Shimon Peres שמעון פרס
9th President of Israel
Incumbent
Assumed office  July 15, 2007
Preceded by	Moshe Katsav
8th Prime Minister of Israel
In office 4 November 1995 – 18 June 1996
Preceded by	Yitzhak Rabin
Succeeded by	Benjamin Netanyahu
In office 14 September 1984 – 20 October 1986
Preceded by	Yitzhak Shamir
Succeeded by	Yitzhak Shamir
Born	August 2, 1923 (1923-08-02) (age 83) Wiśniewo, Poland
Nationality	Israeli
Political party	Kadima (formerly Labor)
Spouse	Sonya Peres
Religion	Judaism
In 1977, his term as Prime Minister was unofficial.

Shimon Peres (help· info) (Hebrew: שמעון פרס‎, Russian: Семён Перский, born Szymon Perski on August 2, 1923 in eastern Poland) is the 9th President of the State of Israel. He is a senior Israeli statesman with a political career spanning more than 65 years. He joined the Knesset in November 1959 and, except for a three-month-long hiatus in early 2006, served continuously until June 13, 2007, the day he was elected President of Israel. Shortcut: WP:-( Vandalism is indisputable bad-faith addition, deletion, or change to content, made in a deliberate attempt to compromise the integrity of the encyclopedia. ... Shortcut: WP:-( Vandalism is indisputable bad-faith addition, deletion, or change to content, made in a deliberate attempt to compromise the integrity of the encyclopedia. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 528 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (856 × 972 pixel, file size: 175 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This file has been extracted from another image: Image:Ivry Peres Rumsfeld 1. ... The President of the State of Israel (‎, Nesi HaMedina, lit. ... The incumbent, in politics, is the current holder of a political office. ... is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Moshe Katsav (Hebrew: , originally Mussa Ghassäb Persian: ; born December 5, 1945) is the eighth and current President of Israel (since 2000). ... The Prime Minister of Israel (Hebrew: ראש הממשלה, Rosh HaMemshala, lit. ... is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 169th day of the year (170th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... For other persons named Rabin, see Rabin (disambiguation). ...   (Hebrew: בִּנְיָמִין נְתַנְיָהוּ (without niqqud: בנימין נתניהו), Hebrew transliteration written in English: Binyamin Netanyahu, nicknamed Bibi) (born October 21, 1949, Tel Aviv) was the 9th Prime Minister of Israel and is a leading figure in the Likud party. ... September 14 is the 257th day of the year (258th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar). ... October 20 is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ...   (Hebrew יִצְחָק שָׁמִיר) (born October 15, 1915) was Prime Minister of Israel from 1983 to 1984 and again from 1986 to 1992. ...   (Hebrew יִצְחָק שָׁמִיר) (born October 15, 1915) was Prime Minister of Israel from 1983 to 1984 and again from 1986 to 1992. ... August 2 is the 214th day of the year (215th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kadima (Hebrew: קדימה, QādÄ«māh, forward) is an Israeli political party. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Image File history File links He-Shimon_Peres. ... “Hebrew” redirects here. ... August 2 is the 214th day of the year (215th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The President of the State of Israel (‎, Nesi HaMedina, lit. ... The modern Knesset building, Israels parliament, in Jerusalem Though similar-sounding, Beit Knesset (בית כנסת) literally means House of Assembly, and refers to a synagogue. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The President of the State of Israel (‎, Nesi HaMedina, lit. ...

Shimon Peres was Prime Minister of Israel three times (once as acting prime minister) and served in 12 Israeli cabinets. He has been Finance Minister, Foreign Minister, and Defence Minister. In the current Olmert government, he was Vice Premier of Israel and Minister for the Development of the Negev, Galilee and Regional Economy. The Prime Minister of Israel (Hebrew: ראש הממשלה, Rosh HaMemshala, lit. ... Finance Ministers of Israel, 1948-present Eliezer Kaplan 1948-1952 Levi Eshkol 1952-1963 Pinhas Sapir 1963-1968 Zeev Sharef 1968-1969 Pinhas Sapir 1969-1974 Yehoshua Rabinowitz 1974-1977 Simcha Ehrlich 1977-1979 Yigal Hurwitz 1979-1981 Yoram Aridor 1981-1983 Yigal Cohen-Orgad 1983-1984 Yitzhak Moda... Foreign Affair Ministers of Israel, 1948-present Moshe Sharett 1948-1956 Golda Meir 1956-1966 Abba Eban 1966-1974 Yigal Allon 1974-1977 Moshe Dayan 1977-1979 Menachem Begin 1979-1980 Yitzhak Shamir 1980-1986 Shimon Peres 1986-1988 Moshe Arens 1988-1990 David Levy 1990-1992 Shimon Peres 1992... The Ministry of Defense (or Ministry of Defence) of the government of Israel, is the governmental department responsible for defending the State of Israel from internal and external military threats. ... Ehud Olmert (IPA ; Hebrew:אהוד אולמרט; born September 30, 1945) is the 12th and current Prime Minister of Israel. ... In the State of Israel, there are currently three positions of deputy executive leaders: Vice Premier, Vice Prime Minister, and Deputy Prime Minister. ... Rock face in the Negev Desert near Beersheba on the way to Eilat. ... Galilee (Arabic al-jaleel الجليل, Hebrew hagalil הגליל), meaning circuit, is a large area overlapping with much of the North District of Israel. ...

