Presidential hopeful and Labor MK Colette Avital
צילום: ירון ברנר
Labor MK launches presidential bid
Labor MK Colette Avital launches presidential campaign, draws backing of former Meretz MK and prominent peace activist Shulamit Aloni
Labor MK Colette Avital announced her intention to contend for the presidency during a press conference held in Tel Aviv on Tuesday morning.
Avital boasted that her Labor faction was supporting her candidacy, but slammed Labor legislators who openly supported Vice Premier Shimon Peres of Kadima. Peres is seen as a favorite to win the race but he is yet to make a formal announcement about his candidacy.
"If there are some who believe in the need to support he who betrayed the party and put a knife in our backs, I regret that," Avital said, referring to Peres' defection to Kadima last year.
"I acknowledge Peres' achievements, but I have also contributed to causes I deal with," she said.
Avital (second from right) with Aloni to her right (Photo: Yaron Brenner)
Likud MK Reuven Rivlin launched his presidential campaign last month.
"Time has come for a woman to represent us in the Presidential Residence," said former Meretz MK and peace activist Shulamit Aloni, voicing her support for Avital.
The Presidency's image as a symbol of Israel and its people has been tarnished by rape and wire-tapping accusations leveled against President Moshe Katsav last year.
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz recommended that Katsav be indicted on those charges earlier this year. Katsav has been given time to dispute Mazuz's decision by submitting new evidence. He has suspended himself for three months until the end of the legal proceedings.
