We should all awaken a little sadder today with the passing of Shimon Peres. A true Israelite in whom there was no guile--well maybe a little guile in his youth--we can call him in his passing. Peres as a young man served as an aide to David Ben-Gurion during the formation of the contemporary Israeli state. At age 29 he was the Defense Minstry director who helped to build the IDF into a first rate fighting machine. Peres served in the Knesset and held nearly every cabinet post between 1959 and 1995. Following the 1995 assassination of Rabin he served as acting Prime Minister.
Peres was never popular while serving in the Knesset. While he was a capable manager as a cabinet minister he was considered a meddler and as too willing to compromise. Peres shining moments came from his role in brokering the Israeli -Palestinian peace accord. However, Peres never overcame his image at home until the last few years. At age 84 Peres was finally embraced by the Israeli population and elected President.
For my two cents the world lost an able stateman, Israel lost an able leader.
Peres was never popular while serving in the Knesset. While he was a capable manager as a cabinet minister he was considered a meddler and as too willing to compromise. Peres shining moments came from his role in brokering the Israeli -Palestinian peace accord. However, Peres never overcame his image at home until the last few years. At age 84 Peres was finally embraced by the Israeli population and elected President.
For my two cents the world lost an able stateman, Israel lost an able leader.
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