Jewish Agency chairman Isaac Herzog will be the 11
th
President of Israel after he received 87 votes from MKs in a secret ballot vote
in the Knesset plenum. Herzog's opponent, Miriam Peretz, prize-winning educator
of Israel received 27 votes and three MKs abstained. Had she been elected,
Peretz would have become Israel’s first woman president.
It was the largest victory in any presidential election in
Israel's history. Herzog will take over from the current President Reuven
Rivlin when his term ends on 9th July 2021.
Herzog thanked all the MKs who voted for him and said it was
an honor to serve the entire people of Israel. He called Peretz a hero and an
inspiration.
"I will be the president of everyone," Herzog
said, singling out Israelis across the political spectrum and Diaspora Jewry.
Herzog said alongside Netanyahu that he was ready to work
with any government and any prime minister.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yamina leader Naftali
Bennett, who is trying to replace him, congratulated Herzog and wished Peretz
well.
Rivlin spoke with Herzog on the phone, and also called Miriam
Peretz to thank her.
“I send you my warmest greetings, Mr. President,” Rivlin
said. “I can tell you that the responsibility of the role that you are about to
assume is unlike anything you have done until now. The Jewish and democratic
system we established here, in the land of our ancestors, has a body and soul.
If the Knesset is a place of argument, as we have certainly seen recently, the
President's Residence is a place of discourse, partnership and statehood.”
Rivlin said the title of ‘first citizen’ and the task of
guarding the character of the State of Israel, particularly at this point in
time, are heavy responsibilities.
"I have no doubt that you will bear these
responsibilities superbly," Rivlin said. "I am proud to pass on the
baton to you in a month’s time.”
With his victory, Herzog become the first president whose
father had been president. Chaim Herzog was Israel's sixth president.
Both Herzog, who visited the Western Wall on Tuesday to pray
for success, and Peretz continued their efforts to meet with as many MKs as
possible ahead of the vote.
Every Knesset faction granted its MKs the freedom to vote
their conscience, rather than binding them by faction discipline. None of the
factions endorsed a candidate.
This is the first presidential race in Israel in which none
of the candidates were current MKs.
Peretz said she was thrilled that after her background
coming to Israel from Morocco and going to a transit camp, she was considered
worthy to stand against someone of Herzog's caliber. She said she would
continue in her mission to heal the rifts in the nation.
In her concession speech, alongside Netanyahu, Peretz said
that by running, she accomplished what as a child she could not have even
dreamed of.
"A fitting president who honors us was elected,"
Peretz said. "I will pray for his success, because his success is our
success."
Michael Siegal, The Jewish Agency’s Chairman of the Board of
Governors, said Herzog's "unwavering dedication to the Jewish people and
to serving the State of Israel is an inspiration, and we will all undoubtedly continue
to benefit from his leadership."