Isaac Herzog has been elected as the Zionist entity’s 11th President, caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday.

The 60-year-old Herzog won 87 out of 120 votes, comfortably passing the required 61 votes from Knesset members. He will replace the current President, Reuven Rivlin, after 10 July.

Herzog’s major rival was Miriam Peretz, a teacher and activist with little experience in politics.

Rivlin has served as the ionist entity’s president for seven years. The position is largely symbolic in the occupation regime, with all major decisions made by the prime minister.

Wednesday’s presidential vote came following tense negotiations between Israeli politicians from across the 120-member Knesset to form a new government to end Netanyahu’s 12 years in office.

Source: Sputnik