Who wants to be president?

A special committee debated the issue for seven days and seven nights, and eventually made the foolish decision: The Knesset will not elect the president through a secret ballot, as is customary, but rather, the other way around – the government will work secretly in order to ensure the Knesset elects Peres openly.

This is how Peres is being fitted with the new emperor's clothes. A sold-out contest? What are you talking about? Electing a president is not the same as selling Bank Leumi. A dirty trick? God forbid. It's not the trick that's dirty, but rather, the presidential residence. If Peres enters it after Weizmann and Katsav, the smells that would emanate from it will be like the latest aftershave you can get at the duty-free store.

Ok, so we're moving forward. But why not go straight? Why the hell does the Kadima government have to do everything crooked? Why is there a need to invent a new ideology that changes everything and implies that a secret vote is a danger to democracy while an open ballot, as is the norm in the Kremlin, is the embodiment of democracy? Haven't we had enough embarrassments?

Instead of forcing the Knesset to become the government's rubber stamp, isn't it simpler to propose a new law that allows the prime minister to appoint the president, just like he appoints the defense minister for example?

Qatar visit latest example 

Lately, every time Peres is asked about the matter, he responds with his customary modesty and humility: "I'm not dealing with it." And really, how can he "deal with it" when he's busy all the time with developing the Negev and Galilee, while here and there also flying to one destination or another at the nation's service?

Anyone who needed a sample of the schedule kept by the man who behaves as if the country owes him the presidency, got it this week, when Peres again traveled abroad, this time to Qatar. He again attempted to sell his Dead Sea Canal vision, as well as the economic corridor connecting Aqaba and northern Israel, to the Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.

However, the Emir was very polite and sent him to talk to Hamas. And so, Peres returned home empty-handed from yet another trip abroad, and what's more, his request for assistance in the release of abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit wasn't accepted, and his proposal to upgrade the Israeli mission in Doha to the status of a consulate was rejected.

Therefore, it would be ignominious if the next president of Israel is a frequent traveler. If we're already going to change the law for electing a president, perhaps we should use the opportunity to add a small clause stipulating that the president must stay in the country for at least one month a year.