In 1994, Shimon Peres won the Nobel Peace Prize together with Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat for the peace talks that produced the Oslo Accords. Peres participated in these talks as the Israeli Foreign Minister, under Prime Minister Rabin. During his career, he has represented five parties in the Knesset (Mapai, Rafi, the Alignment, Labour and Kadima), and has led two of them (the Alignment and Labour). Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar). ... Lester B. Pearson after accepting the Nobel Peace Prize Image:Nobel-medal. ... For other persons named Rabin, see Rabin (disambiguation). ... Not to be confused with Yasir Arafat (cricketer). ... Yitzhak Rabin, Bill Clinton, and Yasser Arafat during the Oslo Accords on September 13, 1993. ... Labour (העבודה HaAvoda) is an Israeli political party. ... Rafi (Hebrew: רפי) was a left-wing political party in Israel, founded by former Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, and is one of the ancestors of the modern-day Labor Party. ... The Alignment (Hebrew: המערך, HaMaarakh), originally called the Labour Alignment (Hebrew: המערך העבודה, HaMaarakh HaAvoda) was the dominant left-wing political party in Israel from its founding in 1965 until its transformation into the Labour Party in 1992. ... Labour or Labor, (Hebrew: העבודה, HaAvoda) is a political party in Israel. ... Kadima (Hebrew: קדימה, QādÄ«māh, forward) is an Israeli political party. ...

In 2007, Peres was nominated by Kadima to run in that year's presidential election. He was elected by the Knesset for the presidency on June 13, 2007^[1] and was sworn into office on July 15, 2007^[2] for a seven-year term. Kadima (Hebrew: קדימה, Qādīmāh, forward) is an Israeli political party. ... Shimon Peres, a former Prime Minister and a member of the Kadima party, was elected by the Knesset as the next President of Israel on 13 June 2007. ... The modern Knesset building, Israels parliament, in Jerusalem Though similar-sounding, Beit Knesset (בית כנסת) literally means House of Assembly, and refers to a synagogue. ... is the 164th day of the year (165th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

Biography

Early life

Shimon Peres was born in Wiśniewo, Poland (now Višnieva, Belarus), to Yitzchak (1896-1962) and Sarah (b. 1905 nee Meltzer) Persky. Peres was raised speaking Hebrew, Yiddish and Russian.^[3] His father was a lumber merchant, and his mother taught Russian language and literature. He has a younger brother, Gershon. “Hebrew” redirects here. ... Yiddish (Yid. ...

Interviewed by Mishpacha, an Israeli magazine, Peres said his grandfather, Rabbi Tzvi Meltzer, studied at the Volozhin yeshiva and was a grandson of Rabbi Chaim Volozhin. This grandfather had a great impact on his life. "I grew up in my grandfather's home," Peres said. "He looked after my education. He taught me Talmud. It wasn't as easy as it sounds. I didn't come from an observant home. My parents were not Orthodox. But I was very religious. Once I found my parents listening to the radio on the Sabbath so I smashed it. But to my father's credit, let it be said, I received a blessing from the Chofetz Chaim in Radin when I was a child. My father took me to see him."^{[citation needed]} The Volozhin Yeshiva, also known as the Eitz Chaim yeshiva, was a yeshiva situated in Volozhin, present-day Belarus in the 19th century. ... Chaim Volozhin (or Chaim Volozhiner or Chaim of Volozhin) (1749-1821) was an Orthodox Jewish rabbi, Talmudist, and ethicist. ... The first page of the Vilna Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, folio 2a. ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... A popular image of the Chofetz Chaim. ...

In 1934, Peres moved with his family to Palestine. He attended the Geula School in Tel Aviv and the Ben Shemen agricultural school. He lived on Kibbutz Geva for several years, and was one of the founders of Kibbutz Alumot. In 1941 he was elected Secretary of Hanoar Haoved Vehalomed, a Labor Zionist youth movement. In 1944, he returned to Kibbutz Alumot, where he worked as a dairy farmer, shepherd and kibbutz secretary. Ben Shemen (בן שמן) is a moshav in Israel approximately 4 km east of Lod. ... Kibbutz Geva Kibbutz Geva 1921 founded: 1921 location: Yizrael Valley population: ~600 See hope page of Kibbutz Geva ...

