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In an unexpected move yesterday, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed former Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin to succeed Shimon Peres as Israel’s next president. Netanyahu’s backing is likely to strengthen Rivlin’s campaign, making him favourite in the 10 June poll.

The new president will be chosen by a secret ballot of the 120 Knesset members. The candidates were finalised earlier this week, with a record six contenders having secured the necessary endorsement of 10 Knesset members; Former Knesset Speaker and Likud MK Reuven Rivlin, Labour’s Binyamin Ben Eliezer, a former Defence Minister and Hatnuah’s former Finance Minister Meir Sheetrit were joined by Dalia Itzik, who is not a current MK but had previously represented both Labour and Kadima, former Supreme Court Judge Dalia Dorner and Nobel Prize laureate Dan Shechtman.

Although Rivlin was already considered a front-runner, it had been well-reported that Netanyahu holds deep antipathy towards Rivlin and was searching hard for a candidate to rival his fellow Likud MK. With no apparent alternative, Netanyahu was expected not to publicly endorse any candidate rather than back Rivlin, who is a popular Likud figure. However, perhaps wary of a potential backlash within the party, Netanyahu yesterday told Rivlin, “As the prime minister and the Likud chairman, I am expressing my support for your candidacy,” noting that, “We have been through a lot together in our lifetimes … Some days were good, and some not so good, but I hope we will know better days.”

Rivlin has also been publicly backed by Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett. However, it is unclear whether Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Leiberman will urge his faction to support Rivlin in the wake of Netanyahu’s endorsement. It has also been suggested that some ultra-Orthodox MKs who oppose the current government may be less inclined to support Rivlin following Netanyahu’s announcement. Nonetheless, at this stage Rivlin is considered the favourite to win the vote, with either Ben Eliezer or Itzik most likely to contest the final round of voting against him.