Inauguration of Rivlin: "in prayer, awe and humility"

Oath of office ceremony of incoming President Reuven Rivlin which took place last Thursday evening, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein said to Rivlin: "The entire nation expects the special voice reserved to the President - a voice of encouragement and mutual responsibility."

Arab Knesset members boycotted the ceremony in protest of the operation "Solid Rock." Shas Chairman MK Aryeh Deri said: the boycott by Arab MKs of the swearing-in ceremony of the President as protest of the operation, is unparalleled audacity and spitting in the face of the country. The entire State of Israel is behind the soldiers who sacrifice their lives for every citizen regardless of religion and nationality."

Edelstein also turned to the outgoing president and incoming president and said to President Shimon Peres: "From the moment of your election, you set aside the political commitment and became a man of the people, a man of all. You said the right words and the exact expression of feelings." To the president-elect Reuven Rivlin, Edelstein said: "If the Knesset is the house of debate and discussion, the President's house is a house of compromise and peace."

President Rivlin said in his speech: "We gather today in the Knesset with a clear message to our enemies, you could not outdo us nor will you be able to. We are not fighting the Palestinian people and we have no war with Islam - we are fighting the cruel and murderous terrorism. While we use missiles to protect civilians - they use civilians to protect missiles. Defeating terrorism is not only a just act, but a humane act. Only defeating terrorism will stop the killing of innocent people on both sides."

"With prayer, with awe and humility, I am approaching on your behalf and your commandment, to faithfully fulfill my role as the tenth president of the State of Israel," with these words the state president-elect Reuven (Ruvie) Rivlin, opened his pledge of allegiance in his speech before the Knesset.

To the outgoing State President, Mr. Shimon Peres, Reuven Rivlin said: "Seven years ago, you related that you did not dream of being President. You said that your dream as a boy was to be a shepherd or a poet of stars. Your dream, Mr. President, came true. You were to us a shepherd of hope and a poet of vision; I want to thank you for a lifetime, a generation of life in which you bore and will still bear the burden of this nation."

The outgoing President Shimon Peres said in his farewell speech to the Knesset plenum: "I leave my job without having to part with my faith. I will serve my country as a deep belief that Israel will be a model state."

President Peres referred to the decision of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations to establish a commission of inquiry and said, "Puzzling is the fact that the Council bears such an obligating name "Human Rights Council" decided to establish a committee to investigate who is right. Are they the killers or those who refuse to be murdered? If the right to stay alive is not the first right of human rights, what is the point of other rights if that does not exist? The terrorists are trying to endanger the freedom of air traffic too.

"One should not surrender to them. Governments should paralyze terror and not immobilize air traffic. In countries of law, the sky should be open and shooters should be detainees. And where there is a lack of law there is no judge."

In conclusion of his term, Peres said: "I leave my role as president but not my obligations as a citizen. I was a president who loves his people and now I am a citizen who is in love with his people. I will not give up my right to serve the people and country. I will act with a deep faith to continue contributing to its building. So that Israel will know security and know peace. Israel which will uphold social justice and would look up to fulfilling the vision of its prophet. Israel will remain a Jewish in its legacy and democratic in its ways."

Jewish Home faction chairman MK Ayelet Shaked joyfully greeted the new president Reuven Rivlin on his inauguration and entry into his role.

"The new President of Israel is the right man at the right time. The State of Israel stands behind the new president, a modest, pleasant, honest and highly motivated to benefit our country.

"I wish President Rivlin much success and hope that among all his holy work he will act with determination to represent Israel with dignity in the world and to return Jonathan Pollard home."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!