In 1947, he joined the Haganah (predecessor of the Israeli Defense Forces). David Ben-Gurion made him responsible for personnel and arms purchases. In 1952, he was appointed Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Defense, and in 1953, at the age of 29, he became the youngest ever Director General of the Ministry of Defense. He was involved in arms purchase and establishing strategic alliances that were of great importance for the young state of Israel. Thanks to Peres' mediation, Israel acquired the advanced Dassault Mirage III French jet fighter, established the Dimona nuclear reactor and entered into a tri-national agreement with France and the United Kingdom during the 1956 Suez Crisis. Haganah Poster (1940s) The Haganah (Hebrew: The Defense, ×”×”×’× ×”) was a Jewish paramilitary organization in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948. ... The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Hebrew: צבא ההגנה לישראל Tsva Ha-Haganah Le-Yisrael ([Army] Force [for] the Defense of Israel), often abbreviated צהל Tsahal, alternative English spelling Tzahal, is the name of Israels armed forces...   (October 16, 1886 – December 1, 1973; Hebrew: ) was the first Prime Minister of Israel. ... The Dassault Mirage III is a supersonic fighter aircraft designed in France by Dassault Aviation during the 1950s, and manufactured both in France and a number of other countries. ... Institute 2, Israel Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC), Dimona, photographed by Mordechai Vanunu The Negev Nuclear Research Center is an Israeli nuclear installation located in the Negev desert, near the city of Dimona, at . ... Combatants Israel United Kingdom France Egypt Commanders Moshe Dayan Charles Keightley Pierre Barjot Gamal Abdel Nasser Abdel Hakim Amer Strength 175,000 Israeli 45,000 British 34,000 French 70,000 Casualties 197 Israeli KIA 56 British KIA 91 British WIA 10 French KIA 43 French WIA 650 KIA 2...

Family life

In 1945, Shimon Peres married Sonya (née Gelman), who has preferred to remain outside the public eye. They have three children: a daughter, Tzvia (Tziki) Walden-Peres, a linguist; and two sons, Yoni (born 1952), director of Village Veterinary Center, a veterinary hospital on the campus of Kfar Hayarok Agricultural School near Tel Aviv, and Chemi, chairman of Pitango Venture Capital, one of Israel’s largest venture capital funds. Peres has 8 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Sonya Peres was unable to attend the inauguration ceremony due to ill health. ^[4]

Peres is a first cousin of actress Lauren Bacall (born Betty Joan Perski).^[5] This biographical article needs additional references for verification. ...

Political milestones in the 1950s and 1960s

Shimon Peres talks to Donald Rumsfeld. Israeli Ambassador to the USA David Ivry (center) joined them in the talks.

Peres was first elected to the Knesset in the 1959 elections, as a member of the Mapai party. He was given the role of Deputy Defense Minister, which he fulfiled until 1965 when he was implicated in the Lavon affair with Moshe Dayan. Peres and Dayan left Mapai with David Ben-Gurion to form a new party, Rafi which reconciled with Mapai and joined the Alignment (a left-wing alliance) in 1968. Download high resolution version (1050x707, 197 KB)Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres (right) talks to Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld (back to camera) at the beginning of a working dinner at the Pentagon on May 3, 2001. ... Download high resolution version (1050x707, 197 KB)Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres (right) talks to Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld (back to camera) at the beginning of a working dinner at the Pentagon on May 3, 2001. ... Donald Henry Rumsfeld (born July 9, 1932) is a U.S. politician and businessman, who was the 13th Secretary of Defense under President Gerald Ford from 1975–1977, and the 21st Secretary of Defense under President George W. Bush from 2001–2006. ... Israeli Ambassador to the USA. ... The modern Knesset building, Israels parliament, in Jerusalem Though similar-sounding, Beit Knesset (בית כנסת) literally means House of Assembly, and refers to a synagogue. ... The Elections for the fourth Knesset were held on 3 November, 1959. ... Labour (העבודה HaAvoda) is an Israeli political party. ... The Lavon Affair refers to the scandal over a failed Israeli covert operation in Egypt known as Operation Suzannah, in which Egyptian, American and British-owned targets in Egypt were bombed in the summer of 1954. ... Moshe Dayan (Hebrew: משה דיין; May 20, 1915–October 16, 1981) was an Israeli military leader and politician. ...   (October 16, 1886 – December 1, 1973; Hebrew: ) was the first Prime Minister of Israel. ... Rafi (Hebrew: רפי) was a left-wing political party in Israel, founded by former Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, and is one of the ancestors of the modern-day Labor Party. ... The Alignment (Hebrew: המערך, HaMaarakh), originally called the Labour Alignment (Hebrew: המערך העבודה, HaMaarakh HaAvoda) was the dominant left-wing political party in Israel from its founding in 1965 until its transformation into the Labour Party in 1992. ...

