President Yitzhak Navon said today that he was considering a return to political life when his Presidential term expires next year. On the other hand, he might seek a second term as President because he enjoyed the office “very much,” Navon told delegates to the meeting of the Political Committee of the European Parliament convening in Jerusalem.
Navon said for the time being he was leaving both options open. “It will take at least 8-9 months before I make a decision one way or the other,” he said. The Presidency of Israel is a prestigious but non-political office.
Navon is immensely popular and there has been speculation in some quarters that he might emerge as Prime Minister in a Labor-led government. He is one of the relatively few Israelis of Sephardic descent to hold high office, in a country where Oriental Jews comprise about 60 percent of the population.
Speaking to the European parliamentarians. Navon was critical of the low level of debate in the Knesset. “If we could import some of your understatements in our political discourse I would be very happy,” he said. He said Knesset debates were too heated, that intemperate language was often used and this was discouraging to the younger generation.
He expressed hope that other Black African nations would join Zaire in restoring diplomatic relations with Israel. He said that since Israel has withdrawn from Sinai and is at peace with Egypt, an African nation, there is no longer any reason for Black Africa not to resume ties with Israel.
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