MK Avital Running for Knesset - at Expense of Shimon Peres
In other Knesset news, Labor MK Avital Collette has formally announced her candidacy for the Presidency of Israel. Her speech today was laced with veiled criticism of her former mentor, Shimon Peres, who is likely to run for the job himself.
Avital said that Peres "betrayed" the Labor Party when he quit it last year to join Kadima, and that Israel needs a President who can "serve a full term" - a jab at Peres' age, 84. She further said that she does not view the Presidency as a "consolation prize;" many have said that Peres deserves to be President in light of all he has done for the country and because of the many elections he has lost.
MK Ruby Rivlin of the Likud is also running for President. The secret-ballot election will be held among the 120 Knesset Members in July.
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