Israel's parliament today (June 10, 2014) chose Reuven Rivlin -- a veteran nationalist politician and supporter of the Jewish settlement movement -- as the country's next president, putting a man opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state into the ceremonial but influential post, the ABC News website reports.
Rivlin -- a stalwart in the governing Likud Party -- now faces the difficult task of succeeding Shimon Peres, a Nobel peace laureate who became an all-star on the international stage.
Although the presidency is largely ceremonial, Rivlin's political views could be a liability when he represents Israel overseas. His opposition to Palestinian independence puts him at odds with the international community and Israel's own prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
The president of Israel is meant to serve as a unifying figure and moral compass for the country, and Rivlin has said that in contrast to Peres, he would focus on domestic affairs if selected to the post.
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