Benjamin Netanyahu easily wins election as the…

Benjamin Netanyahu easily wins election as the leader of the Likud party in March 1993, succeeding Yitzhak Shamir in this post.

Retired air force general Ezer Weizman, in 1984, had founded a political party, Yahad, which ran on a dovish platform in the elections to the Eleventh Knesset, gaining three seats.

In the national unity government formed after these elections, Weizman served as Minister without Portfolio and as a member of the inner cabinet.

In 1985, he was appointed Coordinator of Arab Affairs, a position that enabled him to promote his long-time interest in assisting Israel's Arab sector.

In the 1988 elections, he ran Labor's campaign and subsequently became Minister of Science and Development in the new national unity government, serving in this position until March 1990.

In February 1992, Weizman resigned from the Knesset over what he regarded as lack of progress in the Arab-Israeli peace process.

Weizman is elected Israel's seventh President by the Knesset (Israel's parliament) for a five-year term (commencing 13 May 1993).