Yitzhak Navon And Yitzhak Shamir Editorial Photo

Yitzhak Navon shares a laugh with incoming prime minister Yitzhak Shamir (right) at a ceremony in Beit Hanassi, the president's official Jerusalem residence on October 20, 1986. Navon was an Israeli politician, diplomat, author, and an authority on Arab literature and culture. He was the fifth president of Israel (1978-1983) and the first Sephardi to hold that position. Navon was a liberal and member of the Alignment and Labor Parties. He was a Member of the Knesset and served as Minister of Education and Culture. Navon died at 94 on Nov. 7, 2015.