The 83-year-old Peres, who served as deputy prime minister, is replacing Moshe Katsav who faces rape charges. He was competing for the presidency with former Knesset speaker Reuven Rivlin of the right-wing Likud and Colette Avital of the Labour Party.
The vote came after Katsav, whose term ends in July, took leave of absence after being accused of raping a former aide and sexually assaulting three other women. He has denied the charges. Israelis hope he will bring back what they see as the moral stature of the post.
Peres is also seen as a more experienced, elder, statesman, at a time when Israelis are increasingly frustrated over stalled peace talks with the Palestinian Authority, missiles being fired from Gaza and the perceived weak leadership over the Israeli army during last years’ war in Lebanon.
RULING PARTY
Peres, of the ruling Kadima Party, won the support of 86 of parliament’s 120 members in a second round of voting in which he stood alone. His two rivals, Reuven Rivlin of the hawkish Likud and Colette Avital of the centrist Labor, withdrew from the race after he seized a commanding lead in the first round.
In a speech following his election victory, Peres stressed he saw his new role as a unifier of Israel’s fractured society. "The president’s role is not to deal with politics and partisanship, but to represent what unites us in a strong voice," he said.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Kadima said "the history, actions and contributions of Shimon Peres to the State of Israel" made him "a model" for the ideal presidential candidate.
MANY POSTS
Peres, who has held all of Israel’s top civilian posts, was to be sworn in July 15 for a seven-year term. His election was expected to be closely watched by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas as he tries to reach a peace settlement with Israel that would finally lead to a Palestinian state.
Abbas is increasingly isolated amid an ongoing battle for control in the streets of Gaza between militants of his Fatah faction and its rival Hamas that claimed the lives of about 60 people in recent days, according to estimates.
Gaza’s tiny Christian minority is especially hard hit by clashes, aid workers said during previous fighting in comments monitored by BosNewsLife. (With BosNewsLife Research and reporting from Israel and Gaza).
