTC)

First sentence
Current: The Prime Minister of Israel (ראש הממשלה, Rosh HaMemshala, lit. Head of the Government) is the head of the Israeli government and the most powerful political figure in Israel (the title of President of Israel is an honorary position).

My suggestion: The Prime Minister of Israel (ראש הממשלה, Rosh HaMemshala, lit. Head of the Government) is the head of the Israeli government and the most powerful political figure in Israel, but is not the head of state an honorary position held by the President of Israel.

Term limit?
I came here looking for information on term limits to the post of Prime Minister. Are there any? I would assume not since it's not mentioned in the article but maybe that should be pointed out somewhere. If anyone answers my question, please ping me in the response as I don't watch this page. Thanks, Dismas |(talk) 09:21, 18 March 2015 (UTC)
 * No, there aren't. As far as I'm aware, no country has term limits on the Prime Minister - it's generall only something that applies to presidencies. Number   5  7  10:50, 18 March 2015 (UTC)
 * Thanks! Dismas |(talk) 10:54, 18 March 2015 (UTC)

Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 12 September 2018
There appears to be a word missing in the last part of this sentence: "Israel is a republic with a President as head of state. However, the President's powers are largely ceremonial; the Prime Minister the real power."

I suggest changing "the Prime Minister the real power" to "the Prime Minister holds the real power". Seuisaan (talk) 17:35, 12 September 2018 (UTC)
 * ✅ Fish +Karate 13:35, 14 September 2018 (UTC)

Fix link for Chief Executive
First line of article says that the Prime Minister is the chief executive, linking to Chief_executive_officer. It should probably link to Chief_executive_(gubernatorial) 173.72.3.241 (talk) 21:51, 31 May 2019 (UTC)

Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 13 June 2021
Hi, this 'www.pmo.gov.il/English/Pages/default.aspx' should be changed to 'www.gov.il/en/departments/prime_ministers_office'. Firstly because it uses an incorrect certificate and lastly because it redirects anyways. Paladox (talk) 18:14, 13 June 2021 (UTC)
 * ✅ Shellwood (talk) 19:15, 13 June 2021 (UTC)
 * Thanks! Paladox (talk) 14:32, 14 June 2021 (UTC)

Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 20 June 2022
Bennett has resigned! Lapid is to be fully prime minister until elections in October. Please make the necessary changes. Notwisconsin (talk) 00:56, 21 June 2022 (UTC)


 * Yeah the necessary changes can be done now that Lapid has officially become caretaker PM starting July 1.
 * CrazyPredictor (talk) 21:01, 30 June 2022 (UTC)


 * The election has been scheduled for 1 November 2022. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220630-🔴-israeli-lawmakers-dissolve-parliament-election-set-for-november-1 CasparRH (talk) 23:00, 4 July 2022 (UTC)

Salary
Why is the PM's salary given in a USD estimate? It would be more accurate to state the actual figure, which is NIS 56,295 per month. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200107-knesset-members-vote-themselves-a-salary-increase/ CasparRH (talk) 23:03, 4 July 2022 (UTC)

Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 3 Nov 2022
Bibi absolutely is *not* Prime Minister as of this writing! First, the results of the 2022 election must be presented officially to the President, who must then invite a Knesset member to form a government. Only when that prospective government wins a vote of confidence can there be a new incumbent. The clear victory of Bibi's bloc in the election notwithstanding, this can take multiple weeks.

In the meantime, please put Yair Lapid back. Anodeenzyme (talk) 18:32, 3 November 2022 (UTC)


 * I agree. Yair Lapid is still prime minister. The new government hasn't even been formed yet so there is no way that Benjamin Netanyahu is Prime Minister. UltraaaDev (talk) 19:13, 3 November 2022 (UTC)

Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 16 November 2022
In the 2003 onwards paragraph of the History section, change "Multiple disagreements with his coalition members led to the 2019–2021 Israeli political crisis." to "Multiple disagreements with his coalition members led to the 2019–2022 Israeli political crisis." Thariqziyad (talk) 05:57, 16 November 2022 (UTC)
 * ✅ Thanks for your attention to detail! Actualcpscm (talk) 17:42, 17 November 2022 (UTC)

New portrait of Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu, February 2023.jpg Lee Gok Da (talk) 07:20, 2 March 2023 (UTC)

Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 4 May 2023
In "History" section, "2003 onwards" subsection, the final paragraph:
 * In 2021, Naftali Bennett became prime minister. He was succeeded in 2022 by his coalition partner, Yair Lapid.

Change it to read:
 * In 2021, Naftali Bennett became prime minister. He was succeeded in July 2022 by his coalition partner, Yair Lapid. In December 2022, Benjamin Netanyahu returned to the prime ministership, as a result of the previous month's election.

Justification: the history section ends with Lapid becoming PM in 2022, but doesn't cover that he was replaced by the return of Netanyahu in the same year. So add a sentence to the end of that paragraph briefly mentioning that. The lede and infobox of the article have already been updated to cover Netanyahu's return, but this history section was missed. As well as adding that sentence, specify the month in which Lapid came to power – I think it is important to give the month, due to the unusual situation that Lapid's term of PM lasted for less than a year, and his successor was installed in the same year. I don't think we need to give the month for Bennett, since he actually lasted for more than 1 year (if only by two and a bit weeks). SomethingForDeletion (talk) 03:28, 4 May 2023 (UTC)

PM is head of government ... not just in Israel
Mcvayn restored the passage

Unlike most prime ministers in parliamentary republics, the prime minister is both de jure and de facto chief executive. This is because the Basic Laws of Israel explicitly vest executive power in the government, of which the prime minister is the leader.

with the following reasoning:

In most parliamentary republics, the head of state is notionally the chief executive but is required to exercise executive power on the advice of a prime minister who, as head of government, enjoys the confidence of parliament. This is not the case in Israel; the Basic Laws explicitly confer executive power on the Government, which the prime minister leads.

I would have reverted him (but someone beat me to it) because:

If that were true (for which Mcvayn brings no source) then why restore the previous obscure wording with those vague terms "de jure/facto" - and I most parliamentary republics I know have the prime minister etc. as the chief of the executive - anyway, this article should concern itself with the PM of Israel, not other countries.

Str1977 (talk) 19:07, 21 February 2024 (UTC)

Hlo sir main apko Marna hen Joo app flaasteen ky Sath Joo Kuch kar rehy
Hlo sir main apko Marna hen Joo ap flaasteen ky Sath kr rehy

39.36.45.162 (talk) 18:54, 4 April 2024 (UTC)