Zalman Shazar, Israel’s 78 year-old third President, was elected to a second five-year term by the Knesset (Parliament) this afternoon. Eighty-six out of 110 Knesset members voted for Mr. Shazar, the only candidate. Twenty-four cast blank ballots. Knesset speaker Kadish Luz, accompanied by Prime Minister Levi Eshkol, visited President Shazar at his home to inform him officially of his re-election and to offer congratulations.
The Israel presidency is largely a ceremonial office although the President is, officially, the Chief of State. He is elected by secret ballot in the Knesset and has certain statutory rights such as pardoning criminals and summoning a Knesset -member to form a government after elections or if the existing government resigns.
Nevertheless, certain factions in the Knesset were apparently opposed to Mr. Shazar’s reelection. The one-man party, Haolam Hazeh, urged that a younger man should symbolize a young state. He apparently reflected the views of some of the former Rafi and younger former Mapai elements in Israel’s dominant United Labor Party.
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