“I wish to act for the benefit of the citizens of Israel. I'm a Zionist. … I want to nurture a generation of social individuals who see the needs of others.” These were the words spoken by Dan Shechtman, winner of the 2011 Nobel Prize in chemistry, when announcing his surprise decision to run for president of Israel.

Shechtman, who turns 73 on Jan. 24, announced his candidacy for the presidency on Israeli TV Channel 1's prime-time newsmagazine on the night of Jan. 17, and spoke enthusiastically of his desire to “change things for the better in this country … especially in the fields of education, enlightenment and technological entrepreneurship.”

He emphasized that if elected president, he would refrain as much as possible from dealing with diplomatic issues, so as not to be associated with any particular political agenda, and focus instead on domestic issues. He noted that he had made the decision following calls by his friends and many other fellow citizens, who told him they would like to see him in office as president.

In the interview, Shechtman gave the impression of an amiable professor, full of good intentions. He stirred up empathy, but at times, especially when trying to explain to journalist Ayala Hasson why he was the right man to step into the shoes of incumbent President Shimon Peres, he sounded like a contestant on a reality show. He recounted that he was in the habit of driving the same old car for years, replacing it for a new model only once every two decades, thus inspiring the feeling that he was a modest man — the antithesis of the image of the common Israeli politician as a flamboyant party functionary.