:Shimon Peres

Shimon Peres was born Szymon Perski, on 2 August 1923,{{cite news |title=Obituary: Shimon Peres, Israeli founding father |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27410614 |access-date=28 July 2020 |work=BBC News |date=28 September 2016 |archive-date=30 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830065124/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27410614 |url-status=live }} in Wiszniew, Poland (now Vishnyeva, Belarus), to Yitzhak (1896–1962) and Sara (1905–1969, née Meltzer) Perski.{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishinstitute.org.pl/pl/gminy/miasto/41.html |title=Location of Wiszniew on the map of the Second Polish Republic in the years 1921–1939 |publisher=jewishinstitute.org.pl |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719024432/https://www.jewishinstitute.org.pl/pl/gminy/miasto/41.html |archive-date=19 July 2011 }} The family spoke Hebrew, Yiddish and Russian at home, and Peres learned Polish at school. He then learned to speak English and French.{{cite web|url=https://www.knesset.gov.il/mk/eng/mk_eng.asp?mk_individual_id_t=104|title=Knesset Member, Shimon Peres|publisher=Knesset|access-date=13 February 2008|archive-date=24 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624025614/https://www.knesset.gov.il/mk/eng/mk_eng.asp?mk_individual_id_t=104|url-status=live}} His father was a wealthy timber merchant, later branching out into other commodities; his mother was a librarian. Peres had a younger brother, Gershon.{{cite web|url=https://www.achievement.org/achiever/shimon-peres/|title=Shimon Peres – Biography and Interview|publisher=American Academy of Achievement|date=2017|access-date=8 April 2019|archive-date=22 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322141034/https://www.achievement.org/achiever/shimon-peres/|url-status=live}} He was related to the American film star Lauren Bacall (born Betty Joan Perske), and they were described as first cousins,{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Peres-Not-such-a-bad-record-after-all|date=10 November 2005|title=Peres: Not such a bad record after all|access-date=13 August 2014|work=The Jerusalem Post|archive-date=20 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220102418/http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Peres-Not-such-a-bad-record-after-all|url-status=live}} but Peres said, "In 1952 or 1953, I came to New York... Lauren Bacall called me, said that she wanted to meet, and we did. We sat and talked about where our families came from, and discovered that we were from the same family... but I'm not exactly sure what our relation is... It was she who later said that she was my cousin; I didn't say that".{{cite news| url=http://www.haaretz.com/life/movies-television/.premium-1.610399| title=Shimon Peres remembers 'very strong, very beautiful' relative Lauren Bacall| work=Haaretz| first=Nirit| last=Anderman| date=13 August 2014| location=Tel Aviv| access-date=2 August 2018| archive-date=7 October 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007143655/http://www.haaretz.com/life/movies-television/.premium-1.610399| url-status=live}}

File:Shimon Peres, standing third from right, with members of his family some time between 1920-1930 (D182-050).jpg

Peres told Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson that he had been born as a result of a blessing his parents had received from a chassidic rebbe and that he was proud of it.Joseph Telushkin. Rebbe. Page 132. HarperCollins, 2014. Peres's grandfather, Rabbi Zvi Meltzer, a grandson of Rabbi Chaim Volozhin, had a great impact on his life. In an interview, Peres said: "As a child, I grew up in my grandfather's home. … I was educated by him. … My grandfather taught me Talmud. It was not as easy as it sounds. My home was not an observant one. My parents were not Orthodox but I was Haredi. At one point, I heard my parents listening to the radio on the Sabbath and I smashed it."{{cite web|url=http://www.israel-times.com/news/2003/08/shimon-peres-1994-nobel-peace-prize-1869|title=Shimon Peres, 1994 Nobel Peace Prize|author=Judy L. Beckham|work=Israel Times|date=2 August 2003}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} When he was a child, Peres was taken by his father to Radun to receive a blessing from Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan (known as "the Chofetz Chaim").{{cite news |last=Levi Julian |first=Hana |date=12 July 2007 |title=President Shimon Peres Agrees to Keep Shabbat--Once |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/124501 |publisher=Arutz Sheva |access-date=27 September 2016 |archive-date=1 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001031032/http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/124501 |url-status=live }} As a child, Peres would later say, "I did not dream of becoming president of Israel. My dream as a boy was to be a shepherd or a poet of stars."[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/jul/16/israel.comment It is true that we have erred, but a bright spring awaits] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001114656/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/jul/16/israel.comment |date=1 October 2016 }} Shimon Peres, Monday 16 July 2007, The Guardian He inherited his love of French literature from his maternal grandfather.

In 1932, Peres's father immigrated to Mandatory Palestine and settled in Tel Aviv. The family followed him in 1934. He attended Balfour Elementary School and High School, and Geula Gymnasium (High School for Commerce) in Tel Aviv. At 15, he transferred to Ben Shemen agricultural school and lived on Kibbutz Geva for several years. Peres was one of the founders of Kibbutz Alumot.

In 1941, he was elected Secretary of HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed, a Labor Zionist youth movement, and in 1944 returned to Alumot, where he had an agricultural training and worked as a farmer and a shepherd.{{cite web|title=SHIMON PERES|url=http://www.peres-center.org/our_mission|access-date=29 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927214953/http://www.peres-center.org/our_mission|archive-date=27 September 2016|url-status=dead}}

At age 20, he was elected to the HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed national secretariat, where he was only one of two Mapai party supporters, out of the 12 members. Three years later, he took over the movement and won a majority. The head of Mapai, David Ben-Gurion, and Berl Katznelson began to take an interest in him, and appointed him to Mapai's secretariat.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.il/he/departments/president_of_the_state_of_israel|title=בית הנשיא|website=GOV.IL|access-date=22 April 2019|archive-date=15 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815023449/https://www.gov.il/he/departments/president_of_the_state_of_israel|url-status=live}}

In 1944, Peres led an illicit expedition into the Negev, then a closed military zone requiring a permit to enter. The expedition, consisting of a group of teenagers, along with a Palmach scout, a zoologist, and an archaeologist, had been funded by Ben-Gurion and planned by Palmach head Yitzhak Sadeh, as part of a plan for future Jewish settlement of the area so as to include it in the Jewish state. The group was arrested by a Bedouin camel patrol led by a British officer, taken to Beersheba (then a small Arab town) and incarcerated in the local jail. All of the participants were sentenced to two weeks in prison, and as the leader, Peres was also heavily fined.Gilbert, Martin: Israel: A History (Pages 116–117) The expedition came across a nest of bearded vultures, called peres in Hebrew, and from this Peres took his Hebrew name.Leshem, Yossi (28 September 2016) [https://www.birds.org.il/en/article/%D7%9B%D7%AA%D7%91%D7%94-%D7%99%D7%95%D7%A1%D7%99-%D7%9C%D7%A9%D7%9D-%D7%A9%D7%9E%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%9F-%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%A1-%D7%90%D7%A0%D7%92%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%AA Farewell Shimon Peres] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624210731/https://www.birds.org.il/en/article/%D7%9B%D7%AA%D7%91%D7%94-%D7%99%D7%95%D7%A1%D7%99-%D7%9C%D7%A9%D7%9D-%D7%A9%D7%9E%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%9F-%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%A1-%D7%90%D7%A0%D7%92%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%AA |date=24 June 2021 }}. birds.org.il

All of Peres's relatives who remained in Wiszniew in 1941 were murdered during the Holocaust,{{cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1145452.html|title=Peres to German MPs: Hunt down remaining Nazi war criminals|date=27 January 2010|work=Haaretz|access-date=27 January 2010|archive-date=13 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413064659/http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1145452.html|url-status=live}} many of them (including Rabbi Meltzer) burned alive in the town's synagogue.{{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Speeches+by+Israeli+leaders/2010/Address_President_Peres_German_Bundestag_27-Jan-2010.htm |title=Address by Peres to German Bundestag |publisher=Mfa.gov.il |date=27 January 2010 |access-date=12 June 2014 |archive-date=12 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012161809/http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Speeches+by+Israeli+leaders/2010/Address_President_Peres_German_Bundestag_27-Jan-2010.htm |url-status=live }}

In 1945, Peres married Sonya Gelman, who preferred to remain outside the public eye. They had three children.{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3404483,00.html|title=Sonia Peres regains consciousness|access-date=25 May 2007|newspaper=Ynetnews|date=25 May 2007|last1=Meranda|first1=Amnon|archive-date=7 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107104433/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3404483,00.html|url-status=live}}

In 1946, Peres and Moshe Dayan were chosen as the two youth delegates in the Mapai delegation to the Zionist Congress in Basel.

