President Shimon Peres’ term will end in July 2014 and the race is well underway as the candidates begin electioneering and seeking to muster support for their candidacy.

Candidates in the race today include MK Reuven Rivlin, a former Knesset speaker and regarded as an elder statesman in Likud. Labor MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, the most veteran MK serving today and a former IDF brigadier-general and defense minister is also in the race. He is affiliated with the Labor party.

Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel and former Prisoner of Zion Natan Sharansky is among the contenders. He founded the Yisrael B’Aliyah party and served in Knesset from 1996-2006. His ministerial portfolios included industry & trade, public security, housing and Jerusalem affairs. He was also a deputy prime minister.

Minister (Likud) Silvan Shalom, who has served in Knesset since 1996 and has held a number of cabinet posts including foreign minister and deputy prime minister. he currently serves as Minister of Water, minister of Galil/Negev development, and minister of regional cooperation.

Professor Dan Shectman of Technion University and a Nobel Prize laureate in chemistry has announced he too may run. At present, Shectman has not mustered the required 10 signatures among MKs to enter the race.

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, who serves as president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews also plans to enter the race.

The list continues with David Levy, 76, who served in Knesset from 1969 to 2006. He is a former foreign minister, housing minister, deputy prime minister and viewed by many as a member of the Likud’s old guard. Retired Brigadier-General Avigdor Kahalani, 70, a Knesset members from 1992-1999 is a decorated war hero from the Yom Kippur War. He has served as a minister of public security. He was affiliated with the Labor and Third Way parties.

And last on the list is Dalia Itzik, a former Knesset speaker who served in Knesset from 1992-2013. She too served on the cabinet as minister of communications, industry & trade and environmental affairs. She was affiliated with the Labor and Kadima parties.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)