Dr. Chaim Weizmann was re-elected President of Israel today in a brief and colorful ceremony in the Parliament.
President Weizmann’s name was placed in nomination first by Itzhak Ben Zvi of the Mapai, after which representatives of the General Zionists, Progressives, Mizrachi, Agudas Israel, Hapoel Hamizrachi and Agudah Laborites rose to state that their parties also sponsored the nomination. Two Arab deputies also ascended the dais to nominate the aged Zionist leader.
Itzhak Bar Yehuda of the Mapam declared that his party was voting for Dr. Weizmann “on personal grounds, remembering his efforts in behalf of and his contributions to the Zionist movement and the establishment of the Jewish state and despite the fact that the Mapam does not identify itself with President Weizmann’s political line. ” Communist and Herut deputies announced that their parties were voting against Dr. Weizmann. With the exception of Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett and Police Minister Behor Shitreet, both of whom are in Paris, the entire Cabinet participated in the Presidential vote.
The vote was the sole item on today’s Knesset agenda and after its completion the body adjourned and a delegation headed by Speaker Joseph Sprinzak went to Rehovoth to inform Dr. Weizmann of his re-election. The balloting was held under the terms of the old Presidential tenure law which provides that the President shall remain in office as long as the Knesset which elected him, plus three months after the election of the new Parliament.
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