Posted on 06/11/2014 11:06:14 AM PDT by IsraelBeach
By Joel Leyden
Israel News Agency
Jerusalem --- Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Israel President-elect Reuven Rivlin ‘agreed to agree’ on Wednesday, embracing with a hug and a smile for the cameras.
Formal congratulations from the Prime Minister to the President-elect were in order despite the fact that Netanyahu worked very hard to find a different Likud candidate for the office – and Rivlin knew it.
They’ve been at odds for years in fact; but they’re both professional enough and smart enough to know they must now set aside those differences.
Given the many political differences between Netanyahu and Rivlin, the two men actually share more in common than most admit.
Both are adamant regarding Israel's security, a strong defense against Iran, Syria, a Hamas backed PA and Islamic Jihad. Both are wary of President Obama but warmly embrace US Congress and the US Department of Defense.
“The Prime Minister and I are committed to full and fruitful cooperation for the State of Israel and the People of Israel,” said Rivlin.
Netanyahu swallowed hard accepting the new President. He did all including an attempt to do away with the position all together and offered the job to Nobel Prize winner, Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel who doesn't even have Israeli citizenship.
The Prime Minister agreed. “We have known each other for several good decades. We are both from Jerusalem, the sons of professors who were educated in the philosophy of Jabotinsky and we have much more in common – such as our football team,” Netanyahu said.
“Joint work on behalf of all Israelis is before us. We have gone through much together and I am certain that we will now know to put the less good aspects aside and work responsibly for the future of the State of Israel.”
Facts about Reuven Rivlin.
Unlike President Shimon Peres, he does not believe in a two-state solution. However, despite his objections, Rivlin maintained he would not intervene in peacemaking efforts if the government should support the measure. His resolutely right-wing reputation has not alienated Israeli-Arab MKs, however, who were said to back the candidate on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to greatly dislike him. The long-standing rumors of rivalry between the two Likud members reached new heights in recent months when Netanyahu made attempts to abolish the presidency.
He comes from a respected Jerusalemite dynasty. Rivlin’s ancestor Rabbi Hillel Rivlin was a student of the famed 18th century rabbinic scholar the Vilna Gaon, and was dispatched to Israel along with other students on the rabbi’s instructions to establish a Jewish community.
President Rivlin will be Israel’s first vegetarian President.
He’s particularly concerned with the sensitivities of Israeli Arabs. During a 2011 Knesset day-long debate over ways to attract Arabs into public service, Rivlin, then Knesset speaker, said he opposed a bill to give preference in government hiring to IDF veterans and national service participants. Rivlin argued that since most Arabs do not serve, this would put them at an unfair disadvantage as they pursued jobs in the public sector. He also criticized the Knesset for failing to meet the 10 percent threshold in minority hirings.
President Obama congratulated Reuven Rivlin today on his election as president of Israel.
“Over more than six decades, the United States and Israel have developed a unique relationship based on shared democratic values, our unshakeable commitment to Israel’s security, and our partnership in scientific research and innovative technology,” the White House said in a news release.
“President-elect Rivlin has a long and dedicated record of public service and we look forward to continued strong ties, to the benefit of both our nations, under Mr. Rivlin’s presidency,” Obama said.
One can be sure that when Rivlin and Obama meet, Rivlin will correct Obama when he uses the terms "West Bank" and "occupied Jerusalem". Expect to see the words "Judea and Samaria" and "the ancient Jewish capital of Jerusalem" to fill the room.
President-elect Rivlin will be sworn in on July 24.
From what I can tell, it was the Ultra-Orthodox members of the knesset who handed Rivlin the votes he needed. BiBi probably regrets the draft bill. Oh well, at least its not a leftist
This will be interesting, although Bibi is still the one with the power.
Yes, the Presidency in Israel is a ceremonial post, with no real power (the President is the “Head of State”; the Prime Minister is the “Head of Government”).
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