Right-winger Katsav sworn in as Israeli president

New Israeli President Moshe Katsav

In this story: Barak claims support of the people Peres looks to Israel's future RELATED STORIES, SITES

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Moshe Katsav, the unassuming opposition lawmaker who was a surprise winner over former Prime Minister Shimon Peres for the Israeli presidency, took the oath of office before the Israeli Knesset on Tuesday.

Katsav's second-round win over Peres, Prime Minister Ehud Barak's choice for the job and a former Nobel Peace Prize winner, shocked observers on Monday who believed Peres was a certain winner.

But after three parties abdicated their spots in Barak's government just before the summit, the prime minister was left with a minority coalition, and that made nothing truly certain for him in the Israeli legislature.

GRAPHIC Dividing Jerusalem for Peace     MESSAGE BOARD Middle East     PROFILE New Israeli President Katsav

The right-wing hard-liner Katsav received the full backing of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party -- one of Barak's former coalition partners -- after one of the party's spiritual leaders, Rabbi Yitzhak Kadouri, said he had a vision that Katsav was favored by the heavens.

As a result, Kadouri aides mounted a phone campaign, urging legislators of Shas and other factions to back Katsav.

The 55-year-old Katsav, an Iranian immigrant who grew up in a tent camp for immigrants and later became Israel's youngest elected mayor at 24, has served in the Knesset since 1977 and has held a number of posts throughout the years.

Katsav, who is married and has five children. has been deputy minister of housing and construction (1981-84), minister of labor and social affairs (1984-88), minister of transport (1988-92), and minister of tourism and deputy prime minister (1996-1999).

He also served as minister in charge of Israeli Arab affairs, and was chairman of the conservative Likud Party's Knesset faction between 1992 and 1996.

Barak claims support of the people

On Monday, the first round of balloting saw Katsav fall one vote short of the 61 he needed to win, with three lawmakers abstaining. In the second vote, all three cast their lots with Katsav, the Likud Party candidate.

Peres received 57 votes in both ballots.

Peres' loss to Katsav was a blow to Barak, particularly in the wake of the failure of Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to find common ground at the Camp David summit in the United States.

Likud leader Ariel Sharon said the vote was a message that the Knesset was not behind the prime minister's path to peace, but Barak insisted that -- regardless of any Knesset vote -- the Israeli people do support him.

Peres said Tuesday on Israeli Army radio that he was not bitter about the vote and was looking to the future, saying the next 90 days were critical for Israel.

"It is a sad and difficult morning, but when I woke up this morning I thought, 'What are we going to do in the next 90 days?'" he said. "I see this as the moment of truth for the country. The next 90 days will determine our destiny."

Peres looks to Israel's future

Peres praised Barak's efforts for peace.

"We must in the next three months try to complete the peace process with the Palestinians for two reasons: First, because the process is already in its last stage, not much has to be invested in order to complete it," he continued. "And second, if it fails it will be a terrible blow to Israel's future. I truly fear for the future of Israel."

Just a few hours after the presidential vote, Barak survived a vote of no-confidence with a surprisingly easy 50-50 tie. As with the presidential vote, 61 votes were required for approval of the measure to topple the government.

CNN Correspondent Jerrold Kessel contributed to this report.

Opposition candidate Moshe Katsav in upset win for Israeli president
July 31, 2000
Barak's survival hopes boosted on eve of crucial vote
July 30, 2000
Arafat rejects Clinton criticism, seeks European, Arab support
July 29, 2000
Israeli, Palestinian negotiators to meet, hope for agreement soon
July 27, 2000
Barak, Arafat arrive home; both vow to pursue Mideast peace
July 26, 2000
Camp David 'talks not a full failure,' Palestinian negotiator says
July 25, 2000
Clinton meets Arafat in push to resolve future of Jerusalem
July 24, 2000
Clinton returns home as Camp David negotiators 'make headway'
July 23, 2000
Barak in seclusion as Mideast talks await Clinton's return from Japan
July 22, 2000

Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Moshe Katsav page The Israeli Government's Official Website, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Knesset - The Israeli Parliament
Palestinian National Authority Home Page
U.N. Information System: Palestine
Near Eastern Affairs: Middle East Peace Process
Camp David Accords
U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.