# Leader of the Opposition (Israel)

In Israel, the Leader of the Opposition (Hebrew: רֹאשׁ הַאוֹפּוֹזִיצְיָה, Rosh HaOpozitzya) is the politician who leads the Official Opposition in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. The Leader of the Opposition is, by convention, the leader of the largest political party in the Knesset that is not in (or supports) the government.

## History
### Informal role, until 2000

Until 2000, the role of the Opposition Leader was not an official position, but rather an honorary role. The Leader of the Opposition was the leader of the largest party not in government.
Even with the absence of a law defining the role of the Opposition Leader, it was customary for the Prime Minister to hold regular meetings with the leader of the largest opposition party. However, this was done only at the prerogative of the Prime Minister.

### Formalised role, post-2000

In early 2000, two bills to amend the Opposition Leader's status were submitted to the Knesset, one by the government and one by MK Uzi Landau. The bills were merged into one amendment, and on 17 July 2000, the Knesset approved Amendment 8 to the "Knesset Law" of 1994, adding chapter 6 that outlined the role of the Leader of the Opposition. The law stipulates the selection of the Opposition Leader, the method of their replacement, regulates their ceremonial role in various official events, and obliges the prime minister to update them once a month. The law also stipulates that the Opposition Leader's salary will be determined by Knesset committee, and shall not be lower than a salary of a Cabinet minister.

