Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Minister Silvan Shalom met over the weekend to discuss Shalom�s bid for the presidency. Shalom has not yet officially announced his candidacy.

Shalom, a member of Likud, is likely receive the prime minister�s support should he decide to enter the race as Mr. Netanyahu is doing everything possible to block the election of Likud MK Reuven Rivlin. Despite the jetlag of returning from an official state visit to Japan and Shalom�s return from vacationing in Rome, the two met to evaluate Shalom�s chances in the presidential race.

Likud officials fear that if both Shalom and Rivlin run, the right-wing vote will be split and Labor candidate Binyamin Ben-Eliezer will reap the benefits of the lack of right-wing unity. Yisrael Beitenu party leader Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has announced if Shalom enters the race his party will support him.

According to pollsters, if there is a three-way race a second run-off vote is almost a sure bet. The election is set to take place in mid July.

The prime minister�s bill to eliminate the office of the president was torpedoed last week when Yesh Atid announced it would oppose the move.

(YWN � Israel Desk, Jerusalem)