Israel is mourning the death of former
President and Prime Minister Shimon Peres.
Peres died on Wednesday at age 93.
His death came two weeks after he suffered a
severe stroke.
Peres held nearly every major political
position in Israel during his long career. He served as prime minister twice. He held the mostly ceremonial job of
president from 2007 to 2014. He also served as foreign minister and defense
minister.
He was the longest serving member of
parliament in Israel’s history, serving in the Knesset for 48 years.
Peres was born in 1923 in what is now Belarus.
He moved to Israel when he was 11 years old. By age 29, Peres became Israel’s
youngest defense minister in 1952. In that position, he was credited with
developing the country’s defense and aerospace industries.
On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu said Peres had spent his life serving the Israeli people and trying
to bring about peace.
“He set his gaze on the future. He did so much to protect our people. He
worked to his last days for peace and a better future for all.”
Peres won the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize for his
work in negotiating the historic Oslo Accords, which established limited
self-rule for the Palestinians. He shared the award with then-Prime Minister
Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
The current Palestinian President, Mahmoud
Abbas, released a statement expressing "sorrow and sadness" over
Peres' death. He called Peres “a partner in making peace.”
“He exerted persistent
efforts to reach a just peace from the Oslo agreement until the final moments
of his life,” Abbas said.
In the United States, President Barack Obama
praised his “dear friend” for representing Israel’s courageous fight for independence.
“There are few people who we share this world
with who change the course of human history,” Obama said. “Not just through
their role in human events, but because they expand our moral imagination and
force us to expect more of ourselves.”
Obama is on the list of world leaders expected
to attend Peres’ funeral in Jerusalem on Friday. Others expected to attend
include former U.S. president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary, Britain’s
Prince Charles and French President Francois Hollande.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
said Peres had been a good partner with the U.N. and was always hopeful about
the chances for peace.
“May his spirit of determination guide us as
we work to ensure peace, security and dignity for
Israelis, Palestinians and all the peoples of the region,” Ban said.
Peres saw continuing violence between the
Israelis and Palestinians and repeated breakdowns in negotiations. Yet he
remained hopeful throughout his life.
“I'm sure I shall see peace in my lifetime.
Even if I should have to extend my life for a year or two, I won't hesitate,”
he said, in 2013.
Twenty years ago, Shimon Peres
launched the not-for-profit Peres
Peace Center. It develops economic, educational
and cultural projects with the Palestinians, Egypt and Jordan. He continued
leading the center’s peace efforts until suffering the stroke.
I’m Bryan Lynn.
Bryan Lynn
wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from VOA’s Richard
Green, Victor Beattie, the Associated Press and Reuters. George Grow was the
editor.
- Words in This Story
-
twice – adv. two timesgaze – v. to look at someone or something for an usually long timeexert – v. to use influence or authority to make something happencourageous – adj. bravedignity – n. – the quality of being worthy or honor or respect
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