In 1947, Peres joined the Haganah, the predecessor of the Israel Defense Forces. David Ben-Gurion made him responsible for personnel and arms purchases; he was appointed to head the naval service when Israel received independence in 1948.

Peres was director of the Defense Ministry's delegation in the United States in the early 1950s. While in the U.S. he studied English, economics, and philosophy at The New School and New York University, and completed a four-month advanced management course at Harvard University.{{Cite book|last=Bar-Zohar|first=Michael|url=http://archive.org/details/shimonperesbiogr00barz|title=Shimon Peres : the biography|date=2007|publisher=New York : Random House|others=Internet Archive|isbn=978-1-4000-6292-8|pages=99}}{{cite news |title=Man in the News: Israeli Model of Endurance; Shimon Peres |work=The New York Times |date=6 August 1984 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/08/06/world/man-in-the-news-israeli-model-of-endurance-shimon-peres.html |access-date=12 February 2017 |archive-date=19 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419000728/http://www.nytimes.com/1984/08/06/world/man-in-the-news-israeli-model-of-endurance-shimon-peres.html |url-status=live }}{{cite book |last=Bar-Zohar |first=Michael |date=2007 |title=Shimon Peres: The Biography |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BGUwAQAAIAAJ&q=%22shimon+peres%22+%22harvard%22 |location=New York, NY |publisher=Random House |pages=75–76 |isbn=978-1-40-006292-8 |access-date=15 March 2015 |archive-date=1 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501071842/https://books.google.com/books?id=BGUwAQAAIAAJ&q=%22shimon+peres%22+%22harvard%22 |url-status=live }}

In 1952, Peres was appointed deputy director general of the Ministry of Defense, and the following year, he was promoted to director general. At age 29, he was the youngest person to hold this position. He was involved in arms purchases and establishing strategic alliances that were important for the State of Israel. He was instrumental in establishing close relations with France, securing massive amounts of quality arms that, in turn, helped to tip the balance of power in the region.{{cite journal |last=Ziv |first=Guy |title=Shimon Peres and the French-Israeli Alliance, 1954–9 |journal=Journal of Contemporary History |year=2010 |volume=45 |issue=2 |pages=406–429 |doi=10.1177/0022009409356915 |s2cid=153920253 | issn = 0022-0094}}

In 1955, he testified against Minister of Defense Pinhas Lavon in what became known as the Lavon Affair.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

Owing to Peres's 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, positioning Israel in what would become the 1956 Suez Crisis. Peres continued as a primary intermediary in the close French-Israeli alliance from the mid-1950s, although from 1958, he was often involved in tense negotiations with Charles de Gaulle over the Dimona project.{{cite book|title = Israel and the Bomb|first = Avner|last = Cohen|chapter = The Road to Dimona|pages = 57–78|year = 2013|publisher = Columbia University Press|isbn = 978-0-231-50009-8|chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=JR0wCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA79|access-date = 13 September 2020|archive-date = 1 May 2024|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240501071750/https://books.google.com/books?id=JR0wCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA79#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status = live}}

Peres is considered to have been the architect of Israel's secret nuclear weapons program in the 1960s, and he stated that, in the 1960s, he recruited Arnon Milchan, an Israeli-American Hollywood film producer, billionaire businessman, and secret arms dealer and intelligence operative, to work for the Israeli Bureau of Scientific Relations (LEKEM or LAKAM), a secret intelligence organization tasked with obtaining military technology and science espionage.The Guardian, 26 November 2013, [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/26/arnon-milchan-israeli-spy-past "Arnon Milchan Reveals Past as Israeli Spy"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129215020/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/26/arnon-milchan-israeli-spy-past |date=29 January 2017 }}

{{main|Suez Crisis}}

File:King of Nepal, Shimon Peres and Ezer Weizman 1963.jpg (right) and King Mahendra of Nepal in 1958]]

From 1954, as director general of the Ministry of Defense, Peres was involved in the planning of the 1956 Suez War, in partnership with France and Britain. Peres was sent by David Ben-Gurion to Paris, where he held secret meetings with the French government.The Economic Diplomacy of the Suez Crisis, By Diane B. Kunz, Univ of North Carolina Press, 1991, page 108 Peres was instrumental in negotiating the Franco-Israeli agreement for a military offensive.Suez: Britain's End of Empire in the Middle East, Keith Kyle, I.B.Tauris, 15 February 2011 In November 1954, Peres visited Paris, where he was received by the French Defense Minister Marie-Pierre Kœnig, who told him that France would sell Israel any weapons it wanted to buy.Neff, Donald Warriors at Suez, pp. 162–163. By early 1955, France was shipping large amounts of weapons to Israel. In April 1956, following another visit to Paris by Peres, France agreed to disregard the Tripartite Declaration, and supply more weapons to Israel.Neff, Donald Warriors at Suez, pp. 234–236. During the same visit, Peres informed the French that Israel had decided upon war with Egypt in 1956.Neff, Donald Warriors at Suez, p. 235. Throughout the 1950s, an extraordinarily close relationship existed between France and Israel, characterised by unprecedented cooperation in the fields of defense and diplomacy. For his work as the architect of this relationship, Peres was awarded the highest order of the French, the Legion of Honor, as Commander.{{cite web|url = http://www.president.gov.il/English/ThePresident/Pages/CV.aspx|title = President Shimon Peres – Seventy years of public service|year = 2010|access-date = 28 September 2016|publisher = Office of the President of Israel|archive-date = 1 October 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161001102734/http://www.president.gov.il/english/thepresident/pages/cv.aspx|url-status = dead}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AVp4c6tp-DcC&q=shimon+peres+legion+d%27honneur&pg=PA137|title=Shimon Peres et l'histoire secrète d'Israël|first=Michael|last=Bar-Zohar|date=22 April 2019|publisher=Odile Jacob|isbn=978-2-7381-1995-7|via=Google Books|access-date=31 October 2020|archive-date=1 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501071842/https://books.google.com/books?id=AVp4c6tp-DcC&q=shimon+peres+legion+d%27honneur&pg=PA137#v=snippet&q=shimon%20peres%20legion%20d'honneur&f=false|url-status=live}}

At Sèvres, Peres took part in planning alongside Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury, Christian Pineau and Chief of Staff of the French Armed Forces General Maurice Challe, and British Foreign Secretary Selwyn Lloyd and his assistant Sir Patrick Dean. Britain and France enlisted Israeli support for an alliance against Egypt. The parties agreed that Israel would invade the Sinai. Britain and France would then intervene, purportedly to separate the warring Israeli and Egyptian forces, instructing both to withdraw to a distance of 16 kilometres from either side of the canal.[http://users.ox.ac.uk/~ssfc0005/The%20Protocol%20of%20Sevres%201956%20Anatomy%20of%20a%20War%20Plot.html The Protocol of Sevres 1956 Anatomy of a War Plot] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405191936/http://users.ox.ac.uk/~ssfc0005/The%20Protocol%20of%20Sevres%201956%20Anatomy%20of%20a%20War%20Plot.html |date=5 April 2018 }}. University of Oxford. Retrieved 8 September 2011. The British and French would then argue, according to the plan, that Egypt's control of such an important route was too tenuous, and that it needed be placed under Anglo-French management. The agreement at Sèvres was initially described by British Prime Minister Anthony Eden as the "highest form of statesmanship". The three allies, especially Israel, were mainly successful in attaining their immediate military objectives. However, the extremely hostile reaction to the Suez Crisis from both the United States and the USSR forced them to withdraw, resulting in a failure of Britain and France's political and strategic aims of controlling the Suez Canal.

