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1957 Israeli Presidential Election

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01In brief

The 1957 Israeli presidential election was a Knesset vote held on October 28, 1957, in which incumbent President Yitzhak Ben-Zvi was returned to office for a second five-year term. Ben-Zvi ran unopposed: Professor Joseph Yoel Rivlin was discussed as a possible Herut candidate but decided not to challenge the incumbent. The Knesset was still required by law to approve Ben-Zvi by a majority of all its members. He received 76 votes in favor, with 18 blank ballots cast, and was inaugurated two days later in a ceremony that included the blowing of a shofar, a 21-gun salute, and the Police orchestra playing "Hatikvah."

02Background

Yitzhak Ben-Zvi had first been elected Israel's second president in 1952, following the death of Chaim Weizmann, Israel's founding president.[1] In that election, Ben-Zvi stood as Mapai's candidate in a vote held in the main hall of the old Knesset building at Beit Frumin on King George Street in Jerusalem.[2][3] The contest required three rounds; after no candidate won the required majority in the first two, Ben-Zvi received 62 votes in the third.[3]

Under the 1951 Presidency of the State Law, the Israeli president was elected by a majority of all Knesset members and served a five-year term.[4] By the time his first term drew to a close in 1957, Ben-Zvi faced no formal opposition. The Third Knesset, whose term ran from 1955 to 1959, conducted the election.[5]

03Course of Events

On October 28, 1957, the Knesset convened to elect a president for the next five-year term.[5][6] Incumbent President Yitzhak Ben-Zvi sought reelection and had no declared opponent.[3] Professor Joseph Yoel Rivlin had been mentioned as a possible candidate and presented as Herut's prospective nominee, but ultimately chose not to challenge the incumbent.[3][7]

Despite running unopposed, Ben-Zvi still required approval by at least 61 Knesset members—a majority of the 120-seat house—under the applicable law.[3] He received 76 votes in favor; 18 members cast blank ballots.[3] The result confirmed Ben-Zvi for a second presidential term. The Board of Deputies of British Jews formally sent him congratulations and good wishes on his reelection.[8]

04Inauguration Ceremony

Two days after the election, Ben-Zvi was inaugurated in the Knesset's main hall.[2] The ceremony opened with the blowing of a shofar upon his entry.[2] After he took the oath of office—swearing, "I, Yitzchak the son of David and Devorah Ben Zvi, undertake to maintain loyalty to the State of Israel and its laws"—a 21-gun salute was fired while guests stood.[2] The President's flag was then raised on the Knesset building, and the Police orchestra played "Hatikvah."[2]

05Aftermath and Legacy

Ben-Zvi's second term ran until 1962. Following the November 1959 Knesset elections, he asked David Ben-Gurion, as leader of the majority party, to form a government.[6] In 1962, Ben-Zvi was elected to an unprecedented third term.[9][10] He remains the only Israeli president elected to three terms.[10]

Ben-Zvi died in Jerusalem on April 23, 1963,[4][11] four months into his third term.[10] During this period, Ben-Zvi modestly disclaimed personal credit for Israel's gains and instead credited the people of Israel and world Jewry.[9] Professor Rivlin's son, Reuven Rivlin, later served as Israel's tenth president, succeeding where his father had not.[7]

Sources

  1. 1Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, Glossary of Israeli Parties and Personalities - 1948-1981, accessed on September 30, 2026.
  2. 2National Library of Israel, accessed on September 30, 2026.
  3. 3Ynet, The race for the presidency: history shows that everything is open, accessed on September 30, 2026.
  4. 4Encyclopedia.com, President of Israel, accessed on September 30, 2026.
  5. 5Encyclopedia.com, Land of Israel: Political Life and Parties, accessed on September 30, 2026.
  6. 6Internet Archive, Full text of "The State of Israel: A Historical, Economic, and Political Study", accessed on September 30, 2026.
  7. 7Mako, The streak that Herzog will try to break and the importance of freedom of voting in presidential elections, accessed on September 30, 2026.
  8. 8Berman Jewish Policy Archive, Board of Deputies of British Jews, Annual Report 1957, accessed on September 30, 2026.
  9. 9The American Jewish Archives, United Jewish Appeal report, Questions and Answers, accessed on September 30, 2026.
  10. 10The Jerusalem Post, Isaac Herzog: Israel's 11th president, ambition fulfilled, plan in hand, accessed on September 30, 2026.
  11. 11Office of the President of Israel, accessed on September 30, 2026.

IsraelPedia Question & Answers

  • What was the 1957 Israeli presidential election?

    The 1957 Israeli presidential election was a Knesset vote held on October 28, 1957, in which incumbent President Yitzhak Ben-Zvi was returned to office for a second five-year term. Ben-Zvi ran unopposed, though the law still required him to receive approval by a majority of all Knesset members. He received 76 votes in favor, with 18 blank ballots cast.

  • How was Yitzhak Ben-Zvi first elected president of Israel?

    Yitzhak Ben-Zvi was first elected Israel's second president in 1952, following the death of Chaim Weizmann, Israel's founding president. Running as Mapai's candidate in the main hall of the old Knesset building at Beit Frumin on King George Street in Jerusalem, the contest required three rounds, and Ben-Zvi received 62 votes in the third to secure the required majority.

  • Who was considered as a possible opponent to Ben-Zvi in the 1957 Israeli presidential election?

    Professor Joseph Yoel Rivlin was mentioned as a possible candidate and presented as Herut's prospective nominee in the 1957 election, but he ultimately chose not to challenge the incumbent President Ben-Zvi.

  • What happened at Ben-Zvi's 1957 inauguration ceremony?

    Ben-Zvi's inauguration took place two days after the election in the Knesset's main hall. The ceremony opened with the blowing of a shofar upon his entry, after which he took the oath of office. A 21-gun salute was then fired while guests stood, the President's flag was raised on the Knesset building, and the Police orchestra played "Hatikvah."

  • What is Yitzhak Ben-Zvi's legacy in Israeli presidential history?

    Yitzhak Ben-Zvi remains the only Israeli president elected to three terms. His second term ran until 1962, when he was elected to an unprecedented third term. He died in Jerusalem on April 23, 1963, four months into that third term.

  • What later connection did the Rivlin family have to the Israeli presidency?

    Although Professor Joseph Yoel Rivlin declined to run against Ben-Zvi in 1957, his son Reuven Rivlin later served as Israel's tenth president.