The President of Israel is the head of state and serves primarily a ceremonial role. The position was established in 1949, and the president is elected by the Knesset, Israel's parliament, for a single seven-year term. The president represents the unity of the nation and performs various ceremonial duties, such as signing laws and appointing judges. While the president has limited executive powers, they play a crucial role in the political process, including the ability to appoint the prime minister after elections. The current president, as of October 2023, is Isaac Herzog, who took office in July 2021, succeeding Reuven Rivlin.