JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s parliament has chosen Reuven Rivlin, a stalwart in the ruling Likud Party, as the country’s next president.
It chose Rivlin, a former parliament speaker and Cabinet minister, in a secret runoff ballot Tuesday, over longtime legislator Meir Sheetrit, by 63 to 53.
Rivlin now faces the difficult task of succeeding Shimon Peres, a Nobel peace laureate who brought the position international prestige.
The job of the presidency is largely ceremonial. But Rivlin’s political views could be a liability.
He opposes the creation of a Palestinian state, putting him at odds with the international community and even his own prime minister.
Opposing a two state solution does NOT put him at odds with Netanyahu. Neither man supports a two state solution. The only difference is that Netanyahu sees the advantage of pretending to support a two state solution.
The US Jewish community is never going to support an avowed apartheid state. So they cling to the pretense of a two state solution and get in a panty twist whenever it is pointed out that Israel is already an apartheid state.
The Russian immigrants that have come since the fall of communism have changed the political makeup of the country. Netanyahu’s government depends on the support of a party that is very much aligned with Putin’s view of the world.
I think that you nailed it.
Did I miss this story when it was in bold type? It seems to have crept onto the bottom of the page.
You are in a medium where these type of stories usually don’t creep out at all.
Bibi Netanyahu is one of my least favorite people. He is a bully and a racist. Israel practices apartheid.