Home | Business News | Browse by Publication | M | Midstream

The institution of president of the state of Israel.

Article Excerpt
After much turmoil Israel's Parliament, the Knesset, elected Shimon Peres as Israel's ninth president. The election, and more so, the events that have preceded it, bring to the fore once again the long debate over the office of the presidency in the State of Israel.

The birth of the institution of the presidency in Israel occurred in error--some might even say in deception--and is connected with two prominent leaders of the Zionist Movement in the twentieth century: Chaim Weizmann and David Ben-Gurion. Weizmann, who was president of the World Zionist Organization, lost the birthright to Ben-Gurion because of Weizmann's moderate attitude toward the Arabs of Eretz Yisrael and toward Great Britain. Two days after the establishment of the state, Weizmann on a political mission in Washington, was surprised by a telegram from Ben-Gurion expressing the desire of the Provisional State Council "for the day in which we will see you as head of the state which will be established in peace." This was viewed by some as a noble move--the prime minister expressing his esteem to the elder statesman. Others saw a Machiavellian exercise in which Ben-Gurion tried to get rid of a political opponent who still enjoyed the respect of many.

Weizmann was under no illusion that he was being offered the equivalent status of President of the United States, but he also did not think that Ben-Gurion was offering a symbolic position, like President of France. He hoped for a status equivalent to the status of the President of Italy that would include presiding over the sessions of the government with the ministers having the right to consult with him. Ben-Gurion quickly clarified that this was not his intention. Indeed, when Weizmann came to one of the Government's meetings and sat down at the head of the table, Ben-Gurion did not stop him, but made it clear that this was a one-time event and not to be repeated. As to the ministers' right to consult with the president, Ben-Gurion noted that everyone was entitled to consult with whomever he wished, "even with the President of the State." Weizmann used to say that the only place into which the Government would let him poke his nose was his handkerchief. When the United States ambassador, asked Weizmann as to the nature of his role, he responded: "My role is to be a symbol, and behold, all day long I am symbolizing."

And yet, for Weizmann, who wanted to be an active president and not merely a decorative one, this status was annoying. Shortly after he was chosen as President of the Provisional State Council, he then assumed the role of President of the state after the election of the first Knesset, he drafted a letter of resignation. This occurred after it became clear that not only had he not been given a position in which he could accomplish something, but the government would not even bother to update him on what was happening. In his letter he wrote:

I decided to cut off my connection with the office which...

View this article FREE - Now for a Limited Time, try Goliath Business News
Free for 3 Days!