File:Levi Eshkol visits Mamram.jpg and Levi Eshkol in 1964]]

Peres was first elected to the Knesset in the 1959 elections{{cite web|url=https://www.knesset.gov.il/mk/eng/mk_eng.asp?mk_individual_id_t=104|title=Shimon Peres|access-date=28 August 2008|publisher=The Knesset's internet site|archive-date=24 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624025614/https://www.knesset.gov.il/mk/eng/mk_eng.asp?mk_individual_id_t=104|url-status=live}} as a member of the Mapai party. He was given the role of deputy minister of defense, which he filled until 1965 (holding this position in the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th governments of Israel under Prime Ministers David Ben-Gurion and Levi Eshkol). In this position, he held negotiations with John F. Kennedy, which concluded with the sale of Hawk anti-aircraft missiles to Israel, the first sale of US military equipment to Israel. Peres expressed great appreciation and praise for the American decision to sell Hawk missiles in a speech to the Knesset on 25 June 1963.{{Cite journal |last=Gazit |first=Mordechai |date=July 2000 |title=The Genesis of the US–Israeli Military-Strategic Relationship and the Dimona Issue |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/002200940003500305 |journal=Journal of Contemporary History |language=en |volume=35 |issue=3 |pages=413–422 |doi=10.1177/002200940003500305 |s2cid=160000072 |issn=0022-0094 |access-date=13 October 2023 |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031154723/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/002200940003500305 |url-status=live }}

Peres resigned from the 12th government in late May 1965, citing the growing rift between Prime Minister Eshkol and former prime minister Ben-Gurion (Peres was aligned with Ben Gurion).{{cite web |title=Ben-Gurion Willing to Head Election List |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/49933924 |work=The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle |agency=Jewish Telegraphic |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=19 July 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |archive-date=19 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719021558/http://www.newspapers.com/image/49933924/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Independent Slate Named by Ben Gurion |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/376233310 |via=Newspapers.com |work=Chicago Tribune |agency=Reuters |access-date=19 July 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=30 June 1965 |archive-date=19 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719014934/http://www.newspapers.com/image/376233310/ |url-status=live }} In 1965, Peres and Moshe Dayan were among those that left Mapai with David Ben-Gurion when Ben-Gurion formed a new party, Rafi. Peres was a co-founder of the Rafi party.{{cite web |last1=Perry |first1=Dan |title=Peres fried to convince majority of need for peace |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/163346427/ |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Journal News (White Plains, New York) |agency=The Associated Press |access-date=17 August 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=30 May 1996 |archive-date=13 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013172453/https://www.newspapers.com/image/163346427/ |url-status=live }} The party reconciled with Mapai in 1968, merging to form the Israeli Labor Party. The Labor Party then joined the Alignment (a left-wing alliance).

In 1969, Peres was appointed minister of immigrant absorption in the 15th government (led by Prime Minister Golda Meir), and in 1970 (also in the 15th government), he became minister of transportation and communications. After this, he served as minister of information in the Meir-led 16th government.

Peres was appointed minister of defense in the Yitzhak Rabin-led 17th government, after having been Rabin's chief rival for the post of Labor Party leader (and, in effect, the Israeli premiership) in the 1974 Israeli Labor Party leadership election that was held after Golda Meir resigned in the aftermath of the Yom Kippur War.

{{main|Operation Entebbe}}

On 27 June 1976, Peres, as minister of defense, in collaboration with Prime Minister Rabin, handled Israel's response to a coordinated act of terrorism when 248 Paris-bound travelers on an Air France plane were taken hostage by pro-Palestinian hijackers and flown to Uganda, Africa, 2,000 miles away.

Peres and Rabin were responsible for approving what became known as the "Operation Entebbe", which took place on 4 July 1976. The rescue boosted the Rabin government's approval rating with the public.Smith, Terence. [https://www.nytimes.com/1976/07/16/archives/uganda-rescue-gives-big-boost-to-rabin.html "Uganda Rescue Gives Big Boost to Rabin"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331235121/https://www.nytimes.com/1976/07/16/archives/uganda-rescue-gives-big-boost-to-rabin.html |date=31 March 2018 }}, New York Times, 16 July 1976 The only Israeli soldier that was killed during the successful rescue operation was its commander, 30-year-old Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Netanyahu, older brother of Benjamin Netanyahu.Chalk, Peter. Encyclopedia of Terrorism, Vol 1, ABC CLIO (2013) p. 217

Before Rabin ultimately approved the rescue mission, he and Peres were at odds on how to proceed. Rabin was open to acquiescing to the terrorists' demands to release forty Palestinian militants if no military option presented itself. Peres, however, felt acquiescing to be a nonstarter, believing it would encourage further terrorism.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/11701064/Israels-raid-on-Entebbe-was-almost-a-disaster.html|title=Israel's raid on Entebbe was almost a disaster|work=The Daily Telegraph|author=Saul David|date=27 June 2015|access-date=9 February 2018|author-link=Saul David|archive-date=29 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129005108/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/11701064/Israels-raid-on-Entebbe-was-almost-a-disaster.html|url-status=live}} Rabin initially took steps to begin negotiations with the terrorists, seeing no other option. Peres felt that negotiating with terrorists would, in effect, be a surrender, and thought a rescue operation should be planned.David, Saul. Operation Thunderbolt: Flight 139 and the Raid on Entebbe, Little, Brown Publishing (2015) ebook

Peres organized a secret Israel Crisis Committee to come up with a rescue plan. When a plan had been made, he met with commander Netanyahu a number of times.Netanyahu, Iddo. Entebbe: The Jonathan Netanyahu Story, Balfour Books (2004) ebook During one of their final private meetings, they both examined maps and went over precise details. Peres later said of Netanyahu's explanation, "My impression was one of exactitude and imagination," saying that Netanyahu seemed confident the operation would succeed with almost no losses. Netanyahu left the meeting understanding that Peres would do everything in his power to see that the operation went smoothly. Peres then went unannounced to Moshe Dayan, the former minister of Defense, interrupting his dinner with friends in a restaurant, to show him the latest plan to get his opinion. Peres told Dayan of the objections that had been raised by Rabin and Chief of Staff, Mordechai Gur. Dayan dismissed the objections after reviewing the written details: "Shimon," he said, "this is a plan that I support not one hundred percent but one hundred and fifty percent! There has to be a military operation." Peres later got the approval from Gur, who became fully supportive. Peres then took the plan to Rabin, who had been lukewarm and still didn't like the risks, but he reluctantly approved the plan after Peres answered a number of key questions and Rabin learned that the cabinet had also endorsed it.Bar-Zohar, Michael; Mishal, Nissim. No Mission Is Impossible, HarperCollins (2015) ebook

Shortly after the mission ended, Rabin recounted, "we called into my office seven of our top commanders...I told our friends in uniform that the honor of the Jewish people, their destinies, are challenged and what we are considering is not just a calculated risk in the military sense, but a comparative risk, which exists between surrender to terror and daring rescue stemming from independence."Los Angeles Times, 19 July 1976, p. 15 and 16

After the success of the operation, Peres angled to receive some of the credit and adulation, somewhat competing with Rabin for credit.

{{main|February 1977 Israeli Labor Party leadership election}}

In February 1977, Peres challenged Prime Minister Rabin for the leadership of Labor Party, but lost to Rabin in a narrow 50.72% to 49.28% result in the vote by the party's Central Committee.{{cite web |last1=Eliason |first1=Marcus |title=Close race for party leadership typifies political challenges in Israel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/117921278 |via=Newspapers.com |work=Arizona Republic |agency=The Associated Press |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=21 February 1977 |access-date=27 May 2022 |archive-date=16 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816020014/http://www.newspapers.com/image/117921278/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Parks |first1=Michael |title=Rabin wins renomination for Israeli premiership |via=Newspapers.com |work=The Baltimore Sun |language=en |date=24 February 1977}}:

• {{cite web |last1=Parks |first1=Michael |title=Rabin wins renomination for Israeli premiership |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/373227680 |via=Newspapers.com |work=The Baltimore Sun |access-date=7 February 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |page=1 |date=24 February 1977 |archive-date=25 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125193609/http://www.newspapers.com/image/373227680/ |url-status=live }}
• {{cite web |last1=Parks |first1=Michael |title=Israeli party renominates Rabin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/373227773 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Baltimore Sun |page=4 |access-date=7 February 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=24 February 1977 |archive-date=25 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125193607/http://www.newspapers.com/image/373227773/ |url-status=live }} The leadership election was expected to determine who would lead the party into the 1977 Knesset election. This was at moment when Labor was threatened with the prospect of losing its control of government after 28-consecutive years due to the rise of both the right-wing Likud bloc and the centrist Democratic Movement for Change, which were seen as collectively cutting into the Labor Party's support in the upcoming election. At the time, Rabin and Peres presented little policy difference, with Peres being seen as only slightly to the right of Rabin on domestic matters. Instead of positioning himself in contrast to the incumbent Rabin on policy, Peres instead capitalized off of the political atmosphere and staked his candidacy largely on an argument that the Labor Party needed to satisfy the nation's desire for change by choosing a new leader for itself.

