01In brief
The 1962 Israeli presidential election was a vote held in October 1962 in which the Knesset returned incumbent Yitzhak Ben-Zvi to the presidency for an unprecedented third term. Ben-Zvi, first elected in 1952 after the death of Chaim Weizmann and re-elected in 1957, was the sole candidate. He received 62 votes—one above the required minimum of 61—while 42 members cast blank ballots and 16 did not attend. Ben-Zvi died in office on April 23, 1963, about six months later.
02Background
Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, a Mapai member, became Israel's second president in 1952 after the death of the country's first president, Chaim Weizmann.[1][2] His initial election was contested by four candidates and required three rounds of voting; Ben-Zvi ultimately prevailed with 62 votes.[3] Five years later, he was re-elected unopposed with 76 votes, while 18 members cast blank ballots.[3]
By October 1962, Ben-Zvi was 78 years old and seeking a third term.[4][3] Basic Law: The State President had not yet been enacted. The 1964 law subsequently provided for election by the Knesset's 120 members by secret ballot for a five-year term, then renewable once.[5] The presidency was principally ceremonial and carried few formal powers.[5]
03Course of Events
No opposition candidate ultimately stood against Ben-Zvi, leaving him as the sole candidate in October 1962.[4][3] A ballot was still required, and a sole candidate needed the support of at least 61 members of the 120-seat Knesset.[4][3]
Ben-Zvi received 62 votes, one above the required majority. Forty-two members cast blank ballots, while 16 did not attend the session.[4][3] His secretary said afterward that the president was not at all excited by the result.[3]
04Aftermath
The result gave Ben-Zvi an unprecedented third term.[6] After the election, he modestly disclaimed personal credit for Israel's gains during his ten years in office, attributing them instead to the people of Israel and world Jewry.[6] Discussing diaspora assistance, he said: "In addition to the taxes of the 2 million Jews who live here, Israel could count on the voluntary support it receives each year."[6] He added that contributions from Jews abroad helped Israel receive and absorb new immigrants.[6]
Ben-Zvi died in office on April 23, 1963, about six months after the vote and near the beginning of his third term.[7][3] He was succeeded by Zalman Shazar, who defeated Liberal Party candidate Peretz Bernstein in the subsequent presidential election.[7] In 1964, Basic Law: The State President established clearer rules for election by secret Knesset ballot and limited presidents to two five-year terms; the law was later amended to provide a single seven-year term.[5]
05Historiography
Later retrospective accounts have emphasized the election's unusual arithmetic: although Ben-Zvi was unopposed, his 62 votes placed him only one vote above the required majority, while 42 blank ballots and 16 absences demonstrated substantial reluctance among Knesset members.[4][3] These accounts place the 1962 vote within the broader history of presidential elections, contrasting it with Ben-Zvi's contested, three-round victory in 1952 and his more comfortable unopposed re-election in 1957.[3]
Sources
- 1Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, Glossary of Israeli Parties and Personalities - 1948-1981, accessed on October 1, 2026.
- 2Center for Israel Education, Biographical Index, accessed on October 1, 2026.
- 3Ynet, The race for the presidency: history proves that everything is open, accessed on October 1, 2026.
- 4Ynet, The 'first Mizrahi president' who wasn't, accessed on October 1, 2026.
- 5Encyclopedia.com, Land of Israel: Governance, accessed on October 1, 2026.
- 6The American Jewish Archives, Members of the Mission Meet with Israel President Itzhak Ben-Zvi, accessed on October 1, 2026.
- 7Encyclopedia.com, Land of Israel: Political Life and Parties, accessed on October 1, 2026.
IsraelPedia Question & Answers
What was the 1962 Israeli presidential election?
The 1962 Israeli presidential election was a vote held in October 1962 in which the Knesset returned incumbent Yitzhak Ben-Zvi to the presidency for an unprecedented third term. Ben-Zvi, first elected in 1952 and re-elected in 1957, was the sole candidate. He received 62 votes — one above the required minimum of 61 — while 42 members cast blank ballots and 16 did not attend.
How did Yitzhak Ben-Zvi first become president of Israel?
Yitzhak Ben-Zvi became Israel's second president in 1952 following the death of the country's first president, Chaim Weizmann. His initial election was contested by four candidates and required three rounds of voting, with Ben-Zvi ultimately prevailing with 62 votes.
Why did so many Knesset members not vote for Ben-Zvi in 1962 even though he ran unopposed?
Later retrospective accounts note that although Ben-Zvi was the sole candidate, 42 members cast blank ballots and 16 did not attend the session at all, demonstrating substantial reluctance among Knesset members. His 62 votes left him only one above the required majority of 61.
What did Ben-Zvi say after winning his third term?
After the election, Ben-Zvi modestly disclaimed personal credit for Israel's gains during his ten years in office, attributing them instead to the people of Israel and world Jewry. He noted that voluntary contributions from Jews abroad helped Israel receive and absorb new immigrants, saying Israel could count on that support in addition to the taxes paid by the roughly 2 million Jews living in the country.
What happened after Ben-Zvi died in office?
Ben-Zvi died in office on April 23, 1963, about six months after the vote and near the beginning of his third term. He was succeeded by Zalman Shazar, who defeated Liberal Party candidate Peretz Bernstein in the subsequent presidential election.
How did Basic Law: The State President change the rules for electing Israel's president?
Enacted in 1964, Basic Law: The State President established clearer rules for election by secret Knesset ballot and limited presidents to two five-year terms. The law was later amended to provide for a single seven-year term instead.