However, even his fellow party members were not overly fond of Peres. Moshe Sharett, late Israeli Prime Minister, wrote in his Personal Diary (1957): "I have stated that I totally and utterly reject [Shimon] Peres and consider his rise to prominence a malignant, immoral disgrace. I will rend my clothes in mourning for the State if I see him become a minister in the Israeli government."

Political milestones in the 1970s

In Government

In 1969, Peres was appointed Minister of Absorption and in 1970 he became the Minister of Transportation and Communications. In 1974, after a period as Information Minister, he was appointed Minister of Defense in the Yitzhak Rabin government having been Rabin's chief rival for the post of Prime Minister after Golda Meir resigned in the aftermath of the Yom Kippur War. During this time, Peres continued to challenge Rabin for the chairmanship of the party, but in 1977, he again lost to Rabin in the party elections. For other persons named Rabin, see Rabin (disambiguation). ... Golda Meir (May 3, 1898 – December 8, 1978), born Golda Mabovitz, also known as Golda Myerson, was one of the founders of the State of Israel. ... Combatants  Israel  Egypt,  Syria,  Jordan  Iraq Commanders Moshe Dayan, David Elazar, Ariel Sharon, Shmuel Gonen, Benjamin Peled, Israel Tal, Rehavam Zeevi, Aharon Yariv, Yitzhak Hofi, Rafael Eitan, Abraham Adan, Yanush Ben Gal Saad El Shazly, Ahmad Ismail Ali, Hosni Mubarak, Mohammed Aly Fahmy, Anwar Sadat, Abdel Ghani el-Gammasy, Abdul...

First time acting as Prime Minister

Peres succeeded Rabin as party leader prior to the 1977 elections when Rabin stepped down in the wake of a foreign currency scandal involving his wife. As Rabin could not legally resign from the transition government, he officially remained Prime Minister, while Peres became the unofficial acting Prime Minister. Peres led the Alignment to its first ever electoral defeat, when the Likud Party under Menachem Begin won sufficient seats to form a coalition that excluded the left. After only a month on top, Peres assumed the role of opposition leader. The Elections for the ninth Knesset were held on 17 May, 1977. ... Likud party logo Likud or ליכוד literally means consolidation. ...   (August 16, 1913 – March 9, 1992) (Hebrew: מְנַחֵם בְּגִין) was a Polish-Jewish head of the Zionist underground group the Irgun, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and the first Likud Prime Minister of Israel. ...

Political milestones in the 1980s

In the Opposition

After turning back a comeback bid by Rabin in 1980 Peres led his party to another, narrower, loss in the 1981 elections.

Prime Minister for the first time

In 1984, the Alliance won more seats than any other party but failed to muster a majority of 61 mandates to form a leftist coalition. Therefore, the two parties agreed on an unusual "rotation" arrangement in which Peres would serve as Prime Minister and the Likud leader Yitzhak Shamir would be Foreign Minister.   (Hebrew יִצְחָק שָׁמִיר) (born October 15, 1915) was Prime Minister of Israel from 1983 to 1984 and again from 1986 to 1992. ...

A highlight of this time in office was a trip to Morocco to confer with King Hassan. King Hassan, pictured late in life. ...

In rotation with Shamir

After two years, Peres and Shamir traded places. In 1986 he became foreign minister. In 1988, the Labor party led by Peres suffered another narrow defeat. He agreed to renew the coalition with the Likud, this time conceding the premiership to Shamir for the entire term. In the National Unity government formed in 1988-1990, Peres served as Vice Premier and Minister of Finance. He and the Alignment finally left the government in 1990, after a failed bid to form a narrow government based on a coalition of Labor, small leftist factions and Haredi parties. National Unity Governments are coalition governments made up of all or most parties in a parliament. ... The finance minister is a cabinet position in a government. ... Haredi Judaism, also called ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative form of Judaism. ...

Political milestones in the 1990s

Leader of the Opposition

From 1990, Peres led the opposition in the Knesset, until, in early 1992, he was defeated in the first primary elections of the new Israeli Labor Party (which had been formed by the consolidation of the Alignment into a single unitary party) by Yitzhak Rabin, whom he had replaced fifteen years earlier. The Israeli Labor Party (Hebrew: , Mifleget HaAvoda HaYisraelit), generally known in Israel as Avoda (Hebrew: ) is a center-left political party in Israel. ...

