This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6747517.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Peres 'set to become Israel head' | |
(29 minutes later) | |
Veteran politician Shimon Peres is set to become Israel's president after his two rivals pulled out of the race. | |
Mr Peres earlier won a first round of voting in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, but not by a wide-enough margin to beat his rivals outright. | |
He had been facing Reuven Rivlin of the opposition Likud and Labour's Colette Avital for the mainly ceremonial role. | |
Incumbent Moshe Katsav is on leave of absence since being accused of rape and other sexual offences, which he denies. | |
Shimon Peres, from the ruling Kadima Party, stood again after losing to Mr Katsav seven years ago. | |
International success | International success |
It is the second attempt by Mr Peres to become Israel's president. He represented Labour in the 2000 election, won by Mr Katsav. | |
SHIMON PERES Born 1923 in PolandEmigrated to British-administered Palestine 1934Member of parliament since 1959 Prime minister in 1984 and 1995-1996 | SHIMON PERES Born 1923 in PolandEmigrated to British-administered Palestine 1934Member of parliament since 1959 Prime minister in 1984 and 1995-1996 |
Mr Peres is currently Israel's vice premier and minister of development for the Negev and Galilee regions. | Mr Peres is currently Israel's vice premier and minister of development for the Negev and Galilee regions. |
He has been Israeli prime minister and held numerous ministerial posts, but lost general elections in 1977, 1981, 1984, 1988, and 1996. | He has been Israeli prime minister and held numerous ministerial posts, but lost general elections in 1977, 1981, 1984, 1988, and 1996. |
His greatest successes have come on the international stage, and he was the guiding light behind Israel's first interim peace accord with the Palestine Liberation Organisation in 1993 in Oslo. | His greatest successes have come on the international stage, and he was the guiding light behind Israel's first interim peace accord with the Palestine Liberation Organisation in 1993 in Oslo. |
A high point of Mr Peres' long career came in 1994, when he shared the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his role. | A high point of Mr Peres' long career came in 1994, when he shared the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his role. |