## List of Opposition leaders
### Leaders of the largest opposition party

| Name (Birth–Death) | Name (Birth–Death) | Party | Term start | Term end | Government(s) opposed | Prime minister(s) opposed | Knesset |
| 1 | Meir Ya'ari מאיר יערי‎ (1897–1987) | Mapam | 10 March 1949 | 8 October 1951 | 1 | David Ben-Gurion (Mapai) | 1st |
| 1 | Meir Ya'ari מאיר יערי‎ (1897–1987) | Mapam | 10 March 1949 | 8 October 1951 | 2 | David Ben-Gurion (Mapai) | 1st |
| 2 | Peretz Bernstein פרץ ברנשטיין‎ (1890–1971) | General Zionists | 8 October 1951 | 24 December 1952 | 3 | David Ben-Gurion (Mapai) | 2nd |
| (1) | Meir Ya'ari מאיר יערי‎ (1897–1987) | Mapam | 24 December 1952 | 29 June 1955 | 4 | David Ben-Gurion (Mapai) | 2nd |
| (1) | Meir Ya'ari מאיר יערי‎ (1897–1987) | Mapam | 24 December 1952 | 29 June 1955 | 5 | Moshe Sharett (Mapai) | 2nd |
| (2) | Peretz Bernstein פרץ ברנשטיין‎ (1890–1971) | General Zionists | 29 June 1955 | 3 November 1955 | 6 | Moshe Sharett (Mapai) | 2nd |
| 3 | Menachem Begin מנחם בגין‎ (1913–1992) | Herut | 3 November 1955 | 5 June 1967 | 7 | David Ben-Gurion (Mapai) | 3rd |
| 3 | Menachem Begin מנחם בגין‎ (1913–1992) | Herut | 3 November 1955 | 5 June 1967 | 8 | David Ben-Gurion (Mapai) | 3rd |
| 3 | Menachem Begin מנחם בגין‎ (1913–1992) | Herut | 3 November 1955 | 5 June 1967 | 9 | David Ben-Gurion (Mapai) | 4th |
| 3 | Menachem Begin מנחם בגין‎ (1913–1992) | Herut | 3 November 1955 | 5 June 1967 | 10 | David Ben-Gurion (Mapai) | 5th |
| 3 | Menachem Begin מנחם בגין‎ (1913–1992) | Herut | 3 November 1955 | 5 June 1967 | 11 | Levi Eshkol (Mapai 1963–1966; Mapai/Labor Alignment 1966–1967) | 5th |
| 3 | Menachem Begin מנחם בגין‎ (1913–1992) | Herut | 3 November 1955 | 5 June 1967 | 12 | Levi Eshkol (Mapai 1963–1966; Mapai/Labor Alignment 1966–1967) | 5th |
| 3 | Menachem Begin מנחם בגין‎ (1913–1992) | Gahal Herut | 3 November 1955 | 5 June 1967 | 13 | Levi Eshkol (Mapai 1963–1966; Mapai/Labor Alignment 1966–1967) | 6th |
| 4 | Yitzhak-Meir Levin יצחק-מאיר לוין‎ (1893–1971) | Agudat Yisrael | 5 June 1967 | 6 August 1970 | 14 | Golda Meir (Labor/Alignment) | 6th |
| 4 | Yitzhak-Meir Levin יצחק-מאיר לוין‎ (1893–1971) | Agudat Yisrael | 5 June 1967 | 6 August 1970 | 15 | Golda Meir (Labor/Alignment) | 7th |
| (3) | Menachem Begin מנחם בגין‎ (1913–1992) | Gahal Herut | 6 August 1970 | 20 June 1977 | 15 | Golda Meir (Labor/Alignment) | 7th |
| (3) | Menachem Begin מנחם בגין‎ (1913–1992) | Likud Herut | 6 August 1970 | 20 June 1977 | 15 | Golda Meir (Labor/Alignment) |
| (3) | Menachem Begin מנחם בגין‎ (1913–1992) | Likud Herut | 6 August 1970 | 20 June 1977 | 16 | Golda Meir (Labor/Alignment) | 8th |
| (3) | Menachem Begin מנחם בגין‎ (1913–1992) | Likud Herut | 6 August 1970 | 20 June 1977 | 17 | Yitzhak Rabin (Labor/Alignment) | 8th |