Foreign Minister and the Oslo Accords

Peres remained active in politics, however, serving as Rabin's foreign minister from 1992 and without Rabin's knowledge, began illegal secret negotiations with Yassir Arafat's PLO organization. When Rabin found out, he let them continue. The negotiations led to the Oslo Accords, which would win Peres, Rabin and Arafat the Nobel Peace Prize. Yasser Arafat Yasser Arafat (August 4 or August 24, 1929 – November 11, 2004), born Muhammad `Abd ar-Rauf al-Qudwa al-Husayni (Arabic محمد عبد الرؤوف القدوة الحسي&#1606... The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (Arabic Munazzamat al-Tahrir Filastiniyyah منظمة تحرير فلسطينية ) is a political and paramilitary organization of Palestinian Arabs dedicated to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state to consist of the... Yitzhak Rabin, Bill Clinton, and Yasser Arafat during the Oslo Accords on September 13, 1993. ... Lester B. Pearson after accepting the Nobel Peace Prize Image:Nobel-medal. ...

Prime Minister for the second time

After Rabin's assassination in 1995, Peres again became Prime Minister. During his term, Peres promoted the use of the Internet in Israel and created the first Web site for an Israeli prime minister. Peres was narrowly defeated by Benjamin Netanyahu in the first direct elections for Prime Minister in Israel's history in 1996.   (Hebrew: בִּנְיָמִין נְתַנְיָהוּ (without niqqud: בנימין נתניהו), Hebrew transliteration written in English: Binyamin Netanyahu, nicknamed Bibi) (born October 21, 1949, Tel Aviv) was the 9th Prime Minister of Israel and is a leading figure in the Likud party. ...

With Barak

In 1997 he did not seek re-election as Labor Party leader and was replaced by Ehud Barak. Barak rebuffed Peres's attempt to secure the position of Party President and upon forming a government in 1999 appointed Peres to the minor post of minister for regional development. Peres played little role in the Barak government. Ehud Barak (Hebrew: אֵהוּד בָּרָק) (born Ehud Brog on February 12, 1942) is an Israeli politician, former Prime Minster, and current Minister of Defense and leader of Israels Labor Party. ...

Political milestones in the 2000s

With Sharon and Olmert

In 2000 Peres ran for a seven-year term as Israel's President, in a ceremonial head of state position, had he won, as was expected, he would have been the first ex-Prime Minister to be elected President. He lost however, to Likud candidate Moshe Katsav. The President of the State of Israel (‎, Nesi HaMedina, lit. ... Moshe Katsav (Hebrew: , originally Mussa Ghassäb Persian: ; born December 5, 1945) is the eighth and current President of Israel (since 2000). ...

Following Ehud Barak's defeat by Ariel Sharon in the 2001 direct election for Prime Minister, Peres made yet another comeback. He led Labor into a national unity government with Sharon's Likud Party and secured the post of foreign minister. The formal leadership of the party passed to Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, and in 2002 to Haifa Mayor Gen. Amram Mitzna. Peres was much criticized on the left for clinging to his position as foreign minister in a government that was not seen as advancing the peace process, despite his own dovish stance. He left office only when Labor resigned in advance of the 2003 elections. After the party under the leadership of Mitzna suffered a crushing defeat, Peres again emerged as interim leader. He led the party into coalition with Sharon once more at the end of 2004 when the latter's support of "disengagement" from Gaza presented a diplomatic program Labor could support.   (Hebrew: , also known by his diminutive Arik אָרִיק) (born February 27, 1928) is a former Israeli politician and general. ... Brigadier-General (Res. ... Amram Mitzna is an Israeli politician who served as the mayor of Haifa from 1993 to 2003. ...

Shimon Peres with Donald Rumsfeld

In Winter 2004-05 the Labor Party decided to hold elections to determine who will lead the party in the upcoming 2006 general elections. As party leader, Peres was in favor of holding the ballot at the latest possible date, and claimed that an early decision would jeopardize both the September 2005 Gaza Withdrawal, and the party's status in the National Unity Government with Sharon. However, the tide was in favor of an earlier date, as younger party figures such as Ophir Pines-Paz and Isaac Herzog took a decisive lead over more established leaders Benjamin Ben-Eliezer and Haim Ramon in the ballot to determine ministries in that government. The original date of June 26 proved abortive when massive member registration fraud was discovered only weeks before the date. This caused a delay aided by internal and civil investigations to November 9, 2005. Download high resolution version (1100x730, 213 KB)Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld (left) and Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres share some private thoughts before sitting down to formal discussions in the Pentagon on October 22, 2001. ... Download high resolution version (1100x730, 213 KB)Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld (left) and Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres share some private thoughts before sitting down to formal discussions in the Pentagon on October 22, 2001. ... Ophir Pines-Paz (Hebrew: , born 11 July 1961) is an Israeli politician and former Interior Minister. ... Isaac (Buzi) Herzog (Hebrew: יצחק הרצוג, born 22 September 1960) is an Israeli politician and lawyer. ... Brigadier-General (Res. ... Haim Ramon (born 10 April 1950) is an Israeli Labour politician. ...

