Prime Ministers of Israel

Prime Minister of Israel רֹאשׁ הַמֶּמְשָׁלָה
Flag of the Prime Minister of Israel
Incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu since 31 March 2009
Prime Minister's Office
Style	His Excellency
Residence	Beit Aghion
Nominator	Knesset
Appointer	President of Israel
Term length	4 years (maximum)
Inaugural holder	David Ben-Gurion
Formation	14 May 1948
Deputy	Deputy Prime Minister
Website	pmo.gov.il

The Prime Minister of Israel (Hebrew: רֹאשׁ הַמֶּמְשָׁלָה‎, Rosh HaMemshala, lit. Head of the Government, Hebrew acronym: רה״מ‎; Arabic: رئيس الحكومة‎‎, Rais al-Hukuma) is the head of the Israeli government and the most powerful figure in Israeli politics. Although the President of Israel is the country's head of state, his powers are largely ceremonial; the prime minister holds most of the real power. The official residence of the prime minister, Beit Rosh Hamemshala 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 nominee then presents a government platform and must receive a vote of confidence in order 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.

The office of prime minister came into existence on 14 May 1948, the date of the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel, when the provisional government was created. David Ben-Gurion, leader of Mapai and head of the Jewish Agency became Israel's first prime minister. The position became permanent on 8 March 1949, when the first government was formed. Ben-Gurion retained his role until late 1953, when he resigned in order to settle in the Kibbutz of Sde Boker. He was replaced by Moshe Sharett. However, Ben-Gurion returned in a little under two years to reclaim his position. He resigned for a second time in 1963, breaking away from Mapai to form Rafi. Levi Eshkol took over as head of Mapai and prime minister. He became the first prime minister to head the country under the banner of two parties when Mapai formed the Alignment with Ahdut HaAvoda in 1965. In 1968 he also became the only party leader to command an absolute majority in the Knesset, after Mapam and Rafi merged into the Alignment, giving it 63 seats in the 120-seat Knesset.