On 7 April 1977, Prime Minister Rabin announced that, in the wake of a foreign currency scandal involving his wife, he would be stepping down prior to the 1977 Knesset election."Israel's Rabin Quits in Financial Scandal— Prime Minister Resigning to Share Trial With Wife Over Illegal Bank Account", by Dial Torgerson, Los Angeles Times, 8 April 1977, p.I-1 Peres made himself a candidate to replace him as the new Labor Party leader. Initially, Foreign Minister Yigal Allon also made himself a candidate. However, Allon and Peres reached an agreement that Peres would appoint Allon to any ministerial position that Allon preferred in exchange from his withdrawal of his candidacy. Following Allon's withdrawal, the Labor Party leadership announced on 10 April 1977 that he had chosen to endorse Peres as the party's new leader. On 11 April 1977, the 815-member Central Committee of the party elected Peres by acclamation as the party's new leader.{{cite web |title=Defense Chief Replaces Rabin on Israeli Ballot |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/620858128 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Sacramento Bee |access-date=25 January 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=10 April 1977 |archive-date=25 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125193607/http://www.newspapers.com/image/620858128/ |url-status=live }}

Rabin ended his active service as prime minister on 22 April 1977, and Peres became Israel's unofficial acting prime minister. The reason why Peres was not officially the holder of this office was that Rabin could not, under Israeli law, resign from his position as prime minister because the government was, at the time, a caretaker government.{{cite web |last1=Farrell |first1=William E. |title=Rabin Ends Service as Premier;Peres Is Sitting In |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/04/23/archives/rabin-ends-service-as-premier-peres-is-sitting-in.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=26 May 2022 |date=23 April 1977 |archive-date=26 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526062856/https://www.nytimes.com/1977/04/23/archives/rabin-ends-service-as-premier-peres-is-sitting-in.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Shimon Peres – Ninth President of Israel |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/shimon-peres-ninth-president-of-israel-580089 |website=JPost.com |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |access-date=10 February 2022 |date=8 January 2019 |archive-date=10 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210053541/https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/shimon-peres-ninth-president-of-israel-580089 |url-status=live }}{{cite book |last1=Howard |first1=Adam M. |title=Foreign Relations of the United States |year=1992 |publisher=Government Printing Office |isbn=978-0-16-092101-8 |page=XXV |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UFROu4fOt-sC |access-date=10 February 2022 |language=en |archive-date=13 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013172454/https://books.google.com/books?id=UFROu4fOt-sC |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Greenway |first1=H. D. S. |title=Peace Efforts Unaffected by Rabin's Woes |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1977/04/14/peace-efforts-unaffected-by-rabins-woes/952a9c95-fac6-4765-9392-560eeefe2c7f/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=10 February 2022 |date=14 April 1977}}

In his first election as party leader, Peres led Labor Party and the Alignment coalition to its first ever electoral defeat, and the result afforded the first-place Likud party (led by Menachem Begin) the ability to form a coalition that excluded the left. When the new Likud-led government was formed on 20 June 1977{{cite web |title=Begin Takes Israeli Post |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/39041837 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Times (San Mateo, California) |agency=The Associated Press |access-date=26 May 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=21 June 1977 |archive-date=26 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526062112/http://www.newspapers.com/image/39041837/ |url-status=live }} Peres' time as the unofficial acting prime minister ended.

File:Flickr - Government Press Office (GPO) - Menahem Begin and Shimon Peres.jpg and Chairman of the Alignment Shimon Peres at the ceremony held by President Yitzhak Navon after the inaugural session of the 10th Knesset, July 1981]]

Once the Likud-led government took power, Labor and the Alignment bloc entered the Knesset opposition for the first time in its history,{{cite web |last1=Omer-Man |first1=Michael |title=This Week in History: The Likud 'upheaval' |url=https://www.jpost.com/features/in-thespotlight/this-week-in-history-the-likud-upheaval |website=JPost.com |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |access-date=17 August 2022 |date=13 May 2012 |archive-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817001958/https://www.jpost.com/features/in-thespotlight/this-week-in-history-the-likud-upheaval |url-status=live }} and Peres assumed the unofficial role of Knesset opposition leader.

In 1978, Peres was elected vice president of Socialist International.{{cite web |title=The Nobel Peace Prize 1994 |url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1994/peres/biographical/ |website=NobelPrize.org |access-date=26 April 2022 |archive-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426134552/https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1994/peres/biographical/ |url-status=live }} Through his role within the leadership of this organization, Peres befriended foreign politicians including Willy Brandt, Bruno Kreisky, members of the British Labour Party, and politicians from parts of Africa and Asia.{{cite web |last1=Joffe |first1=Lawrence |title=Shimon Peres obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/28/shimon-peres-obituary |website=The Guardian |access-date=26 April 2022 |language=en |date=28 September 2016 |archive-date=3 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103162603/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/28/shimon-peres-obituary |url-status=live }}

After handily winning reelection as Labor Party leader in 1980 (defeating a challenge from Rabin, who was attempting a comeback to the leadership), Peres led his party to another, narrower, loss in the 1981 elections.

In the 1984 elections (Peres' third election as Labor Party leader), the Alignment coalition won more seats than any other party, but the left-wing failed to win the majority of 61 seats needed to form a coalition on their own. Alignment and Likud agreed to an unusual “rotation" arrangement to form a grand coalition unity government during which, for the first twenty-five months, Peres would serve as prime minister and the Likud leader Yitzhak Shamir would be foreign minister, with the two swapping positions thereafter for the second half of the term.{{cite journal |last1=Rais |first1=Faiza R. |title=The Downfall of the Labour Party in Israel |journal=Strategic Studies |date=2005 |volume=25 |issue=1 |pages=129–150 |jstor=45242570 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/45242570 |access-date=17 August 2022 |issn=1029-0990 |archive-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817174534/https://www.jstor.org/stable/45242570 |url-status=live }}

{{See also|Twenty-first government of Israel}}

File:Flickr - Government Press Office (GPO) - ETHIOPIAN IMMIGRANTS DEMONSTRATING.jpg immigrants, 2 October 1985.]]

Peres was regarded to be a popular prime minister in his two years as premier under the rotation arrangement.{{cite web |title=Rabin challenges Peres' Labor Party leadership |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/389569156 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |agency=Reuters |access-date=29 May 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=4 July 1991 |archive-date=29 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220529194647/http://www.newspapers.com/image/389569156/ |url-status=live }} During a portion of his premiership, he also held the position of minister of religious affairs.

Among the most noteworthy moments of his first tenure as prime minister was Operation Wooden Leg (a long-range Israeli airstrike against the PLO headquarters in Tunisia) and a trip to Morocco to confer with King Hassan II.{{cite book|chapter = Introduction|last = Mahler|first = Gregory S.|title = Israel after Begin|pages = 9–10|editor-first = Gregory S.|editor-last = Mahler|chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=_6s2rogqCgMC&pg=PA10|publisher = SUNY Press|year = 2012|isbn = 978-1-4384-1169-9|access-date = 13 September 2020|archive-date = 1 May 2024|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240501071829/https://books.google.com/books?id=_6s2rogqCgMC&pg=PA10#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status = live}}[https://www.nytimes.com/1985/10/02/world/israeli-planes-attack-plo-in-tunis-killing-at-least-30-raid-legitimate-us-says.html ISRAELI PLANES ATTACK P.L.O. IN TUNIS, KILLING AT LEAST 30; RAID 'LEGITIMATE,' U.S. SAYS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220202251/https://www.nytimes.com/1985/10/02/world/israeli-planes-attack-plo-in-tunis-killing-at-least-30-raid-legitimate-us-says.html |date=20 February 2022 }} The New York Times, 2 October 1985

In 1985, Peres publicly supported the quick pursuit of a military pullback from Beirut to Israel's south Lebanon security belt.{{cite web |last1=Friedman |first1=Thomas L. |title=Israel to speed up Lebanon pullout |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/03/27/world/israel-to-speed-up-lebanon-pullout.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=29 May 2022 |date=27 March 1985 |archive-date=29 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220529203719/https://www.nytimes.com/1985/03/27/world/israel-to-speed-up-lebanon-pullout.html |url-status=live }} A partial Israeli pullback had earlier been approved in 1983 by the Begin-headed Likud-led government that had been in power at that time.{{cite news |last1=Walsh |first1=Edward |title=Israel Sets Pullback In Lebanon |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1983/07/21/israel-sets-pullback-in-lebanon/ae528fa2-bd67-4493-8cfd-849ac28cfe45/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=29 May 2022 |date=21 July 1983 |archive-date=28 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828082058/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1983/07/21/israel-sets-pullback-in-lebanon/ae528fa2-bd67-4493-8cfd-849ac28cfe45/ |url-status=live }}

{{main|1985 Israel Economic Stabilization Plan}}

A major domestic policy decision of Peres' first premiership was the implementation of the 1985 Israel Economic Stabilization Plan.

