“My heart goes out to the brave citizens of Syria, who each day risk and even sacrifice their lives to achieve freedom from a murderous regime. We in Israel welcome the historic struggle to forge democratic, peace-loving governments in our region.”

Israeli politician and statesman

Shimon Peres was an Israeli politician and statesman, active for seven decades and a central figure in the country’s public life. He served as prime minister of Israel from 1984 to 1986 and again from 1995 to 1996, and as president from 2007 to 2014. Peres was elected to the Knesset in 1959 and remained a member for most of his career, with only a short break in early 2006. Over time he served in twelve cabinets and represented five political parties. He is remembered as the longest serving member in Knesset history, and as a figure closely tied to Israel’s founding generation.