Irrespective of before or after the delay, Peres continually led in the polls, defying predictions that rivals would overtake him. His bitter exchanges with opponents began when former Prime Minister Barak began backing the holding of primaries early that year, as Amir Peretz and Haim Ramon, two staunch anti-Barak Knesset members vowed to support Peres at any cost to defeat Barak. In a bizarre change of events, Peretz soon declared his own candidacy, a move viewed by Peres as the greatest betrayal. Amir Peretz (Hebrew: עמיר פרץ; born March 9, 1952) is an Israeli politician and Defense Minister of Israel. ...

Though Peres continued to trade nasty barbs with Barak in the newspapers, his feud with Peretz soon superseded that, especially when Barak pulled out of the race in early October. One of Peretz's main charges against Peres was that he neglected socio-economic affairs as a member of the Sharon government, and did not fulfill his statement that Labor had joined the coalition with only the intent of seeing through the Gaza Withdrawal. Peres lost the leadership election with 40% to Peretz's 42.4%.^[6]

Joining Kadima

On November 30, 2005 Peres announced that he was leaving the Labor Party to support Ariel Sharon and his new Kadima party. In the immediate aftermath of Sharon's debilitating stroke there was speculation that Peres might take over as leader of Kadima. Most senior Kadima leaders, however, were former members of Likud and indicated their support for Ehud Olmert as Sharon's successor.^[7] November 30 is the 334th day of the year (335th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kadima (Hebrew: קדימה, Qādīmāh, forward) is an Israeli political party. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Ariel Sharon. ... Kadima (Hebrew: קדימה, Qādīmāh, forward) is an Israeli political party. ... Likud (Hebrew: ליכוד, literally means consolidation) is a centre-right political party in Israel. ... Ehud Olmert (IPA ; Hebrew:אהוד אולמרט; born September 30, 1945) is the 12th and current Prime Minister of Israel. ...

Labor reportedly tried to woo Peres back to the fold.^[8] Peres announced, however, that he supported Olmert and would remain with Kadima. Media reports suggested that Ehud Olmert offered Peres the second slot on the Kadima list, but inferior cabinet positions to the ones that were reportedly offered to Tzipi Livni. Peres had previously announced his intention not to run in the March elections. Following Kadima's win in the 2006 general election, Peres was given the role of Vice Prime Minister and Minister for the Development of the Negev, Galilee and Regional Economy. Ehud Olmert (IPA ; Hebrew:אהוד אולמרט; born September 30, 1945) is the 12th and current Prime Minister of Israel. ... Tzipora Tzipi Malka Livni (Hebrew: , born July 8, 1958 in Tel Aviv, Israel) is Foreign Affairs Minister and Vice Prime Minister [1] of Israel. ... The Elections for the 17th Knesset were held in Israel on 28 March 2006, following an agreement between the Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, and the new Leader of the Israel Labour Party, Amir Peretz. ... The Elections for the 17th Knesset were held in Israel on 28 March 2006. ...

President of Israel

Until June 2007, Shimon Peres had never been elected to a public office. On June 13, 2007, Peres achieved his goal of being elected to a national office outright, when he was elected President by the Knesset. 58 of 120 members of the Knesset voted for him in the first round (whereas 38 voted for Reuven Rivlin, and 21 for Colette Avital). His opponents then backed Peres in the second round and 86 members of the Knesset voted in his favor,^[9] while 23 objected. He resigned from his role as a Member of the Knesset the same day, having been a member since November 1959 (except for a three month period in early 2006), the longest serving in Israeli political history. is the 164th day of the year (165th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Shimon Peres, a former Prime Minister and a member of the Kadima party, was elected by the Knesset as the next President of Israel on 13 June 2007. ...

