Izhak Ben-zvi Inaugurated for Third Term As President of Israel

With pomp and impressive ceremony, Israel today inaugurated Izhak Ben-Zvi as President. Mr. Ben-Zvi was elected by the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, yesterday, to serve a third, five-year term. Although members of opposition parties had cast blank ballots–as a protest against the principle of permitting any incumbent to serve three terms in the Presidency–the 78-year-old veteran Zionist and former pioneer in the building of the State had been elected without opposition or contest.

Recalling the ancient glory of Israel, when its kings were inducted into office with the sound of shofaroth, heralds today preceded Mr. Ben-Zvi’s ride to the Parliament building, blowing the ram’s horns, as thousands of Israelis lined the streets, cheering the revered President. Mrs. Ben-Zvi accompanied her husband, Other thousands filled Parliament Square, and the Knesset chamber was filled to capacity with prominent visitors, including the entire diplomatic corps.

Following Mr. Ben-Zvi’s formal inauguration in the Knesset, and his taking of the oath of office, he was greeted personally by a delegation of Parliament, including representatives of the opposition parties who had not voted for his re-election. He was then driven ceremoniously to City Hall, where he was greeted by Jerusalem’s Mayor Mordechai Ish-Shalom, as thousands of other Israelis cheered outside the municipal building.