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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Israel MPs elect Reuven Rivlin as president | Israel MPs elect Reuven Rivlin as president |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The Israeli parliament has elected veteran Likud lawmaker Reuven Rivlin as the country's next president. | The Israeli parliament has elected veteran Likud lawmaker Reuven Rivlin as the country's next president. |
| Mr Rivlin, a former parliamentary speaker and Cabinet minister, defeated long-time MP Meir Sheetrit, by 63 to 53 in a secret run-off ballot. | Mr Rivlin, a former parliamentary speaker and Cabinet minister, defeated long-time MP Meir Sheetrit, by 63 to 53 in a secret run-off ballot. |
| He will succeed Shimon Peres, 90, who ends his seven-year term in July. | He will succeed Shimon Peres, 90, who ends his seven-year term in July. |
| The Israeli president occupies a largely ceremonial position and has no formal role in peace talks with the Palestinians. | The Israeli president occupies a largely ceremonial position and has no formal role in peace talks with the Palestinians. |
| Mr Rivlin, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party, will become Israel's 10th president. | Mr Rivlin, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party, will become Israel's 10th president. |
| 'Man of the nation' | |
| He won when voting on Tuesday went to a second round. | He won when voting on Tuesday went to a second round. |
| "From this moment, I do not belong to any party; rather, I belong to everyone, a man of the nation," he told Knesset members after the poll. | |
| "I stand here before you with a great mission. Long live the Israeli democracy! Long live Israel!" | |
| The 74-year-old opposes the creation of a Palestinian state, putting him at odds with the platform adopted by Mr Netanyahu. | The 74-year-old opposes the creation of a Palestinian state, putting him at odds with the platform adopted by Mr Netanyahu. |
| He is also a supporter of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, another central issue in the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians. | He is also a supporter of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, another central issue in the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians. |
| Reuven Rivlin | Reuven Rivlin |
| Congratulating Mr Rivlin at a ceremony on Tuesday, Mr Netanyahu cited their common political history. | |
| "I know you will do your utmost as president to meet the two-fold mission of unifying the nation and showing unity in the face of external challenges," the PM is quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. | "I know you will do your utmost as president to meet the two-fold mission of unifying the nation and showing unity in the face of external challenges," the PM is quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. |
| "I promise, as a prime minister from a similar background, to work with you." | "I promise, as a prime minister from a similar background, to work with you." |
| Observers say Mr Peres, a Nobel peace laureate who is popular among many Israelis, will be a hard act to follow. | Observers say Mr Peres, a Nobel peace laureate who is popular among many Israelis, will be a hard act to follow. |
| Mr Rivlin, who will be sworn in on 24 July, is expected to shift the presidency's focus from international affairs to more domestic matters. | Mr Rivlin, who will be sworn in on 24 July, is expected to shift the presidency's focus from international affairs to more domestic matters. |