THE son of a Belfast man who was elected President of Israel has followed in the footsteps of his father after being elected to the post today.
Isaac Herzog's father Chaim was born in Belfast in 1918 and was Israeli president in 1983.
He died in 1997, but was regarded as the most well-known Jewish person to come from Northern Ireland and served as president until 1993.
An Ulster History Circle blue plaque, which had been erected at the former Herzog home on Cliftonpark Avenue in north Belfast, was removed in 2014 following repeated attacks.
Now Mr Herzog's son Issac has followed in his footsteps to become president.
The 60-year-old is a former head of Israel's Labour Party and opposition leader who unsuccessfully ran against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the 2015 parliamentary elections.
He served as head of the Jewish Agency, a non-profit organisation that works closely with the government to promote immigration to Israel, for the past three years since resigning from parliament.
He will hold office for a single seven-year term starting on July 9.
North Antrim MP Ian Paisley said he hoped Mr Herzog would re-visit Nothern Ireland soon after a previous trip in 2018.
"I wish to congratulate my friend and grandson of Belfast, Isaac Herzog on his election to the Presidency of Israel," he said.
"Isaac has a great pedigree. His father was a Belfast boy who helped form the state of Israel and became its president now bears witness to the second generation succeed to that post.
"I ...wish him well as he handles a most difficult situation in Israel (and) I look forward to seeing him again in Belfast soon and welcoming him here."
