Israelis look to Peres to restore tarnished presidency

Elder statesman Shimon Peres was elected Israel's ninth president Wednesday, capping a campaign to extend his six-decade political career in a race marred by rape allegations against the sitting president, the parliament speaker said.

Peres, a Nobel Peace Prize winner of the ruling Kadima Party, won the support of 86 of the parliament's 120 members in a second round of voting in which he stood alone, Speaker Dalia Itzik said.

His two rivals, Reuven Rivlin of the hawkish Likud and Colette Avital of the centrist Labour, withdrew from the race after he seized a commanding lead in the first round.

Peres, 83, who has held all of Israel's top civilian posts, will be sworn in July 15 for a seven-year term.

Peres had been seen as a shoo-in to win the post in 2000 only to lose in a stunning upset to the now-disgraced Moshe Katsav, a political backbencher with the blessing of a prominent rabbi.

The office of president, conceived as a ceremonial post held by a prominent statesman or thinker, has been tainted by allegations that Katsav raped or otherwise sexually assaulted fourfemale employees.

Katsav has not been formally charged, pending a final hearing before Israel's attorney general, but has stepped down temporarily to fight the allegations.

Israelis hope that Peres, with his international stature, will be able to restore the stature of the position.

Speaking at parliament ahead of the vote, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Kadima said "the history, actions and contributions of Shimon Peres to the state of Israel" made him "a model" for the ideal presidential candidate.