Israel’s Prime Ministers

The Prime Minister of Israel is the head of the Israeli government and is the most powerful political officer in Israel (the President of Israel being a titular figurehead). He or she wields executive power in the country, and has an official residence in Jerusalem. The current Prime Minister is Ehud Olmert of Kadima, the twelfth person to hold the position (excluding caretakers).
Following an election, the President nominates a Prime Minister after asking party leaders whom they support for the position, though between 1996 and 2001 the Prime Minister was elected in a separate election to the rest of the Knesset.
In Hebrew the position is called Rosh HaMemshala a term also applied to foreign Prime Ministers. Occasionally, the title of “Premier” is used when referring to the Prime Minister.