Last update - 00:00 19/10/2006
Ex-chief rabbi Lau says bid for presidency not on his agenda
By Mazal Mualem and Haaretz Service
Ex-Chief rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau denied on Thursday that running for president is on his agenda, saying he has not even announced his candidacy yet.
The rabbi's name came up as one of the possible candidates to replace President Moshe Katsav in the event that he resigns over an indictment regarding his alleged rape of an employee.
"There is a president in Israel," the rabbi said. "The Knesset has not yet set a date and there is no reason to discuss this issue, it is an unborn egg the discussion would be pointless. I can't take back a candidacy that has yet to be announced," Lau said.
On Wednesday, Vice Premier Shimon Peres sounded out Labor and Kadima lawmakers on his chances of challenging MK Reuven Rivlin for the presidency.
MKs from both parties urged Peres to put his name forward, despite indications that not all Labor, Kadima or Meretz members would vote for him. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is not openly supporting him either.
Kadima sources said Peres' chances to beat Rivlin appeared slim.
Olmert, who is on a visit to Moscow, denied suggesting author Elie Wiesel as a candidate for the presidency, and said he was not dealing with appointing a president.
MKs who spoke to Peres Wednesday said he was interested in running for the post but was afraid of losing again. One MK said Peres told him he would not be deceived again.
Peres ran for the post of president in 2000, on behalf of Labor, after being assured that a majority of the Knesset supported him. In the secret ballot, however, MKs who had pledged their support to him voted for Katsav (Likud).
Olmert said in Russia on Wednesday that Peres was a worthy candidate. However, this followed an earlier statement in which Olmert said he preferred a non-politician for president.
Peres, after reading surveys indicating his popularity as a candidate, reacted angrily, and Olmert, when he heard of this, "corrected" his statement, but did not say explicitly that he would support Peres.
Peres' aides said that running for president was not on the vice premier's agenda. However, sources close to Peres said that if Olmert supported his candidacy, and he could be sure of majority support, he would contend the post.
Peres is also facing the state comptroller's probe into alleged illicit contributions in excess of NIS 1 million in Labor's primaries against Peretz.
Olmert said he had been surprised by reports that author Elie Wiesel was candidate for president. "The idea did not come from me," he said.
"Naturally, I'd prefer a non-political candidate, but I'm not saying every candidate in the political system isn't suitable. There is at least one worthy candidate in the political system - Shimon Peres," Olmert commented.