Peres was sworn in as President on July 15.^[2] is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Political views

Peres was at one time considered something of a hawk.^[10] He was a protégé of Ben-Gurion and Dayan and an early supporter of the West Bank settlers during the 1970s. However, after becoming the leader of his party his stance evolved. More recently he has been seen as a dove, and a strong supporter of the notion of peace through economic cooperation. While still opposed, like all mainstream Israeli leaders in the 1970s and early 1980s, to talks with the PLO, he distanced himself from settlers and spoke of the need for "territorial compromise" over the West Bank and Gaza. For a time he hoped that King Hussein of Jordan could be Israel's Arab negotiating partner rather than Yasser Arafat. Peres met secretly with Hussein in London in 1987 and reached a framework agreement with him, but this was rejected by Israel's then Prime Minister, Yitzhak Shamir. Shortly afterward the first intifada erupted, and whatever plausibility King Hussein had as a potential Israeli partner in resolving the fate of the West Bank evaporated. Subsequently, Peres gradually moved closer to support for talks with the PLO, although he avoided making an outright commitment to this policy until 1993. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (Arabic Munazzamat al-Tahrir Filastiniyyah منظمة تحرير فلسطينية ) is a political and paramilitary organization of Palestinian Arabs dedicated to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state to consist of the... Hussein bin Talal (Arabic: حسين بن طلال) (November 14, 1935 - February 7, 1999) was the King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan from 1952 to 1999. ... Not to be confused with Yasir Arafat (cricketer). ... The London Agreement between King Hussein of Jordan and Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Shimon Peres, was signed during a secret meeting held at the residence of Lord Mishcon in London on April 11, 1987. ...   (Hebrew יִצְחָק שָׁמִיר) (born October 15, 1915) was Prime Minister of Israel from 1983 to 1984 and again from 1986 to 1992. ... Intifada (also Intefadah or Intifadah; from shaking off) is an Arabic term for uprising. It came into common usage in English as the popularized name for two recent Palestinian campaigns directed at Israel. ...

Peres was perhaps more closely associated with the Oslo Accords than any other Israeli politician (Rabin included) with the possible exception of his own protégé, Yossi Beilin. He has remained an adamant supporter of the Oslo Accords and the Palestinian Authority since their inception despite the First Intifada and the Al-Aqsa Intifada. However, Peres supported Ariel Sharon's military policy of operating the Israeli Defence Forces to thwart suicide bombings. Yitzhak Rabin, Bill Clinton, and Yasser Arafat during the Oslo Accords on September 13, 1993. ... Yossi Beilin Dr. Yossef (Yossi) Beilin (Hebrew: ; born June 12, 1948) is an Israeli politician, Knesset member, and a former , deputy foreign minister and justice minister within the Israeli Labour Party. ... Yitzhak Rabin, Bill Clinton, and Yasser Arafat during the Oslo Accords on September 13, 1993. ... The West Bank The Palestinian National Authority (PNA or PA) is a semi-autonomous state institution nominally governing the bulk of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (which it calls the Palestinian Territories). It was established as a part of Oslo accords between the PLO and Israel. ... The First Intifada, or Palestinian uprising refers to a series of violent incidents between Palestinians and Israelis between 1987 and approximately 1990. ... For other uses, see al-Aqsa (disambiguation). ...   (Hebrew: , also known by his diminutive Arik אָרִיק) (born February 27, 1928) is a former Israeli politician and general. ... The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Hebrew: צבא ההגנה לישראל Tsva Ha-Haganah Le-Yisrael ([Army] Force [for] the Defense of Israel), often abbreviated צהל Tsahal, alternative English spelling Tzahal, is the name of Israels armed forces... A suicide bombing is an attack using a bomb in which the individual(s) carrying the explosive materials composing the bomb intend(s) and expect(s) to die upon detonation (see suicide). ...

Often, Peres acts as the informal "spokesman" of Israel (even when he is in the opposition) since he earned high prestige and respect among the international public opinion and diplomatic circles. Peres advocates Israel's security policy (military counter terror operations and the Israeli West Bank barrier) against international criticism and de-legitimation efforts from pro-Palestinian circles. Counter-terrorism refers to the practices, tactics, and strategies that governments, militaries, and other groups adopt in order to fight terrorism. ... The barrier route as of May 2005. ...

Books

Shimon Peres is the author of eleven books, including:

• The Next Step (1965)
• David's Sling (1970) (ISBN 0-297-00083-7)
• And Now Tomorrow (1978)
• From These Men: seven founders of the State of Israel (1979) (ISBN 0-671-61016-3)
• Entebbe Diary (1991) (ISBN 965-248-111-4)
• The New Middle East (1993) (ISBN 0-8050-3323-8)
• Battling for Peace: a memoir (1995) (ISBN 0-679-43617-0)
• For the Future of Israel (1998) (ISBN 0-8018-5928-X)
• The Imaginary Voyage : With Theodor Herzl in Israel (1999) (ISBN 1-55970-468-3)

