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Israel Israel Israel Physical features of Israel Israel: Ḥula Valley Dead Sea Tel Aviv–Yafo, Israel: Jaffa port Jerusalem: Damascus Gate Israel: Urban-rural
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Prime ministers of Israel

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Also known as: Isrāʾīl, Medinat Yisraʾel, State of Israel
Written by
Russell A. Stone
Professor of Sociology, American University, Washington D.C. Author of Social Change in Israel: Attitudes and Events. Co-editor of Critical Essays On Israel Social Issues and Scholarship.
Russell A. Stone,
William L. Ochsenwald
Professor of History, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg. Author of Religion, Society, and the State in Arabia.
William L. Ochsenwald•All
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Last Updated: • Article History

News •

Hamas to free 6 more Israeli hostages from Gaza Strip in latest step of ceasefire • Feb. 22, 2025, 1:50 AM ET (AP)
Netanyahu decries release of wrong body as a ceasefire violation. Hamas pledges to investigate • Feb. 21, 2025, 7:34 PM ET (AP)
Middle East latest: Hamas names 6 living hostages to be freed on Saturday • Feb. 21, 2025, 6:21 PM ET (AP)
Thousands of supporters of Hezbollah's slain leader Nasrallah fly into Beirut for his funeral • Feb. 21, 2025, 2:31 PM ET (AP)
How many hostages are left in Gaza? • Feb. 21, 2025, 2:21 PM ET (AP)

The table provides a chronological list of the prime ministers of Israel.

Prime ministers of Israel
prime minister term
*From 1986 to 1990, Yitzhak Shamir was prime minister of Israel in alliance with Shimon Peres.
David Ben-Gurion (1st time) 1948–53
Moshe Sharett 1953–55
David Ben-Gurion (2nd time) 1955–63
Levi Eshkol 1963–69
Golda Meir 1969–74
Yitzhak Rabin (1st time) 1974–77
Menachem Begin 1977–83
Yitzhak Shamir (1st time) 1983–84
Shimon Peres (1st time) 1984–86
Yitzhak Shamir* (2nd time) 1986–92
Yitzhak Rabin (2nd time) 1992–95
Shimon Peres (2nd time) 1995–96
Benjamin Netanyahu (1st time) 1996–99
Ehud Barak 1999–2001
Ariel Sharon 2001–06
Ehud Olmert 2006–09
Benjamin Netanyahu (2nd time) 2009–21
Naftali Bennett 2021–22
Yair Lapid 2022
Benjamin Netanyahu (3rd time) 2022–