BICOM

As the race to succeed Shimon Peres as Israel’s next president continues, it was reported this morning that former-Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik could receive the unlikely backing of Avigdor Lieberman if Likud minister Silvan Shalom does not submit his candidacy.

Peres’ term will come to an end in July and the Knesset will vote on a successor possibly as soon as May. All contenders must secure the endorsement of at least 10 Members of Knesset (MKs) in order to submit their candidacy. Veteran Labour MK and former-Defence Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer became the first to do so, securing the support of 14 of 15 Labour Party MKs in February. Last month, Ben Eliezer was joined in the race by Likud MK and former-Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, who has the support of 10 MKs, almost exclusively from Likud and Jewish Home.

Likud’s Minister for Water and Energy, Silvan Shalom had also been widely expected to submit his candidacy in the near future. However, his campaign was thrown into doubt this week after Israel’s Police and Attorney General launched an investigation against Shalom over a claim of sexual harassment 15 years ago by a former employee. Although it has been widely reported that the case will not be pursued unless additional complainants come forward, it is unclear what impact the allegations will have on Shalom’s presidential ambitions.

This morning’s Maariv claims that if Shalom decides not to run, then Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Lieberman will throw his support and presumably that of his party behind former-Knesset Speaker and Labour and Kadima MK Dalia Itzik. Lieberman would reportedly not support Rivlin and could not countenance backing Ben Eliezer and as a result may endorse Itzik, who already has the backing of senior Yisrael Beitenu MK Faina Kirshenbaum.

Other presidential candidates from outside the political world include Nobel Prize laureate Dan Shechtman and retired Supreme Court judge Dalia Dorner. However, they will likely find it difficult to secure the requisite political support.