Israel's President Rivlin hinted Thursday in a Knesset Channel interview that he favors limiting public figures' tenure. He said that "The Knesset was right to limit the president's tenure to seven years," and refused to comment further.
He also referred to Israeli democracy and said, "I ask the members of the Knesset to be very strict about maintaining the principles of democracy. I see myself as a former politician and in that capacity, I say to other politicians - hold back. One cannot tell the High Court what to adjudicate. They must judge and then the legislature must act accordingly." This statement is in accordance with the controversial principle that "everything is judiciable" set down by former Chief Justice Aharon Barak, which gave the courts extended power over the legislature since Israel has no constitution and in addition, one does not have to have direct interest in a suit to file it, so that leftist organizations sue on land ownership issues without being owners of the property.
The President also addressed the continued hospitalization of his predecessor Shimon Peres after a stroke, wishing Peres a full recovery and long life. "If it was up to him, I'm sure he would fully recover just so he could tell people how much fun it was to hear the eulogies about him. It perhaps isn't up to him. Still, I think that you in the media may have rushed to say all the things that may need to be said at some time in the future, but not anytime soon."