MembersRemembering Shimon Peres

For Better or Worse, Peres Embodied Israel

Peres’ political career was unparalleled, setting a world record with six decades of active public service. Peres was 11-years-old when his family arrived to Israel from Poland. In 1947, when he was only 24, Peres’ genius was recognized by Levi Eshkol, who later became Israel’s third prime minister, but who at the time was in charge of arms acquisition. Peres joined Eshkol’s operation and six years later was appointed Director-General of the Ministry of Defense. In 1959, Peres was elected to the Knesset for the first time.

From the War of Independence onward, Peres was involved in almost every pivotal event in Israel’s modern history. It was Peres who orchestrated the nuclear project; it was Peres who permitted the establishment of the first settlement of Elon Moreh in 1975; and it was Peres who stirred Israel to support the “Oslo Accords” in 1993.

But despite how long and influential his career was,...