israeli metrics

**There is no single official or universally agreed ranking of Israeli prime ministers**, and no formal set of “Israeli metrics” equivalent to U.S. presidential historian surveys. Assessments by Israeli publics, historians, journalists, and analysts typically weigh factors such as:

- Security and military performance (wars, deterrence, intelligence)

- State-building and institution creation

- Economic management and growth

- Diplomatic achievements (especially peace treaties)

- Political longevity and coalition management

- Handling of internal divisions and crises

- Personal integrity and vision

Public opinion and expert views have shifted over time, especially after major events such as the Yom Kippur War, the Lebanon wars, the Oslo process, the Abraham Accords, and the October 7, 2023 attacks and subsequent war.

### Israeli Public Ranking (2021 Kan News / Madad Poll)

A representative Israeli public survey (on a 1–5 scale) produced this order:

1. **David Ben-Gurion** — 4.2  

2. **Menachem Begin** — 4.1  

3. **Levi Eshkol** — 3.7  

4. **Yitzhak Shamir** — 3.5  

5. **Benjamin Netanyahu** — 3.5  

6. **Moshe Sharett** — 3.4  

7. **Yitzhak Rabin** — 3.3  

8. **Shimon Peres** — 3.1  

9. **Ariel Sharon** — 2.9  

10. **Golda Meir** — 2.5  

11. **Ehud Olmert** — 2.4  

12. **Ehud Barak** — 2.1  

(Note: Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid held brief terms after this poll and were not included.)

### Expert / Historical Consensus Highlights

Most Israeli and international historians place **David Ben-Gurion** at or near the top. As founding prime minister (1948–1954, 1955–1963), he proclaimed independence, built core state institutions (IDF, government, immigrant absorption), managed the War of Independence, and shaped early policy. He is frequently compared to a combination of George Washington and nation-builder.

Other high placements commonly include:

- **Menachem Begin** — Peace treaty with Egypt (Camp David), political “upheaval” of 1977 that ended Mapai dominance, Osirak reactor strike.

- **Levi Eshkol** — Leadership in the lead-up to and during the Six-Day War.

- **Yitzhak Rabin** — Military credentials, Oslo Accords process, and Operation Entebbe (as earlier defense minister).

Lower rankings in both public and expert views often go to:

- **Ehud Barak** and **Ehud Olmert** — Failed high-stakes peace efforts, Second Lebanon War, and (for Olmert) corruption conviction.

- **Golda Meir** — Long associated with the intelligence and preparedness failures of the 1973 Yom Kippur War (though some later reassessments are more nuanced).

**Benjamin Netanyahu** (longest-serving, with three non-consecutive terms totaling over 18 years as of 2026) receives mixed-to-polarized evaluations. Pre-2023 assessments often credited relative quiet on major fronts for periods, economic growth, and the Abraham Accords. Post-October 7, 2023, many Israeli commentators, opinion writers, and polls have sharply downgraded him, citing the scale of the intelligence and security failure, prolonged war costs, and domestic polarization. Some now describe him as among the worst; others (especially on the right) continue to view him as the strongest on security and diplomacy.

### Full List of Prime Ministers (Chronological)

1. David Ben-Gurion (1948–1954, 1955–1963)  

2. Moshe Sharett (1954–1955)  

3. Levi Eshkol (1963–1969)  

4. Golda Meir (1969–1974)  

5. Yitzhak Rabin (1974–1977, 1992–1995)  

6. Menachem Begin (1977–1983)  

7. Yitzhak Shamir (1983–1984, 1986–1992)  

8. Shimon Peres (1984–1986, 1995–1996)  

9. Benjamin Netanyahu (1996–1999, 2009–2021, 2022–present)  

10. Ehud Barak (1999–2001)  

11. Ariel Sharon (2001–2006)  

12. Ehud Olmert (2006–2009)  

13. Naftali Bennett (2021–2022)  

14. Yair Lapid (2022, acting/brief)

**By the most consistent Israeli public and historical measures available, David Ben-Gurion is widely regarded as the greatest.** Rankings remain contested and evolve with new events and perspectives; security performance and existential threats tend to dominate Israeli evaluation criteria more than in many other countries.