Israeli presidential election, 1952

An election to choose the second President of Israel was held in the Knesset on 8 December 1952 following the death of the Israel's first president, Chaim Weizmann on 9 November. Between Weizmann's death and the winner of the election, Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, taking office on 16 December, Knesset speaker Yosef Sprinzak served as acting president.

Candidates

There were four candidates:

• Yitzhak Ben-Zvi: One of the founders of Mapai (the ruling party, for whom he was a member of the Knesset) and the Histadrut (the country's largest trade union), a former president of the Vaad Leumi, signatory of the Israel declaration of independence and a personal friend of Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion.
• Peretz Bernstein: A member of the Knesset for the General Zionists and also a signatory of the country's declaration of independence.
• Yitzhak Gruenbaum: A signatory of the Israeli declaration of independence, a minister in the provisional government, and though an adherent of Mapam, not a member of any political party.
• Mordechai Nurock: A member of the Knesset for Mizrachi and Minister of Postal Services in the government at the time.

Before the election, Albert Einstein was spoken to by Abba Eban about the possibility of becoming President. He declined, explaining, "I have neither the natural ability nor the experience to deal with human beings."^[1]

Results

Three rounds of voting were required after no candidate gained an outright majority. Peretz Bernstein dropped out after the second round, with Yitzhak Ben-Zvi elected in the third round.

Candidate	Affiliation	Votes
		First round	Second round	Third round
Yitzhak Ben-Zvi	Mapai	48	48	62
Mordechai Nurock	Mizrachi	15	15	40
Yitzhak Gruenbaum	Independent	17	18	5
Peretz Bernstein	General Zionists	18	18
Blank ballots		12	12	5
Total		110	111	112

References

1. Israel: Einstein declines Time, 1 December 1952

External links

• Presidential elections Knesset website