The senior Israeli statesman and Nobel laureate, Shimon Peres, will begin the last stage of his political career as president of the country he has served for more than six decades.

In his first victory in a national election, conducted by secret ballot among Israeli parliamentarians in the Knesset, Mr. Peres won in a second round after both his rivals stepped aside.

“I have been in the Knesset for 48 years and not for one moment have I lost faith or hope in Israel,” Mr. Peres said. “What Israel has achieved in 60 years, no other country has been able to achieve. I hope I can be representative of our faith not because there are no problems but because we all want to overcome them.”

The victory is particularly sweet for Mr. Peres, who will be 84 in August and who has acknowledged this seven-year term will almost certainly be his final contribution to Israeli politics.

Mr. Peres has served in virtually every major political role in Israeli politics, including prime minister, foreign minister, defense minister, and finance minister, yet he has never before won a national election in his own right.

Mr. Peres will assume the presidency from the disgraced Moshe Katsav, who defeated him seven years ago, and who has suspended himself from his duties following the allegations made earlier this year of sexual harassment and rape.

Israel’s attorney general has said there is enough evidence to indict Mr. Katsav, but as president, he has been immune from prosecution.