As the sole candidate for the second round of presidential election, Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres Wednesday afternoon gained 86 parliamentary votes, which ensured him to become Israel's ninth president.

 

In the meantime, 23 Knesset (Parliament) members voted against him and 10 abstained. One was absent from the vote. Suspended President Moshe Katzav called Peres and congratulated him on being next president of the State of Israel.

 

The president elected afterwards thanked Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for his diligence and wisdom in running the presidential campaign.

 

"I would like to thank all the members of Knesset who voted today. From this moment on I hope to represent everyone with no distinctions," he added. Peres also expressed that he will serve Israel whole-heartedly.

 

Peres is set to become Israel's ninth president in the second presidential vote, after both rivals, Knesset (Parliament) member (MK) Reuven Rivlin from Likud and MK Colette Avital from the Labor Party, announced that they are quitting the race and threw their support to Peres.

 

In the first round of elections, Peres won 58 votes, Rivlin got 37 and Avital 21. Three MKs abstained and one spoiled ballot was registered.

 

Labor party members announced accordingly that they had agreed unanimously to vote for Shimon Peres in the second round. Likud chairman Benyamin Netanyahu also declared that Likud faction has decided to support Peres for presidency.

 

Knesset members began voting for Israel's next president in a secret ballot Wednesday afternoon.

 

Earlier Wednesday, the Kadima faction convened for a very optimistic meeting before the elections begin. Peres admitted that it was still too early to celebrate the election results.

 

It was the second time that Peres contended for the presidential title, having lost to current President Moshe Katsav in 2000.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 14, 2007)