By 1985, Israel's economic fortunes were looking dire, with immense and quickly rising inflation (Israel was experiencing hyperinflation), a government budget deficit equal to between twelve and fifteen percent of the nation's GDP and national debt equal to 220% of the nation's GDP, and Israel's foreign currency reserves were quickly dissipating. With the assistance of the government of the United States, Peres assembled a board of American economist to advise him on the situation. Conditional on him implementing reforms, Peres secured emergency economic assistance from the United States of $750 million (equivalent to 3.5% of the nation's GDP at the time) annually over a two-year period.{{cite web |last1=Bahar |first1=Dany |title=How Shimon Peres saved the Israeli economy |url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/markaz/2016/09/30/how-shimon-peres-saved-the-israeli-economy/ |website=Brookings |access-date=26 April 2022 |date=30 September 2016 |archive-date=24 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324222125/https://www.brookings.edu/blog/markaz/2016/09/30/how-shimon-peres-saved-the-israeli-economy/ |url-status=live }}

Peres was initially hesitant to take the drastic measures that he ultimately would pursue, as they had the strong potential of proving unpopular and came with a risk of potentially creating a drastic increase in unemployment. Peres ultimately was convinced to push through the 1985 Israel Economic Stabilization Plan. Once convinced, he was assertive in pushing for the passage of the program, which was quickly after approved by his cabinet on 1 July 1985. This program had quick success in improving the course of the Israeli economy. By the end of the year, inflation immensely decreased. Additionally, the shekel stabilized and the government balanced its budget. While Israel would subsequently slide into a recession, the stabilization has been regarded as an important and greatly successful model for addressing economies in crisis, and has been credited with saving the nation's economy.{{cite web |last1=Arlosoroff |first1=Meirav |title=Shimon Peres: Father of the New Israeli Economy |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/.premium-shimon-peres-father-of-the-new-israeli-economy-1.5444104 |website=Haaretz |access-date=26 April 2022 |language=en |date=29 September 2016 |archive-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426140553/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/.premium-shimon-peres-father-of-the-new-israeli-economy-1.5444104 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Yechaim |first1=Weitz |title=Shimon Peres Was Never a Leader |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.HIGHLIGHT-shimon-peres-was-never-a-leader-1.10258501 |website=Haaretz |access-date=26 April 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=2 October 2021 |archive-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426141042/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.HIGHLIGHT-shimon-peres-was-never-a-leader-1.10258501 |url-status=live }}

As per the rotation arrangement, after Peres' two years as prime minister he and Shamir traded places in 1986. Shamir became prime minister of the new twenty-second government of Israel and Peres became foreign minister as well as the designated acting prime minister of Israel.

In 1988 the Alignment, led by Peres, suffered another narrow defeat. This came despite the fact that polling in 1988 showed Peres to be the most popular politician in the nation.{{cite news |last1=Diehl |first1=Jackson |title=Israeli Labor Party Ends Rabin's Takeover Bid |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1990/07/23/israeli-labor-party-ends-rabins-takeover-bid/71c660f3-29b1-4a6a-9cda-cbe637f26358/ |newspaper=Washington Post |date=23 July 1990}} Peres agreed to renew the grand coalition with the Likud, this time conceding the premiership to Shamir for the entire term. In the grand coalition unity government of 1988–90 (the twenty-third government of Israel), Peres served as minister of finance and also continued to be the designated acting prime minister of Israel.

Peres and the Alignment finally left the government in 1990, after "the dirty trick" – a failed bid by Peres to form a narrow government based on a coalition of the Alignment, small leftist factions and ultra-orthodox parties.{{cite book|title = Political Transformations and Political Entrepreneurs: Israel in Comparative Perspective|first = Assaf|last = Meydani|year = 2009|isbn = 978-0-230-10397-9|chapter = Political Entrepreneurs and Institutional Change: The Case of Basic Law: The Government (1992)|pages = 41-104 (esp.75-76 and 85-85)|publisher = Springer Publishing}} Peres' hope had been to create a Labor-led government that would be focused on peace talks with Palestine. Likud had declined proposals by the United States for Israel and Palestine to initiate what would have been the first peace talks between the two sides. Peres' longtime intra-party rival, Yizhak Rabin, had opposed to overthrowing the Likud-led coalition government. Peres succeeded in ending the government twenty-third government with a vote of no confidence. However, Peres was subsequently unable to assemble enough Knesset partners to form a pro-peace talk government. After two months, Shamir managed to form a Likud-led government with right-wing religious parties, establishing what was seen as the most conservative government coalition in the history of Israel up to that point.

Peres led the opposition in the Knesset from 1990 until early 1992, when he was defeated by Yitzhak Rabin in the Israeli Labor Party leadership election, the first leadership election held since the party formally merged with the other parties of Alignment, and the first leadership election open to participation by the party's entire membership.{{cite web |last1=Kenig |first1=Ofer |title=The Labor Party Primary Elections |url=https://en.idi.org.il/articles/33585 |website=en.idi.org.il |publisher=Israeli Democracy Institute |access-date=16 July 2021 |language=he |date=1 February 2021 |archive-date=16 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716012235/https://en.idi.org.il/articles/33585 |url-status=live }} Peres remained active in politics, however.

After the Labor Party was successful in the 1992 Knesset election and Rabin became prime minister again, Peres became foreign minister in the Rabin-led twenty-fifth government of Israel. Peres had previously served as foreign minister from 1986 through 1988.

File:Flickr_-_Government_Press_Office_(GPO)_-_Foreign_Min._Peres_and_King_Hussein.jpg (center) and King Hussein of Jordan (right), prior to signing the Israel–Jordan peace treaty]]

On 26 October 1994, Jordan and Israel signed the Israel–Jordan peace treaty, which had been initiated by Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. The ceremony was held in the Arava valley of Israel, north of Eilat and near the Jordanian border. Prime Minister Rabin and Prime Minister Abdelsalam al-Majali signed the treaty and the President of Israel Ezer Weizman shook hands with King Hussein. United States President Bill Clinton observed, accompanied by United States Secretary of State Warren Christopher, as well as the foreign ministers of eleven other nations (including Russia, which had joined the United States as a formal co-sponsor of the peace talks that led to the treaty). The treaty brought an end to 46 years of official war between Israel and Jordan. It was only the second full peace agreement that Israel had reached with an Arab nation, after the Camp David Accords signed with Egypt in 1978.{{cite web |last1=Haberman |first1=Clyde |title=THE JORDAN-ISRAEL ACCORD: THE OVERVIEW; Israel and Jordan Sign a Peace Accord |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/27/world/the-jordan-israel-accord-the-overview-israel-and-jordan-sign-a-peace-accord.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=29 May 2022 |date=27 October 1994 |archive-date=29 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220529194348/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/27/world/the-jordan-israel-accord-the-overview-israel-and-jordan-sign-a-peace-accord.html |url-status=live }}

{{main|Oslo Accords}}

File:Peres signing Oslo I (1).jpg

Rabin's 1992 campaign for Labor had primarily been run on the idea of negotiating peace with the Palestinians. This campaign had succeeded as a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was popular among the Israeli public at the time. The twenty-fifth government of Israel was arguably more pro-peace government than any previous Israeli government. It would begin negotiations with the Yasser Arafat-led Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

Peres was involved in secret peace negotiations between Prime Minister Rabin's government and Arafat's PLO organization. These negotiations were held over several months in 1992 and 1993. As part of the negotiations, Peres secretly flew to Oslo, Norway on 19 August 1993. The ultimate agreement outlined a peace process between Israel and Palestine, which would include the establishment of an interim Palestinian government within both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. On 13 September 1993, Peres signed the initial Oslo I Accord on behalf of the Israeli government in a ceremony at the United States' White House, with Rabin in attendance.{{cite web |title=Oslo Accords Fast Facts |url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/09/03/world/meast/oslo-accords-fast-facts/index.html#:~:text=September%2013%2C%201993%20-%20The%20Oslo%20Accords%20%28referred,second%20significant%20agreement%20is%20signed%20in%20Washington%2C%20DC. |website=CNN |access-date=26 May 2022 |language=en |date=3 September 2013 |archive-date=26 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526072306/https://www.cnn.com/2013/09/03/world/meast/oslo-accords-fast-facts/index.html#:~:text=September%2013%2C%201993%20-%20The%20Oslo%20Accords%20%28referred,second%20significant%20agreement%20is%20signed%20in%20Washington%2C%20DC. |url-status=live }}

File:Flickr - Government Press Office (GPO) - THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATES FOR 1994 IN OSLO..jpg, Shimon Peres and Yasser Arafat receiving the Nobel Peace Prize following the Oslo Accords]]

