Israeli President Shimon Peres. Photo: World Economic Forum.

JNS.org – With Israel’s upcoming presidential election poised to have the highest-ever number of candidates, a survey conducted for Israel Hayom by the New Wave Research Institute found that 72 percent of Jewish Israelis favor holding a direct public vote for president over the current election system.

Just 20 percent of respondents said they would prefer to retain the current system, in which Members of Knesset elect the president. Asked whether Israel should abolish the office of the president—a mostly ceremonial role—63.8 percent said no and 26.5 percent said yes. Asked if they would like to see President Shimon Peres’s term in office extended, 53.6 percent said yes and 35.7 percent said no.