Jerusalem – Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu made an unsuccessful last-ditch effort last week Tuesday to get Elie Wiesel elected president.
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On Tuesday evening, when it became clear that MK Reuven Rivlin (Likud Beytenu) was the only presidential candidate from the Right, Netanyahu continued to try to find someone other than the outspoken lawmaker, whose relationship with the prime minister has soured.
Starting at about 9 p.m., three hours before the deadline to submit one’s candidacy for president, Netanyahu called Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, Finance Minister Yair Lapid and other ministers to try to get their parties’ backing for the Holocaust survivor and author.
However, about half of Bayit Yehudi had already signed in support of Rivlin, and most of Yesh Atid had granted signatures to different candidates, so Netanyahu was unable to pull off the last-minute move on time and get Wiesel the necessary 10 MK signatures.
Netanyahu did not share his idea with Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who supports MK Meir Sheetrit of her Hatnua party for president.
In addition, a senior minister confirmed that Netanyahu had not mentioned that Wiesel is not a citizen of Israel.
Basic Law: The President says that any citizen who is a legal resident of the country may run for president.
In 2007, then-prime minister Ehud Olmert also asked Wiesel to run for president.
Content is provided courtesy of the Jerusalem Post
Why would Mr. Wiesel want that toothless job? He has his world of advice for humanity in his writing. The idea of making an 86 year old reshape his life to fit your national agenda is like thinking that the fishing expedition is off because the handy work of the elephants is only for sale once. This is good for him to be nominated right? At least he needs more common thoughts in the day huh? Leave our esteemed elders alone and build your nation with your hands, not our hearts that are still blessed.
Basic law must have changed, since Albert Einstein was offered the first Presidency of the State of Israel.
It Takes But 2 Seconds For A Jew To Become A Citizen Of Israel.
Without Losing American Citizenship; Since Both Countries Allow For Dual Citizenship.
Maybe Natan Sharansky????
The President of Israel, is essentially a figure head of state, without any real political power. Therefore, why would anyone want such a position? In the USA, the Secretary of State (which is the equivalent position), has more power.