In 1994, in recognition of the Oslo Accords, Peres, Rabin and Arafat were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This was the second (and most recent) instance in which an Israeli was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Then-Prime Minister Menachem Begin had previously jointly received the honor with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in 1978. This was also the second time that the award had been given in recognition of middle east peacemaking efforts, with the 1978 award having been the previous instance of this. The awarding of the prize to the three has not been without controversy. After it was decided they would be given the award, Kåre Kristiansen resigned from the Nobel Peace Prize committee in protest of Arafat receiving the award, believing Arafat to be, "too tainted by violence, terror and torture".{{cite web |title=1994: Israelis and Arafat share peace prize |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/14/newsid_3694000/3694744.stm |website=BBC News |access-date=29 May 2022 |date=14 October 1994 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305181412/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/14/newsid_3694000/3694744.stm |url-status=live }} In 2002, a number of members of the Norwegian committee that awards the annual Nobel Peace Prize would state they regretted that Mr. Peres's prize could not be recalled. Because he had not acted to prevent Israel's re-occupation of Palestinian territory, he had not lived up to the ideals he expressed when he accepted the prize, and he was involved in human rights abuses.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1912953.stm "Nobel's regrets on Peres award"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003074908/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1912953.stm |date=3 October 2016 }} bbc.co.uk, 5 April 2002

Negotiations on further terms continued, with Peres continuing to be an integral player.{{cite web |title=CNN - Middle East peace accord - Sept. 28, 1995 |url=http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9509/israel_peace/09-28/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=26 May 2022 |date=28 September 1995 |archive-date=18 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220918052147/http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9509/israel_peace/09-28/index.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Hedges |first1=Chris |title=Peres and Arafat in Talks to Complete Accord |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/22/world/peres-and-arafat-in-talks-to-complete-accord.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=26 May 2022 |date=22 April 1994 |archive-date=26 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526072308/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/22/world/peres-and-arafat-in-talks-to-complete-accord.html |url-status=live }} On 28 September 1995, Rabin and Arafat jointly signed a second major agreement, which has popularly been referred to as "Oslo II".

{{see also|Twenty-fifth government of Israel|Twenty-sixth government of Israel}}

File:Channel2 - Yitzhak Rabin.webm (cropped).jpg]]

File:Flickr_-_Government_Press_Office_(GPO)_-_Peres_and_Clinton.jpg at the White House, April 1996]]

While the Oslo peace policies, at the time, enjoyed the support of most Israelis, they also faced intense opposition from extreme members of Israel’s right-wing. In response to intense street protests by right-wing opponents of the Oslo peace process, a coalition of left-wing parties and peace groups organized a rally in support of the peace process in Tel Aviv's Kings Square on 4 November 1995, which both Prime Minister Rabin and Peres attended. While making his way from the stage to his car after concluding his speech to the gathered crowd of more than 100,000 people, Rabin was assassinated by Yigal Amir, a right-wing Israeli Jew who opposed the peace process.{{cite web |title=Rabin assassinated at peace rally - Nov. 4, 1995 |url=http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9511/rabin/index.html |website=CNN |date=4 November 1995 |access-date=26 May 2022 |archive-date=26 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526072307/http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9511/rabin/index.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Derek |last2=Black |first2=Ian |last3=Freedland |first3=Jonathan |title=Israel's Yitzhak Rabin assassinated at peace rally - archive, 6 November 1995 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/06/yitzhak-rabin-assassinated-at-peace-rally-israel-1995 |website=The Guardian |access-date=26 May 2022 |language=en |date=6 November 1995 |archive-date=26 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526072306/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/06/yitzhak-rabin-assassinated-at-peace-rally-israel-1995 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Schmemann |first1=Serge |title=ASSASSINATION IN ISRAEL: THE OVERVIEW;RABIN SLAIN AFTER PEACE RALLY IN TEL AVIV; ISRAELI GUNMAN HELD; SAYS HE ACTED ALONE |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/05/world/assassination-israel-overview-rabin-slain-after-peace-rally-tel-aviv-israeli.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=26 May 2022 |date=5 November 1995 |archive-date=26 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526072309/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/05/world/assassination-israel-overview-rabin-slain-after-peace-rally-tel-aviv-israeli.html |url-status=live }}

After Rabin's assassination, Peres was made acting prime minister and acting defense minister of a provisional government.{{cite book |title=The Middle East and North Africa 2003 |publisher=Psychology Press |isbn=978-1-85743-132-2 |page=523 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4CfBKvsiWeQC |access-date=10 February 2022 |language=en |archive-date=1 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501072345/https://books.google.com/books?id=4CfBKvsiWeQC |url-status=live }} On 14 November 1995, the Labor Party confirmed Peres as its new leader, which thereby cleared the last formality before he could be invited by President Ezer Weizman to form a new government.{{cite web |title=NEWS SUMMARY |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/14/nyregion/news-summary-037176.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=26 May 2022 |date=14 November 1995 |archive-date=26 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526072306/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/14/nyregion/news-summary-037176.html |url-status=live }} On 15 November 1995, Peres was invited by to form a new government. On 21 November, Peres signed a coalition agreement between Labor, Meretz and Yiud (which had been members of Rabin's government), which was formally approved by the Knesset the next day, establishing a new government with Peres as prime minister.

Peres' second stint as prime minister ultimately lasted a total of seven months. During this time, he attempted to maintain the momentum of the peace process.

On 10 February 1996, Peres made the widely expected announcement that he would call early elections, moving the elections to late May, five months earlier than they otherwise were to be held. The election would be the first to use a new system in which the prime minister was directly elected in a vote coinciding with the Knesset election. Peres had hoped that early elections would deliver a mandate for his pursuit of a two-state solution.{{cite web |last1=Liebermann |first1=Oren |title=Shimon Peres: Israel's warrior for peace dies |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/09/27/middleeast/shimon-peres-obit/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=26 May 2022 |date=28 September 2016 |archive-date=26 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526063933/https://edition.cnn.com/2016/09/27/middleeast/shimon-peres-obit/index.html |url-status=live }} Peres had called the elections early because of promising polls. He was heavily leading in the polls for the prime minister vote at the time the election was called, with polls showing him to have between a twenty and twenty-five percent lead. Additionally, Labor was also leading in polls for the Knesset vote. Despite the promising polls, however, some in Labor had, even at this time, expressed concerns about the ability of Peres to win, given his failure to deliver an outright win for the Labor Party during his earlier stint as party leader.{{cite web |last1=Kessel |first1=Jerrold |title=Israeli elections will test support for peace - Feb. 11, 1996 |url=http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9602/israel_elex/02-11/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=26 May 2022 |date=11 February 1996 |archive-date=26 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026080005/http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9602/israel_elex/02-11/index.html |url-status=live }} His lead in the polls began to decrease after the Jaffa Road bus bombings on 25 February 1996. However, even in the last month before the election, he enjoyed a reduced leading margin of around five percent.

On 11 April 1996, Peres initiated Operation Grapes of Wrath,"[http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2014/7/israel-palestinianconflictgazawarpoliticsnetanyahu.html Israel's wars of choice push its politics further to the right] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002102127/http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2014/7/israel-palestinianconflictgazawarpoliticsnetanyahu.html |date=2 October 2016 }}". Al Jazeera. 22 July 2014. which was triggered by Hezbollah Katyusha rockets fired into Israel in response to the killing of two Lebanese by an IDF missile. Israel conducted massive air raids and extensive shelling in southern Lebanon. 106 Lebanese civilians died in the shelling of Qana, when a UN compound was hit in an Israeli shelling.Lazar Berman,[http://www.timesofisrael.com/bennett-defends-actions-during-1996-lebanon-operation/ 'Bennett defends actions during 1996 Lebanon operation,'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606235515/https://www.timesofisrael.com/bennett-defends-actions-during-1996-lebanon-operation/ |date=6 June 2021 }} The Times of Israel, 5 January 2015.

During his term, Peres promoted the use of the internet in Israel and created the first website of an Israeli prime minister.

Peres was narrowly defeated by Benjamin Netanyahu in the 1996 Israeli prime ministerial election. Not included in the new government, Labor became an opposition party again. This again placed Peres in the then-unofficial role of Knesset opposition leader.

In 1996, Peres founded the Peres Center for Peace, which has the aim of "promot[ing] lasting peace and advancement in the Middle East by fostering tolerance, economic and technological development, cooperation and well-being."