| 5 | Shimon Peres שמעון פרס‎ (1923–2016) | Alignment Labor Party | 20 June 1977 | 13 September 1984 | 18 | Menachem Begin (Herut/Likud | 9th |
| 5 | Shimon Peres שמעון פרס‎ (1923–2016) | Alignment Labor Party | 20 June 1977 | 13 September 1984 | 19 | Menachem Begin (Herut/Likud | 10th |
| 5 | Shimon Peres שמעון פרס‎ (1923–2016) | Alignment Labor Party | 20 June 1977 | 13 September 1984 | 20 | Yitzhak Shamir (Herut/Likud) | 10th |
| 6 | Yuval Ne'eman יובל נאמן‎ (1925–2006) | Tehiya-Tzomet Tehiya | 13 September 1984 | 22 December 1988 | 21 | Shimon Peres (Labor/Alignment) | 11th |
| 6 | Yuval Ne'eman יובל נאמן‎ (1925–2006) | Tehiya-Tzomet Tehiya | 13 September 1984 | 22 December 1988 | 22 | Yitzhak Shamir (Herut/Likud 1986–1988; Likud 1988–1992 | 11th |
| 6 | Yuval Ne'eman יובל נאמן‎ (1925–2006) | Tehiya | 13 September 1984 | 22 December 1988 | 22 | Yitzhak Shamir (Herut/Likud 1986–1988; Likud 1988–1992 | 11th |
| 7 | Shulamit Aloni שולמית אלוני‎ (1928–2014) | Ratz | 22 December 1988 | 15 March 1990 | 23 | Yitzhak Shamir (Herut/Likud 1986–1988; Likud 1988–1992 | 12th |
| (5) | Shimon Peres שמעון פרס‎ (1923–2016) | Alignment Labor Party | 15 March 1990 | February 1992 | 24 | Yitzhak Shamir (Herut/Likud 1986–1988; Likud 1988–1992 | 12th |
| (5) | Shimon Peres שמעון פרס‎ (1923–2016) | Labor Party | 15 March 1990 | February 1992 | 24 | Yitzhak Shamir (Herut/Likud 1986–1988; Likud 1988–1992 | 12th |
| 8 | Yitzhak Rabin יִצְחָק רַבִּין‎ (1922–1995) | Labor Party | February 1992 | 13 July 1992 | 24 | Yitzhak Shamir (Herut/Likud 1986–1988; Likud 1988–1992 | 12th |
| 9 | Yitzhak Shamir יצחק שמיר‎ (1915–2012) | Likud | 13 July 1992 | 24 March 1993 | 25 | Yitzhak Rabin (Labor) | 13th |
| 10 | Benjamin Netanyahu בנימין נתניהו‎ (born 1949) | Likud | 24 March 1993 | 18 June 1996 | 25 | Yitzhak Rabin (Labor) | 13th |
| 10 | Benjamin Netanyahu בנימין נתניהו‎ (born 1949) | Likud | 24 March 1993 | 18 June 1996 | 26 | Shimon Peres (Labor) | 13th |
| 10 | Benjamin Netanyahu בנימין נתניהו‎ (born 1949) | Likud-Gesher-Tzomet Likud | 24 March 1993 | 18 June 1996 | 26 | Shimon Peres (Labor) | 13th |
| (5) | Shimon Peres שמעון פרס‎ (1923–2016) | Labor Party | 18 June 1996 | 1 July 1997 | 27 | Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) | 14th |
| 11 | Ehud Barak אהוד ברק‎ (born 1942) | Labor Party | 1 July 1997 | 6 July 1999 | 27 | Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) | 14th |
| 11 | Ehud Barak אהוד ברק‎ (born 1942) | One Israel Labor Party | 1 July 1997 | 6 July 1999 | 27 | Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) | 14th |
| 12 | Ariel Sharon אריאל שרון‎ (1928–2014) | Likud | 6 July 1999 | 30 July 2000 | 28 | Ehud Barak (Labor) | 15th |

