Israeli Professor Eliezer Rabinovici of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem was elected as the 24th president of the European Organization for Nuclear Research. CERN has 23 member states and is the largest center for particle physics in the world.
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Rabinovici's areas of expertise range from string theory to quantum field theory. His elections followed a campaign run by the Foreign Ministry and the Israeli Embassy in Geneva.
CERN is an international organization based in Switzerland that focuses on particle research. It employs the world's top physicists and operates the $10 billion Large Hadron Collider, which creates high-energy collisions of subatomic particles.
Israel joined it in December 2013 as the only non-European nation. Until then, the Jewish state's role had been that of an observer.
Meet the new President of the @CERN Council Eliezer Rabinovici! Mazal Tov! ? ?? ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/sHAxhduTFB
— Israel in UN/Geneva?? (@IsraelinGeneva) September 24, 2021
Rabinovici, a professor at the Racah Institute of Physics of the Hebrew University, served as CERN vice president from 2014 to 2016, and was a member of its chief council for 16 years.
The Israeli scientist is slated to take office in January for a one-year term. CERN bylaws state that the president's term can be renewed twice. Past CERN council heads have served for three years, making it a likely three-year post for Rabinovici.
"Throughout my 16 years as a member of the CERN Council, I have time after time been captivated by the commitment, collaboration and knowledge of people who work together towards the same mission," Rabinovici told local media.
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"I am honored that the council chose me as their next President, and thankful that I get the opportunity to serve CERN's scientific community, Member States and Associate Member States."
President Isaac Herzog congratulated Rabinovici on his election, saying, "This is an incredible personal achievement for you, a breakthrough for Israeli science, and a great honor for the State of Israel."
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
