President Rivlin gets emotional as he votes in elections without his wife

His voice cracking and tears welling up in his eyes, Rivlin said that "for the last 50 years I’ve voted here with my wife."

By ILANIT CHERNICK
President Reuven Rivlin votes in Jerusalem (photo credit: ESTY DZIUBOV/TPS)
President Reuven Rivlin votes in Jerusalem
(photo credit: ESTY DZIUBOV/TPS)
Israel's President Reuven Rivlin became emotional while voting in Jerusalem on Tuesday morning.
Rivlin arrived at the voting station without his wife by his side, as she remains hospitalized following a serious health scare last week after undergoing a lung transplant last month. Until now, the couple has always voted together in Jerusalem.
His voice cracking and tears welling up in his eyes, Rivlin said that, "for the last 50 years, I’ve voted here with my wife."
"I’m optimistic and full of hope that next time we’ll vote here in our regular place," he said.
Rivlin also called on all Israelis to vote in Tuesday's elections. 
“Neither the president, the party leaders or the prime minister will decide the next government," he told Israeli voters. "The only people who decide who will be the next government and prime minister are you. For that to happen, you have to make an important decision about the future of the State of Israel. We have to go and vote, even if it is sometimes difficult. Sometimes we worry about what to do with the children when we go and vote. Don’t worry – take them with you so they can see democracy in action. Go and vote! The vote of every citizen is critical to Israeli society.”