Quotations

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• "What, I'm a loser?" (Shimon Peres asks the Labor Party central committee, and they yelled back a resounding "YES!")
• "When you win a war, your people are united and applaud you. When you make peace, your people are doubtful and resentful."
• [To Ruth Matar, a Jerusalem resident who criticized him in American-accented Hebrew] "Go back where you came from." (Jerusalem Post International Edition, February 3, 1996]
• "If you want to serve the future, don't be afraid to belong to a minority."
• "A godless man is not a human being."
• "I am totally uninterested in the past. If you wouldn't ask me I wouldn't talk about it. The past bores me. (Interview with Michael Kapel, Australia/Israel Review, June 6-June 26, 1997)
• "If a problem has no solution, it may not be a problem but a fact that must be coped with."
• "Television has made dictatorship impossible but democracy unbearable."
• "The president of Iran should remember that Iran can also be wiped off the map."^[11] (May 8, 2006)
• "Iran is a great problem, but not necessarily a great country. In fact, I think it is a very weak country." -^[12] (Nov 29, 2006)
• "An optimist and a pessimist die the same way; they only live differently. I prefer to live as an optimist" - interview with Benny Hinn on a TV program aired on March 22, 2007
• "I have become totally tired of history, because I feel history is a long misunderstanding." (Wall St. Journal, September 30, 1994)

References

The May 16, 1948 Palestine Post headline announcing the creation of the state of Israel The Jerusalem Post is an Israeli daily English language broadsheet newspaper, originally founded on December 1, 1932, by American journalist-turned-newspaper-editor Gershon Agron as the The Palestine Post. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 164th day of the year (165th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The American Academy of Achievement is a nonprofit organization that seeks to educate and inspire youth. ... Ynetnews is an English language Israel news and content website operated by Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel’s most-read newspaper, and the Hebrew Israel news portal, Ynet. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 145th day of the year (146th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The May 16, 1948 Palestine Post headline announcing the creation of the state of Israel The Jerusalem Post is an Israeli daily English language broadsheet newspaper, originally founded on December 1, 1932, by American journalist-turned-newspaper-editor Gershon Agron as the The Palestine Post. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... May 31 is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... BBC News is the department within the BBC responsible for the corporations news-gathering and production of news programmes on BBC television, radio and online. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 164th day of the year (165th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... BBC News is the department within the BBC responsible for the corporations news-gathering and production of news programmes on BBC television, radio and online. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 164th day of the year (165th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 164th day of the year (165th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The May 16, 1948 Palestine Post headline announcing the creation of the state of Israel The Jerusalem Post is an Israeli daily English language broadsheet newspaper, originally founded on December 1, 1932, by American journalist-turned-newspaper-editor Gershon Agron as the The Palestine Post. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Shimon Peres

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Shimon Peres

• Shimon Peres - Knesset page
• Peres Center for Peace website
• Encyclopaedia Britannica, Shimon Peres - full access article
• Shimon Peres biography at the The Nobel Prize Foundation
• Biography of Shimon Peres at Zionism and Israel Information Center Biography Page
• Shimon Peres biography at the Jewish Virtual Library
• BBC - Sharon seals new Israel coalition
• Peres's metaphysical propensity to lose by Matthew Wagner, published in the Jerusalem Post, November 10, 2005.
• Former Labor Leader Shimon Peres Heading For Sharon's new party - recorded Report from IsraCast.
• Shimon Peres speaks at the Council on Foreign Relations about the Israel/Lebanon conflict on July 31, 2006
• Shimon Peres speaks at Cornell University - "A Conversation with Shimon Peres"

Presidents of Israel v • d • e

Chaim Weizmann • Yitzhak Ben-Zvi • Zalman Shazar • Ephraim Katzir • Yitzhak Navon • Chaim Herzog • Ezer Weizman • Moshe Katsav • Shimon Peres

Prime Ministers of Israel v • d • e

Ben-Gurion • Sharett • Ben-Gurion • Eshkol • Allon (Acting) • Meir • Rabin • Peres (Acting) • Begin • Shamir • Peres • Shamir • Rabin • Peres • Netanyahu • Barak • Sharon • Olmert

Foreign Affairs Ministers of Israel v • d • e

Sharett • Meir • Eban • Allon • Dayan • Shamir • Peres • Arens • Levy • Peres • Barak • Levy • Sharon • Levy • Ben-Ami • Peres • Netanyahu • Shalom • Livni

Defense Ministers of Israel v • d • e

Ben-Gurion • Lavon • Ben-Gurion • Eshkol • Dayan • Peres • Weizman • Begin • Sharon • Arens • Rabin • Shamir • Arens • Rabin • Peres • Mordechai • Arens • Barak • Ben-Eliezer • Mofaz • Peretz • Barak