President Ephraim Katzir will not run for a second term, it was officially announced here today. He informed Knesset Speaker Yitzhak Shamir of his decision yesterday. Katzir also reportedly informed Premier Menachem Begin, Labor Party chairman Shimon Peres and former Premier Golda Meir of his decision.
The reason given for his decision was personal. However, since Katzir was elected in 1973 as the candidate of the Labor Alignment, it is believed that he now feels it is appropriate for the Likud government to present its own candidate for the Presidency.
Katzirï¿??s term will end May 29, 1978. By law, a new President must be elected between one to three months before the term of the incumbent President expires. Any 10 Knesset members may submit their own candidate, but past experience has been that the two major parties have presented their own candidates.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
