11/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - Martin Schulz congratulates new president of Israel. On 10 June, President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz congratulated the new president-elect of Israel, Reuven Rivlin. “I am looking forward to deepening cooperation between the European Parliament and Israel”, he added. Rivlin, who is a member of Likoud (right-wing nationalistic party) and former president of the Knesset from 2003 to 2006, and again from 2009 until 2013, was voted in on 10 June by the members of the Knesset by 63 votes, against 53 for the MP Meir Sheetrit. Rivlin is a proponent of settlements and opposes the creation of a Palestinian state. He will officially replace Shimon Peres on 24 July, becoming the 10th president of the Hebrew state. (CG)