2000 Israeli Presidential Election

Israel's president was elected by members of the 120-seat Knesset through a secret ballot rather than a national popular vote.[4][5] A candidate needed at least 61 votes, a majority of all Knesset members; in the 2000 contest, failure to reach that threshold on the first ballot led to a second round.[6][2] A presidential candidate also needed the nomination of at least 10 Knesset members.[5]

The office that became vacant in 2000 had been held since 1993 by Ezer Weizman, identified by the Center for Israel Education as Israel's seventh president.[7] Weizman resigned early, three years before the end of his term, amid public criticism of his interventions in political life and financial allegations published in late 1999.[5] A police investigation into those allegations did not produce a decisive prosecution: some claims lacked sufficient evidence, others were considered too old for court proceedings, and one area of inquiry was not investigated.[5] Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein separately decided not to prosecute Weizman over money he had received from businessman Edward Seroussi.[8] Public dissatisfaction with the ambiguous investigation outcome, and the sentiment that the president should be above reproach, contributed to Weizman's decision to step down.[5]

Following Weizman's departure, the Avoda (Labor) party nominated Shimon Peres, a former prime minister and former defense and foreign minister.[5] Peres was widely expected to receive the presidency; commentators and many Knesset members regarded it as an honor that would naturally be granted to him.[9][2]

Likud, then in opposition, initially sought a candidate who could be presented as non-partisan before ultimately nominating its veteran politician Moshe Katsav.[5] The ruling Israel One coalition, led by Prime Minister Ehud Barak, backed Peres.[3] Shas, whose 17 Knesset members could prove decisive, became a focus of pre-election maneuvering. Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef gave party members freedom to vote as they chose; one account reported that Yosef would have preferred them to support Peres but believed the party's constituency would not accept declining to back Katsav, whom the account characterized as Sephardi and traditional.[10][11]

On July 31, 2000, the Fifteenth Knesset elected Katsav as Israel's eighth president.[12] On the first ballot, Katsav received 60 votes and Peres 57 — neither candidate reached the 61-vote threshold required for election.[2] A second ballot followed, and Katsav won with 63 votes to Peres's 57.[2][1]

The announcement of the result was vivid. Likud faction chair Reuven Rivlin, serving on the ballot committee, declared the outcome by waving his hands and calling out, "There are 63!"[2] Katsav thanked Peres for running a "respectable and fair" campaign; Peres in turn congratulated Katsav and wished him success.[2] In his address to the Knesset, Katsav pledged to work to unite Israeli society and reduce tensions, describing his vision as "united — and not uniform," and telling members who had not supported him, "I will yet surprise you for the better."[2]

The outcome landed as a significant blow to Prime Minister Barak's already fragile position. A Washington Institute analysis published shortly after the election listed Peres's defeat among the setbacks confronting Barak's minority government, which held 13 of 24 cabinet portfolios and commanded the support of only 42 of 120 Knesset members — potentially rising to just under 60 with opposition backing.[4] Finance Minister Avraham Shohat characterized the presidential vote as political and warned that, under the prevailing circumstances, the government would struggle to pass a budget.[11]

Barak's government continued to unravel in the months that followed. On December 10, 2000, Barak submitted his resignation to President Katsav, calling for a special election for prime minister within 60 days rather than a full general election.[13]

Katsav held the presidency from his election in 2000 until Peres succeeded him in 2007. The World Jewish Congress described Peres's 2007 victory as his first successful bid for the office.[12][14]

Katsav's election ended a pattern that had held since Israel's founding: the seven presidents before him had all been candidates of Avoda or its predecessor Mapai.[5][3] Two earlier attempts by the right to break that streak had failed — Menachem Begin could not secure the election of Menachem Elon in 1983, and Benjamin Netanyahu was unable to win election for Shaul Amor in 1998.[5]

The result also carried symbolic weight in Israeli political life. Criticism of Weizman's presidency had included the argument that the president should represent the whole people, not only one political half of them.[5] By defeating the government-backed favorite, Katsav's victory showed that control of the government did not determine the outcome of a secret Knesset ballot, and it turned a largely ceremonial office into a moment of political drama.[5][2]

Post-election commentary focused heavily on the role of Shas and on allegations that some members of the governing coalition had broken pledges to support Peres. One later account reported that Shas had promised Peres its support but ultimately switched to Katsav.[15] MK Yossi Sarid complained that members had broken promises to Peres; MK Taleb al-Sana attributed responsibility chiefly to Israel One; and Yosef Lapid of Shinui accused Shas of misleading Labor.[2] Shas MK Shlomo Benizri acknowledged that Shas votes had helped Katsav.[2] Likud MK Meir Sheetrit offered a different explanation, suggesting that some Israel One members feared that Moti Mishani of Gesher would enter the Knesset if Katsav won.[2]

These were contemporary political opinions and allegations rather than an established account of how individual members voted. Because the ballot was secret, no verified roll call exists from which to determine precisely which parties or members produced the final result.[5][2]