As the sole candidate for the second round of presidential
election, Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres Wednesday afternoon
gained 86 parliamentary votes, which ensured him to become
Israel's ninth
president.
In the meantime, 23 Knesset (Parliament) members voted against
him and 10 abstained. One was absent from the vote. Suspended
President Moshe Katzav called Peres and congratulated him on being
next president of the State of Israel.
The president elected afterwards thanked Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert for his diligence and wisdom in running the presidential
campaign.
"I would like to thank all the members of Knesset who voted
today. From this moment on I hope to represent everyone with no
distinctions," he added. Peres also expressed that he will serve
Israel whole-heartedly.
Peres is set to become Israel's ninth president in the second
presidential vote, after both rivals, Knesset (Parliament) member
(MK) Reuven Rivlin from Likud and MK Colette Avital from the Labor
Party, announced that they are quitting the race and threw their
support to Peres.
In the first round of elections, Peres won 58 votes, Rivlin got
37 and Avital 21. Three MKs abstained and one spoiled ballot was
registered.
Labor party members announced accordingly that they had agreed
unanimously to vote for Shimon Peres in the second round. Likud
chairman Benyamin Netanyahu also declared that Likud faction has
decided to support Peres for presidency.
Knesset members began voting for Israel's next president in a
secret ballot Wednesday afternoon.
Earlier Wednesday, the Kadima faction convened for a very
optimistic meeting before the elections begin. Peres admitted that
it was still too early to celebrate the election results.
It was the second time that Peres contended for the presidential
title, having lost to current President Moshe Katsav in 2000.
(Xinhua News Agency June 14, 2007)
