MK Zeev: If Shas decides - I will vote for Dalia Itzik

May 19, 2014   

MK Nissim Zeev of Shas said today (Monday), during an interview he gave to the Knesset Channel, that "If there is a faction decision, I will certainly vote for a woman for president. Dalia Itzik is worthy of this honorable position." In doing so, Zeev joins his faction colleague, MK Yaakov Margi, who has already expressed public support for former Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik. According to him, she is a woman worthy of the position, especially since she previously helped the Haredi public in the various positions she held. • Rivlin officially addresses MKs - Assessment: Silvan Shalom will run • This is how Rabbi Yosef supported Reuven Rivlin for president.T But in the Shas faction, as is known, things are not decided according to the considerations of the Knesset members, but according to what the Shas Council of Elders decides, which is expected to convene next week under the chairmanship of the new president, Rabbi Shalom Cohen - after the submission of all nominations is completed and the picture of the race becomes clearer. Which of the candidates has a chance of receiving Shas's 11 votes? It seems that the dilemma is not a simple one. Candidate Reuven Rivlin carries in his pocket a letter handwritten by Rabbi Yosef, zt"l - which was first revealed to the Haredim10 - in which he wrote: ""We gathered today to decide who will be the president of the state. We hereby announce in advance that our dear and noble friend, Mr. Reuven Rivlin, is also worthy of this high position. And he is our true friend." Former Speaker of the Knesset He enjoys sympathy in Shas - as well as in Torah Judaism - but his disadvantage is the fact that he voted in favor of the new conscription law. Rivlin has two additional advantages in the haredi parties: his office manager - and the one who may become the president's office manager - is Rivka Ravitz, the daughter-in-law of MK Avraham Ravitz, and a resident of Beitar Illit. Another advantage is the war he is waging against him. The Prime Minister and the Haredi parties want to hurt Netanyahu by electing Reuven Rivlin as president.  Candidates Silvan Shalom, if he decides to run, and Binyamin Ben-Eliezer also have great chances in the Sephardic party, which will have a hard time explaining to its voters why it will not support Sephardic candidates for the position. Dalia Itzik, also of Sephardic origin, enjoys the support of at least two Shas MKs, who will certainly present their position before the Council of Elders. Meanwhile, after Rabbi Rivlin, MK Binyamin (Fuad) Ben-Eliezer also addressed the Knesset members and officially asked them to give him their trust in the presidential elections. Ben-Eliezer said: "I hope that the Knesset members will vote for someone who faithfully represents the unique mosaic of Israeli citizens, and will work for dialogue between all populations. I have worked for the State of Israel my whole life, and I am sure that I will continue to do so in my next role.". יו"ר הכנסת יולי אדלשטיין הודיע בצהריים (שני) כי הבחירות לנשיאות יתקיימו ביום שלישי י"ב סיון (10 ביוני), ובכך פתח רשמית את המירוץ לתפקיד הנשיא. לפי חוק יסוד נשיא המדינה, המועד האחרון להגשת מועמדות הוא שבועיים לפני הבחירות, כלומר ביום שלישי הבא. אחר שהודיע על מועד הבחירות לנשיאות, אמר יו"ר הכנסת: "לצערי ואני בטוח שלצער כולנו, עד עתה המירוץ הנוכחי התאפיין בהכפשות ובדה-לגיטימציה. התנהלות שלטעמי ביזתה את התהליך ופגעה קשות במוסד החשוב הזה. אני רוצה לאחל לכל המתמודדים הצלחה, אך יותר מזה: מבקש ואף דורש, בשמי, בשם הכנסת ובשם העם בישראל: לנהוג בהדר, בכבוד, בהגינות, במוסר וביושר – אחד כלפי השני וכולם כלפי המוסד", הוסיף. בינתיים מי שיצא שהודיע פומבית על תמיכתו בח"כ ראובן (רובי) ריבלין - בניגוד לעמדת ראש הממשלה - הוא שר הפנים גדעון סער. "אני כבר החלטתי, אני מצביע לרובי ריבלין", כתב בעמוד הפייסבוק שלו. סיעת 'יש עתיד' הודיעה בצהרים כי תעניק חופש הצבעה לחבריה. יו"ר המפלגה, שר האוצר יאיר לפיד, קרא לחברי הסיעה לחתום לכמה שיותר מועמדים שטרם השיגו את עשר החתימות הנדרשות כדי להתמודד בבחירות.