Isaac Herzog, president of the Jewish Establishment, officially announced his candidacy for president of Israel

At noon local time on May 19th, Isaac Herzog, chairman of israel’s Jewish institutions and a former chairman of the Labour Party, officially announced his candidacy for Israel’s next presidency.

The election of the next President will take place on 2 June by secret ballot among members of the Knesset. Isaac Herzog’s father, Haim Herzog, is understood to have held the Israeli presidency.

Israel is a parliamentary state, the Parliament is the highest authority, and the President is a symbolic head of state elected by the Israeli Parliament for a term of seven years. The functions of the President of Israel are essentially ceremonial. The current president, Ruven Rivlin, will step down at the end of July.