### Designated Opposition Leaders

After Amendment 8 to the "Knesset law" of 1994 was passed, the Leader of the Opposition became an official position held by the leader of the largest faction within the opposition.
| Name (Birth–Death) | Name (Birth–Death) | Portrait | Party | Term start | Term end | Government(s) opposed | Prime minister(s) opposed | Knesset |
| 12 | Ariel Sharon אריאל שרון‎ (1928–2014) | | Likud | 31 July 2000 | 7 March 2001 | 28 | Ehud Barak (Labor) | 15th |
| 13 | Yossi Sarid יוסי שריד‎ (1940–2015) | | Meretz | 7 March 2001 | 4 November 2002 | 29 | Ariel Sharon (Likud 2001–2005; Kadima 2005–2006) | 15th |
| 14 | Binyamin Ben-Eliezer בנימין בן אליעזר‎ (1936–2016) | | Labor Party | 4 November 2002 | 12 March 2003 | 29 | Ariel Sharon (Likud 2001–2005; Kadima 2005–2006) | 15th |
| 14 | Binyamin Ben-Eliezer בנימין בן אליעזר‎ (1936–2016) | | Labor Party | 4 November 2002 | 12 March 2003 | 30 | Ariel Sharon (Likud 2001–2005; Kadima 2005–2006) | 16th |
| 15 | Amram Mitzna עמרם מצנע‎ (born 1945) | | Labor-Meimad Labor Party | 12 March 2003 | 13 May 2003 | 30 | Ariel Sharon (Likud 2001–2005; Kadima 2005–2006) | 16th |
| 16 | Dalia Itzik דליה איציק‎ (born 1952) | | Labor-Meimad Labor Party | 13 May 2003 | 25 June 2003 | 30 | Ariel Sharon (Likud 2001–2005; Kadima 2005–2006) | 16th |
| (5) | Shimon Peres שמעון פרס‎ (1923–2016) | | Labor-Meimad Labor Party | 25 June 2003 | 10 January 2005 | 30 | Ariel Sharon (Likud 2001–2005; Kadima 2005–2006) | 16th |
| 17 | Yosef Lapid יוסף לפיד‎ (1931–2008) | | Shinui | 10 January 2005 | 23 November 2005 | 30 | Ariel Sharon (Likud 2001–2005; Kadima 2005–2006) | 16th |
| 18 | Amir Peretz עמיר פרץ‎ (born 1952) | | Labor-Meimad Labor Party | 23 November 2005 | 16 January 2006 | 30 | Ariel Sharon (Likud 2001–2005; Kadima 2005–2006) | 16th |
| (10) | Benjamin Netanyahu בנימין נתניהו‎ (born 1949) | | Likud | 16 January 2006 | 17 April 2006 | 30 | Ariel Sharon (Likud 2001–2005; Kadima 2005–2006) | 16th |
| (10) | Benjamin Netanyahu בנימין נתניהו‎ (born 1949) | | Likud | 17 April 2006 | 31 March 2009 | 31 | Ehud Olmert (Kadima) | 17th |
| 19 | Tzipi Livni ציפי לבני‎ (born 1958) | | Kadima | 6 April 2009 | 2 April 2012 | 32 | Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) | 18th |
| 20 | Shaul Mofaz שאול מופז‎ (born 1948) | | Kadima | 2 April 2012 | 9 May 2012 | 32 | Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) | 18th |
| 21 | Shelly Yachimovich שלי יחימוביץ׳‎ (born 1960) | | Labor Party | 9 May 2012 | 23 July 2012 | 32 | Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) | 18th |
| (20) | Shaul Mofaz שאול מופז‎ (born 1948) | | Kadima | 23 July 2012 | 5 February 2013 | 32 | Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) | 18th |
| (21) | Shelly Yachimovich שלי יחימוביץ׳‎ (born 1960) | | Labor Party | 5 February 2013 | 25 November 2013 | 32 | Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) |
| (21) | Shelly Yachimovich שלי יחימוביץ׳‎ (born 1960) | | Labor Party | 5 February 2013 | 25 November 2013 | 33 | Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) | 19th |
| 22 | Isaac Herzog יצחק הרצוג‎ (1960–) | | Labor Party | 25 November 2013 | 14 May 2015 | 33 | Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) | 19th |
| 22 | Isaac Herzog יצחק הרצוג‎ (1960–) | | Zionist Union Labor Party | 25 November 2013 | 14 May 2015 | 33 | Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) | 19th |
| 22 | Isaac Herzog יצחק הרצוג‎ (1960–) | | Zionist Union Labor Party | 14 May 2015 | 31 July 2018 | 34 | Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) | 20th |
| (19) | Tzipi Livni ציפי לבני‎ (born 1958) | | Zionist Union Hatnuah | 1 August 2018 | 1 January 2019 | 34 | Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) | 20th |
| (21) | Shelly Yachimovich שלי יחימוביץ׳‎ (born 1960) | | Labor Party | 1 January 2019 | 30 April 2019 | 34 | Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) | 20th |
| (21) | Shelly Yachimovich שלי יחימוביץ׳‎ (born 1960) | | Labor Party | 1 January 2019 | 30 April 2019 | 34 | Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) | 21st 22nd |
| | Vacant de jure, Benny Gantz de facto | Vacant de jure, Benny Gantz de facto | Vacant de jure, Benny Gantz de facto | 30 April 2019 | 17 May 2020 | 34 | Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) | 21st 22nd |
| 23 | Yair Lapid יאיר לפיד‎ (born 1963) | | Yesh Atid | 17 May 2020 | 6 April 2021 | 35 | Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) | 23rd |
| (10) | Benjamin Netanyahu בנימין נתניהו‎ (born 1949) | | Likud | 28 June 2021 | 29 December 2022 | 36 | Naftali Bennett (Yamina/New Right) Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) | 24th |
| (23) | Yair Lapid יאיר לפיד‎ (born 1963) | | Yesh Atid | 2 January 2023 | Present | 37 | Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) | 25th |