“The Voice of Israel to the World”

Chosen for representing Israel and the Jewish people on the world stage: President Isaac Herzog has spent 2026 carrying Israel's message through one of the most turbulent periods in the country's history, defending Israel's right to protect its people while calling for unity at home and confronting antisemitism abroad.

We must boldly confront all extremist movements; we must combat any and every expression of antisemitism whenever and wherever it appears.

Isaac Herzog, June

As Israel confronted Iran and its regional proxies, Herzog became one of the country's most prominent international voices. He argued that Israel's war against Iran was not simply a battle for its own survival, but a fight to defend the future of the free world.

But Herzog's role has extended far beyond the battlefield. He has repeatedly called on Israelis to remain united, warning that political disagreements must never become a threat to the country itself. As Israel entered its 2026 election campaign, he famously declared: "Elections are not a civil war."

And as international pressure on Israel intensified, Herzog continued defending the country's legitimacy, most recently warning Britain that its new sanctions against Israeli settlements would put it "on the wrong side of history."

For Israel, Herzog represents something uniquely important: a president whose job is to speak not only for the State of Israel, but for the unity, resilience and future of the Jewish people. In a year when Israel has faced war abroad and division at home, Herzog has made his mission clear: defend Israel, fight antisemitism and keep the Jewish people united.

That is why Isaac Herzog is No. 13 on The 36.