2000 Israeli presidential election

2000 Israeli presidential election

31 July 2000

Nominee Moshe Katsav Shimon Peres Party Likud One Israel Electoral vote 63 57

President before election Ezer Weizman Labor Elected President Moshe Katsav Likud

An election for President of Israel was held in the Knesset on 31 July 2000, following Ezer Weizman's resignation.

History

Moshe Katsav, a Likud politician, ran against Shimon Peres, a previous Prime Minister of Israel. In a surprising upset, the Knesset elected Katsav, by 63 to 57. Katsav assumed office as President of Israel on 1 August 2000. He was the first Israeli president sworn in for a seven-year term, as well as the first candidate from the right-wing Likud party to be elected to the office.

Results

Candidate		Party	First round		Second round
			Votes	%	Votes	%
	Moshe Katsav	Likud	60	51.28	63	52.50
	Shimon Peres	One Israel	57	48.72	57	47.50
Total			117	100.00	120	100.00
Blank votes			3	2.50	0	0.00
Registered voters/turnout			120	–	120	–