Reuven Rivlin sworn in as President of Israel

[Jefferson23]

Former Likud MK and Knesset Speaker vows his door will be open to all Israelis, whether they share his stance or not, stresses need for understanding in Israeli society.

Moran Azulay, Itamar Eichner
Published: 07.24.14, 18:19 / Israel News

With its troops fighting a brutal war in Gaza against Hamas, Israel held a low-key inauguration Thursday for new president Reuven Rivlin.

The veteran Likud lawmaker is known as a hawk who supports a one-state solution. But as his term begins, Rubi, as he is commonly known in Israeli politics, is beginning to sound more and more like his predecessor Shimon Peres, who last month received a Congressional Medal of Honor for his lifetime commitment to peace.

Rivlin, 74, was born in Jerusalem nine years before the creation of the State of Israel. He comes from a family steeped in Jewish history, even claiming the Vilna Gaon (the legendary Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna) as one of its members. Rivlin is a die-hard Jerusalemite and long-term fan of the city's Beitar football team (he saw his first team game at the age of 7 - in 1946).


Despite being a fervent rightist and opponent of a Palestinian state, Rivlin has vowed to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. "The depth of the conflict demands of us to find ways to communicate," Rivlin, 74, says in his first political interview since winning the presidency almost three weeks ago.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4536322,00.html