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Peres to be sworn in Sunday
After spending years in Israel's political system, former Vice Premier Shimon Peres will be sworn in at Knesset on Sunday. His wife Sonia will not be able to attend due to medical condition
Amnon Meranda
Shimon Peres will be sworn in as Israel's ninth president Sunday evening, but will not be able to share the emotional moment with his wife Sonia, who will not be able to attend the ceremony due to her poor health.
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The inauguration is set to take place at 6 pm at the Knesset's entrance hall. Elected president Shimon Peres' procession will arrive at the Knesset accompanied by horsemen and motorcycles.
The procession will enter the Knesset through a new gate, which will be inaugurated for the first time, and is located between the Finance Ministry and the Knesset residence.
Upon his arrival, the newly elected president will inspect the Israel Defense Forces' honor guard, while accompanied by acting President and Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik.
The president will then place a wreath on a monument commemorating Israel's fallen soldiers, and at 6:30 pm, Peres will be sworn in and sign a declaration.
Two rabbis from the Military Rabbinate will then sound shofars, and the Knesset speaker will call out: "Long live the president of the State of Israel" and the MK and the crowd will respond: "Long live, long live, long live".
The song "Chafetz Chaim" will then be performed by a junior choir, and will be followed by a speech by outgoing acting President Dalia Itzik and a song by Israeli singer Avihu Medina.
Peres will then give a speech which will be followed by the Israeli national anthem, "Hatikva". The ceremony, which will be attended by some 950 guests, will end with three cheers of honor and a hand-shaking ceremony will commence at 7:30 pm.
It was decided by Knesset Director-General Avi Balashnikov's that people from all layers of the Israeli society should be invited to the ceremony, including Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Knesset members, the president of the Supreme Court, members of the state's senior staff, heads of foreign representatives, youth movement leaders and other honoraries.
Members of bereaved families, Gush Katif evacuees, Sderot residents, writers, intellectuals, and economists will also be present at the event.
It was decided that world leaders and representatives of international organizations would not be invited to the ceremony, in order to cut costs and preserve the event's Israeli character.
Attila Somfalvi contributed to this report
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