Peres Says He is Stepping Down in July – No Matter What

President Shimon Peres categorically rejected on Wednesday any suggestion, as reported here,  that he would agree to extend his five-year term of office if Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu were to ask him to do so.

The Prime Minister reportedly wants Peres to serve an extra year in order to give the Knesset time to enact a new law that would take the power away from the Knesset to elect him and instead put the ballot into the hands of public at large with a separate election.

Peres already have made plans for his “retirement.” Although he has broken all bounds of tradition by often acting more like a prime minister instead of president, once he is unburdened by the ceremonial demands of the presidency, he will be able to promote and market his visions, and illusions, of peace at will.