Peres did not seek re-election as Labor Party leader in 1997 and was replaced by Ehud Barak that year.{{cite web |last1=Schmemann |first1=Serge |title=Barak, Retired Israeli Army Chief, Elected Head of Labor Party |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/04/world/barak-retired-israeli-army-chief-elected-head-of-labor-party.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=10 February 2022 |date=4 June 1997 |archive-date=10 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210053538/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/04/world/barak-retired-israeli-army-chief-elected-head-of-labor-party.html |url-status=live }} Barak rebuffed Peres' attempt to secure the position of party president.[http://www.timesofisrael.com/beloved-abroad-polarizing-at-home-peres-was-the-peace-making-face-of-israel/ "Beloved abroad, polarizing at home, Peres was the peace-making face of Israel"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160928030115/http://www.timesofisrael.com/beloved-abroad-polarizing-at-home-peres-was-the-peace-making-face-of-israel/ |date=28 September 2016 }}, The Times of Israel, 28 September 2016

In 1999, Ehud Barak was elected prime minister and formed a Labor-lead government. He appointed Peres (who was seen as a political rival of Barak) to the minor post of minister of regional cooperation. The position was vaguely defined, being expected to be tasked with advancing economic and political ties between Israel and the Arab world.{{cite web |last1=Kampeas |first1=Ron |title=Barak's new Cabinet puzzles many Israelis |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/483492009 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Daily Item (Sunbury, Pennsylvania) |agency=The Associated Press |access-date=4 June 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=7 July 1999 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604182649/http://www.newspapers.com/image/483492009/ |url-status=live }} The position also did not come with any government funding. Peres accepted the relatively low-ranked position reluctantly.{{cite web |title=New Israeli leader envisions 'peace of the brave' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/327874820 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Tampa Bay Times |agency=Knight Ridder Newspapers |access-date=4 June 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=7 July 1999 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604174316/http://www.newspapers.com/image/327874820/ |url-status=live }} For nearly all of time in this position Peres was sidelined, finding himself disallowed from playing a major role within the government.{{cite web |last1=Goldenberg |first1=Suzanne |title=Polls scare Barak into alliance with Peres |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/259510250 |via=Newspapers.com |work=The Guardian |access-date=4 June 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=8 January 2001 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604190245/http://www.newspapers.com/image/259510250/ |url-status=live }}

On 1 November 2000, amid the Second Intifada, Peres met in the Gaza Strip with Arafat on behalf of the Israeli government. The two agreed to terms of a truce in the early hours of the following morning.Multiple sources:

• {{cite web |title=4 Palestinians killed, dozens hurt |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/149957575 |via=Newspapers.com |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=4 June 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=1 November 2000 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604185246/http://www.newspapers.com/image/149957575/ |url-status=live }}
• {{cite web |last1=Marshall |first1=Tyler |title=Palestinians Curtail Gunfire to Reduce Their Own Casualties |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/157496711 |via=Newspapers.com |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=4 June 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=6 November 2000 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604185240/http://www.newspapers.com/image/157496711/ |url-status=live }}
• {{cite web |title=Talks Yield Mideast Truce |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/177065026 |via=Newspapers.com |work=Hartford Courant |access-date=4 June 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=2 November 2000 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604185245/http://www.newspapers.com/image/177065026/ |url-status=live }}
• {{cite web |last1=Marshall |first1=Tyler |last2=Wilkinson |first2=Tracy |title=Jerusalem Car Bomb Kills 2; Leaders Cling to Truce |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/158173049 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=4 June 2022 |date=3 November 2000 |archive-date=15 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615025857/http://www.newspapers.com/image/158173049/ |url-status=live }}
• {{cite web |title=Friday Crucial To Israeli-Palestinian Truce |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/friday-crucial-to-israeli-palestinian-truce/ |website=CBS News |access-date=4 June 2022 |date=3 November 2000 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604185238/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/friday-crucial-to-israeli-palestinian-truce/ |url-status=live }}

After the resignation of Ezer Weizman, Peres ran in the 2000 Israeli presidential election, seeking to be elected by members of the Knesset to a seven-year term as Israel's president (a ceremonial head of state position which usually authorizes the selection of Prime Minister). However, he lost to Likud candidate Moshe Katsav. Katsav's victory was regarded to be in reaction to the perceived indications that Peres intended to use the presidency to provide his support to the increasingly unpopular peace processes that Barak's government was pursuing.{{cite book|chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Mz-fXRsedPMC&q=Katsav+president+peres&pg=PA247|pages = 247–251|chapter = Israel|title = Profiles of People in Power: The World's Government Leaders|first1 = Roger|last1 = East|first2 = Richard|last2 = Thomas|publisher = Psychology Press|isbn = 978-1-85743-126-1|edition = 1st|year = 2003|access-date = 31 October 2020|archive-date = 1 May 2024|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240501072309/https://books.google.com/books?id=Mz-fXRsedPMC&q=Katsav+president+peres&pg=PA247#v=snippet&q=Katsav%20president%20peres&f=false|url-status = live}} His defeat was considered a significant upset, as he had been regarded as a heavy front-runner to win the Knesset vote.{{cite web |last1=Kifner |first1=John |title=Barak barely survives no-confidence vote in Knesset |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/532822996 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Rutland Daily Herald |agency=The New York Times |access-date=26 April 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=1 August 2000 |archive-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426085422/http://www.newspapers.com/image/532822996/ |url-status=live }} The editorial board of the Los Angeles Times wrote that his defeat appeared to spell the end of Peres' long political career.{{cite web |title=Stay the Course, Mr. Barak |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/158737376 |via=Newspapers.com |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=26 April 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=2 August 2000 |archive-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426085423/http://www.newspapers.com/image/158737376/ |url-status=live }}

There was consideration given later that year to Peres potentially seeking the premiership again. On 20 November 2000, amid polls showing him to be in a virtual-tie with Ariel Sharon, an aide of Peres told the media that he would run in the 2001 direct election for prime minister. Peres himself told lawmakers that he intended to run.{{cite web |last1=Myre |first1=Greg |title=It's now a three-way race for Israel's top position |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/643789367 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Miami Herald |agency=The Associated Press |access-date=4 June 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=21 December 2000 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604185240/http://www.newspapers.com/image/643789367/ |url-status=live }} Despite this, Peres did not become a candidate.{{cite web |last1=Curtius |first1=Mary |title=Sharon: Hawk Running on Peace Platform |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/187872281 |via=Newspapers.com |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=4 June 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=13 January 2001 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604185240/http://www.newspapers.com/image/187872281/ |url-status=live }} In January 2001, there was some talk among Cabinet members that it would be best for Peres to be the candidate of the left.

{{cite web |last1=Gross |first1=Tom |title=Barak urged to stand aside for Peres |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/752687282 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Sunday Telegraph (London) |access-date=4 June 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=14 January 2001 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604185244/http://www.newspapers.com/image/752687282/ |url-status=live }} However, this did not happen. In early January 2001, in a joint television appearance with Barak that promoted the government's intent to work towards peace, Peres told the media that his own goal was, "not to become prime minister", but was instead, "to do the best for the state of Israel."

Following Barak's defeat by Ariel Sharon in the 2001 direct election for prime minister, Peres made yet another comeback. He helped with bringing Labor into a grand coalition unity government with Sharon's Likud (the Twenty-ninth government of Israel) and secured himself the post of foreign minister. In 2001, formal leadership of Labor passed to Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, and in 2002 it was passed to Amram Mitzna. Peres grew to be heavily criticized by many on the left, who accused him of clinging to his position as foreign minister in a government that was not seen as advancing the peace process. Left critics accused Peres of not acting in accordance with his own dovish stance. Peres resigned from his post as foreign minister when Labor left the unity government in advance of the 2003 Knesset election. Labor's departure from the unity government placed Labor in the opposition ahead of the 2003 Knesset election.

After the Labor Party suffered a crushing defeat in the 2003 Knesset election while under the leadership of Mitzna, Peres was made interim leader of the party on 19 June 2003.{{cite web |title=Israel's Labor Party Picks Peres as Its Interim Leader |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jun-20-fg-peres20-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=25 January 2022 |date=20 June 2003 |archive-date=25 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125193603/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jun-20-fg-peres20-story.html |url-status=live }}

Peres led the Labor Party into a coalition with Sharon once more, reaching an agreement the end of 2004, and entering the party into the thirtieth government of Israel in January 2005. This came after the Sharon's support of "disengagement" from Gaza presented a diplomatic program that Labor could support. Sharon made Peres vice prime minister.

File:Shimon Peres 2005.jpg

As interim party leader, Peres favored putting off the elections for as long as possible. He claimed that an early election would jeopardize both the September 2005 Gaza withdrawal plan and the standing of the party in a national unity government with Sharon. However, the majority pushed for an earlier date, as younger members of the party, among them Amir Peretz, Ophir Pines-Paz and Isaac Herzog, overtook established leaders such as Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and Haim Ramon in the party ballot to divide up government portfolios.

