Mazal Tov, Mr. President: Peres Congratulates Rivlin

President Shimon Peres congratulated President-elect Reuven 'Rubi' Rivlin.

"Rubi, Your Excellency the next President of the State of Israel, you are right for this role. It is a position that brings with it responsibility, you have to consider your every word and every action, but you will do it successfully because you are, to your core, a good person. There is a handover period and I am at your disposal from this moment onwards with whatever you need. My team and I will do everything we can to ensure the handover is conducted is honorably and professionally and we do it gladly."

President Peres continued and said, "I am at the end of my seven-year term as President and it is an incredible privilege to serve to our people. As President your role is to serve, not to rule and in my eyes there is no greater honor than to faithfully serve your nation and your people. You have all the qualities to do just that. I wish you luck and I am confident that you will succeed in your future, which is also the future of the State of Israel."

President-elect Rivlin thanked President Peres and said, "I thank you on behalf of myself and my wife. I am stepping into big shoes, it won't be easy to be the 10th President after your presidency in which you done a lot of good for humanity, thank you Shimon."