Israeli Presidential Campaigning is Underway!

ערב שבת קודש פר' משפטים תשע"ד

Arutz 7: 10,000 Sign Petition for Nobel Prize-Winner's Presidency Bid

Dan Schechtman
Nobel Laureate, Chemistry

Petition posted by the staff of Israeli site Atzuma garners 10,000 votes for Daniel Shechtman to run for President.

Tova Dvorin, January 21, 2014

Rise of the unlikely candidate: Maariv reports Tuesday that 10,000 people have already signed a petition nominating Nobel Laureate Daniel Shechtman for the next presidential elections.

The explanatory note to the petition, which was posted on Atzuma (the Israeli equivalent of change.org) by the site's owners, states that the move was a necessary one for the nomination, which also requires the backing of at least 10 Knesset members.

Dan Shechtman with a scanning
transmission electron microscope.
(Photo Credit: Bob Elbert)

The petition was posted within an hour of Shechtman's announcement of his campaign on Channel 1 Friday night, and within 5 days has surpassed its 10,000-person goal mark.

The initiative received a bigger boost after Shechtman's interview Sunday with Channel 10, according to Maariv.

During the interview, Shechtman reflected, "I do a lot for the State of Israel and its citizens in the Diaspora [. . .] I think that the position of President would give me far more influence than I have now."

He stated that he would not be joining a political party for now, citing the need to be "a man of the people" rather than subscribe to a particular agenda. The Laureate also stressed that his first priority would be improving Israel's education system.

Dan Shechtman explaining his Nobel Prize-winning theory to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
(Photo Credit: Amos Ben Gershom/GPO/Flash 90)

Shechtman was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2011 for his discovery of quasicrystals, or the fact that atoms in a crystal are capable of being formed in a way that does not involve a repetitive pattern. While he does not have a political background, he explained during his announcement his belief that his problem-solving skills might better the State of Israel.

President Shimon Peres

Presidential elections are due for next summer, and anticipation has already begun to rise in the minds of the Israeli public. A recent poll found that most Israelis favor the possibility that that the 90-year-old Peres will remain in his position for a second term. This followed reports that Peres would seek another seven-year term as President, requiring a legislative change.

Peres has rejected the reports, declaring in an interview that he will end his term as scheduled next summer.

Other names which have already been mentioned as potential presidential candidates are Minister Silvan Shalom (Likud), MK Reuven Rivlin (Likud) and MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer (Labor). The recent poll indicated that should Peres not seek a second term, Rivlin was the most favored candidate among the Israeli public.

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Well, on one hand, how could he possible do any worse than previous presidents who have remained silent when should not have, like Moshe Katzav, or who have opened their mouths when they should have remained silent, like Shimon Peres?

Of course, someone should mention to Dan Schechtman that the role of the Israeli President is an a-political one, and not to rely on the incumbent president as an example.

On the other hand, Rivlin sounds like a good, possible choice. And, I don't care what Shimon Peres says now. Do NOT count him of the running just yet....

Still on the other hand, how about voting in an authentically Jewish government all together? You know, one with a King (or real Nassi), a Sanhedrin, and local Batei Din (Rabbinical Courts).

Too innovative? Too much rocking of the boat? Too bad.