Hebrew University professor Shimon Shetreet running for president
Shetreet served as a Labor MK from 1992 to 1996 and held the religious affairs; science, culture and sports; and industry and trade portfolios.
By GIL HOFFMANHebrew University Professor Shimon Shetreet(photo credit: LIOR YADU)
Hebrew University of Jerusalem Prof. Shimon Shetreet, a former cabinet minister, on Monday announced he will seek the presidency in an election set to be held in the Knesset next May.Shetreet said he had met with some 80 MKs in recent months and received a favorable impression from them.He served as a Labor MK from 1992 to 1996 and held the religious affairs; science, culture and sports; and industry and trade portfolios.He has a doctorate in law from the University of Chicago and has taught at Cambridge in England.Shetreet said he saw becoming president as his life’s mission. He said he would bring both his political experience and his international reputation to the role.“In this complicated period of crisis and deepening divides, Israel needs an experienced person with discretion and a good eye who can faithfully fulfill the important role,” Shetreet said.Jewish Agency chairman Isaac Herzog, Labor chairman Amir Peretz and someone from Likud, possibly Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, are expected to be candidates. There are also rumors that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will decide to run.Herzog raised eyebrows when he came to the Knesset two weeks ago for the formation of a caucus on fighting antisemitism. But he did not do any lobbying for the presidency while he was there, his associates said.It remains to be seen whether the current Knesset will elect the next president or whether a new Knesset will be elected before then.President Reuven Rivlin's seven-year term is set to end next June.
Peretz said Shetreet has not spoken to him about his candidacy, but he has known about it for quite some time, he told The Jerusalem Post.Peretz was asked why there are three presidential candidates from Labor, which has only three MKs in the Knesset. “Because we are the most talented,” he answered.
