Ezer Weizman

{{Audio|He-Ezer_Weitzman.ogg|Ezer Weizman}} (??? ?????) (Tel Aviv, June 15, 1924 – Caesarea Maritima, April 24, 2005) was the seventh President of the State of Israel (1993-2000). He was a nephew of Chaim Weizmann, Israel's first president.

Presidential term

He started his term on May 13, 1993. Throughout his life, famous for an outspoken, informal manner, regardless of his rank or position, which rarely failed to endear him once met face to face, even to sworn adversaries. Known to frequent local cafes and play Backgammon with locals.

Related Topics:
May 13 - 1993 - Backgammon

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• "He spoke to us eye to eye, as an equal" (Neighbor).

As president, some of his public remarks earned him a lot of critics, but didn't significantly damage his public support. Among notorious quotes (some of their punch is lost in translation from Hebrew..):

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• " we ate a few good things, and drank a few good things..." (In his Eulogy of Yitzhak Rabin during the funeral)
• "Honey, have you ever seen a man knitting socks?" (on a phone conversation to Alice Miller, a female soldier who launched a successful high court appeal against the Israeli Air Force, compelling it to open its pilot's course to women in 1994)
• "I like a man who wants to be a man, and a woman who wants to be a woman" (Regarding Homosexuals)
• "Now you'll be able to aim better". (Jocularly, while visiting a wounded soldier, who lost an eye)

During Weizman's term, Israel suffered from terrorist attacks by Hizbullah and Hamas. Weizman visited all the bereaved families and victims of terror attacks. He scrupulously visited all families of soldiers killed on duty, called on hospitals and cheered the wounded.

Related Topics:
Terrorist - Hizbullah - Hamas

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Israel has a parliamentary system, where the Prime Minister of Israel is the leader of an elected government. The president holds a largely ceremonial role, has no executive powers (save for pardoning prisoners) and is expected to remain aloof of political affiliations and represent the entire nation. (Also see Israeli politics). However Weizman, unlike his predecessors, frequently flaunted this norm and expressed his opinions.

Related Topics:
Parliamentary system - Prime Minister of Israel - President - Israeli politics - Norm

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In an attempt to encourage the peace process with the Palestinians, in 1996 Weizman invited Yasser Arafat to a private visit in his house in Caesaria. Weizman supported withdrawal from the Golan Heights in exchange for peace with Syria, and was criticized for that by the right wing parties.

Related Topics:
Peace process - Palestinians - 1996 - Yasser Arafat - Caesaria - Golan Heights - Syria - Right wing

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

At the end of 1999, newspapers published that Weizman received large amounts of money from businessmen, without reporting it to the proper authorities (the government legal adviser). Although the investigating authorities decided not to prosecute, public criticism following this forced Weizman to resign from office.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Weizman's resignation took effect on July 13, 2000.

Related Topics:
July 13 - 2000

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~