Peres lost a bid for permanent leadership of the Labor Party to Amir Peretz in the November 2005 leadership election, held in advance of the 2006 elections.{{cite web |title=Peres loses party leadership bid |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/nov/10/israel |website=The Guardian |access-date=25 January 2022 |language=en |date=10 November 2005 |archive-date=25 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125193603/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/nov/10/israel |url-status=live }} Peres received 40% of the vote to Peretz's 42.4%.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4423676.stm |title=Israel Labour head to meet Sharon |access-date=13 June 2007 |date=10 November 2005 |work=BBC News |archive-date=1 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501072230/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4423676.stm |url-status=live }}

Labor withdrew from the unity government on 23 November 2005.{{cite web |last1=Makovsky |first1=David |title=Campaign Season Begins in Israel (Part II): Labor's New Leader, Amir Peretz |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/campaign-season-begins-israel-part-ii-labors-new-leader-amir-peretz |website=The Washington Institute |access-date=8 February 2022 |language=en |date=23 November 2005 |archive-date=1 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501072322/https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/campaign-season-begins-israel-part-ii-labors-new-leader-amir-peretz |url-status=live }} On 30 November 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 days later (which left Sharon in a coma), there was speculation that Peres might take over as leader of the Kadima party; most senior Kadima leaders, however, were former members of Likud and indicated their support for Ehud Olmert as Sharon's successor.{{cite web | last = Verter | first = Yossi | title = Under Peres, Kadima would win 42 seats; under Olmert – 40 | work=Haaretz | date = 6 January 2006 | url = http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/667051.html | access-date =21 July 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060113043619/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/667051.html |archive-date = 13 January 2006}} Labor reportedly tried to woo Peres to rejoin them.{{cite web |author1=Mazal Mualem |author2=Yossi Verter |author3=Nir Hasson |name-list-style=amp | title = Shimon Peres calls on his supporters to vote Kadima | work=Haaretz | date = 9 January 2006 | url = http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/667313.html | access-date =21 July 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060113042519/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/667313.html|archive-date=13 January 2006}} However, he announced that he supported Olmert and would remain with Kadima. Peres had previously announced his intention not to run in the March 2006 elections, but changed his mind.

Peres resigned from the Knesset on 15 January 2006 due both to Attorney General Menahem Mazuz issuing a decision that ruled Peres and several others could not be appointed to ministerial posts by Prime Minister Olmert{{cite web |last1=Hoffman |first1=Gil Stern |title=Shimon Peres resigns from Knesset |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel/shimon-peres-resigns-from-knesset |website=JPost.com |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |access-date=10 February 2022 |date=15 January 2006 |archive-date=10 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210053539/https://www.jpost.com/israel/shimon-peres-resigns-from-knesset |url-status=live }} and because of a law that, due to him having switched parties, would have prevented him from running for the next Knesset if he remained an incumbent member of the Knesset.{{cite web |last1=Hoffman |first1=Gil Stern Stern |last2=Keinon |first2=Herb |title=Shimon Peres, Dalia Itzik quit Knesset |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel/shimon-peres-dalia-itzik-quit-knesset |website=JPost.com |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |access-date=10 February 2022 |date=15 January 2006 |archive-date=10 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210053538/https://www.jpost.com/israel/shimon-peres-dalia-itzik-quit-knesset |url-status=live }} By that time, he had served in the Knesset for more than forty-six consecutive years.

Peres was soon elected back to the Knesset in the 2006 election, this time as a member of Kadima. After the new Kadima-led thirty-first government was formed, Peres was given the role of vice prime minister and minister for the development of the Negev, Galilee and Regional Economy.

{{main|Presidency of Shimon Peres}}

File:Shimon Peres to David Shankbone on his Presidency and future plans.ogg

File:Shimon Peres - World Economic Forum on the Middle East 2009.jpg on the Middle East (2009)]]

File:Barack Obama welcomes Shimon Peres in the Oval Office.jpg and Vice President Joe Biden in the Oval Office, 5 May 2009]]

File:AmorimPeres.jpg of Brazil, Celso Amorim, meet in Brasília, 11 November 2009]]

File:Shimon Peres - World Jewish Congress - September 2010.jpg in Jerusalem (2010)]]

On 13 June 2007, Peres was elected president of the State of Israel 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,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6747517.stm|title=Peres elected Israel's president|date=13 June 2007|work=BBC News|access-date=13 June 2007|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075602/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6747517.stm|url-status=live}} 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. Peres was sworn in as president on 15 July 2007.Jim Teeple, [http://voanews.com/english/2007-07-15-voa14.cfm "Shimon Peres Sworn In as Israel's President"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715211831/http://voanews.com/english/2007-07-15-voa14.cfm |date=15 July 2007 }}, VOA News, 15 July 2007.

{{blockquote|Israel must not only be an asset but a value. A moral, cultural and scientific call for the promotion of man, every man. It must be a good and warm home for Jews who are not Israelis, as well as for Israelis who are not Jews. And it must create equal opportunities for all, without discriminating between religion, nationality, community or sex... I have seen Israel in its most difficult hours and also in moments of achievement and spiritual uplifting. My years place me at an observation point from which can be viewed the scene of our reviving nation, spread out in all its glory... Permit me to remain an optimist. Permit me to be a dreamer of his people. If sometimes the atmosphere is autumnal, and also if today, the day seems suddenly grey, the president Israel has chosen will never tire of encouraging, awakening and reminding - because spring is waiting for us. The spring will definitely come.|Shimon Peres, President's inaugural address, July 2007}}

On 20 November 2008, Peres received an honorary knighthood, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George from Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace in London.{{cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1039485.html|title=Shimon Peres: State president, Nobel laureate and now – knight|date=23 November 2008|work=Haaretz|access-date=8 July 2009|archive-date=18 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418051733/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1039485.html|url-status=live}}

In June 2011, he was awarded the honorary title of sheikh by Bedouin dignitaries in Hura for his efforts to achieve Middle East peace. Peres thanks his hosts by saying "This visit has been a pleasure. I am deeply impressed by Hura. You have done more for yourselves than anyone else could have". He told the Mayor of Hura, Dr. Muhammad Al-Nabari, and members of Hura's governing council, that they were "part of the Negev. It cannot be developed without developing the Bedouin community, so that it may keep its traditions while joining the modern world."{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4082248,00.html|title=Peres becomes Sheikh|newspaper=Ynetnews|date=14 June 2011|last1=Medzini|first1=Ronen|access-date=8 January 2016|archive-date=28 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128204938/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4082248,00.html|url-status=live}}

Peres announced in April 2013 that he would not seek to extend his tenure beyond 2014. His successor, Reuven Rivlin, was elected on 10 June 2014 and took office on 24 July 2014.

In July 2016, Peres founded the 'Israel innovation center' in the Arab neighbourhood of Ajami, Jaffa, aiming to encourage young people from around the world to be inspired by technology.[http://www.timesofisrael.com/peres-center-aims-to-showcase-israel-tech-spark-dreams New Peres center to showcase Israel tech, spark dreams] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927011610/http://www.timesofisrael.com/peres-center-aims-to-showcase-israel-tech-spark-dreams/ |date=27 September 2016 }} BY SHOSHANNA SOLOMON 21 July 2016, Times of Israel

On 13 September 2016, Peres suffered a severe stroke and was hospitalized at Sheba Medical Center. His condition was reported to be very serious, as he had suffered a massive brain hemorrhage and significant bleeding.{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/former-president-peres-in-induced-coma-after-suffering-stroke-1.5433852|title=Former President Shimon Peres in Induced Coma After Suffering Major Stroke|first1=Barak|last1=Ravid|first2=Ido|last2=Efrati|date=14 September 2016|newspaper=Haaretz|access-date=22 April 2019|archive-date=24 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624150348/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/former-president-peres-in-induced-coma-after-suffering-stroke-1.5433852|url-status=live}} Two days later, he was reported as being in a serious but stable condition.{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/peres-to-remain-sedated-condition-still-serious-but-stable/|title=Peres to remain sedated, condition still 'serious but stable'|agency=AFP|website=The Times of Israel|access-date=17 August 2017|archive-date=17 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917041213/http://www.timesofisrael.com/peres-to-remain-sedated-condition-still-serious-but-stable/|url-status=live}} However, on 26 September, an examination found irreversible damage to his brainstem, indicating that it was not possible for him to recover, and the following day, his medical condition deteriorated significantly.{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/former-israeli-president-shimon-peres-medical-condition-deteriorates-1.5443326|title=Former Israeli President Shimon Peres' Medical Condition Deteriorates After Major Stroke|date=27 September 2016|newspaper=Haaretz|access-date=22 April 2019|archive-date=24 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624092936/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/former-israeli-president-shimon-peres-medical-condition-deteriorates-1.5443326|url-status=live}} He died on 28 September at the age of 93.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/14/world/middleeast/shimon-peres-israel.html |title=Shimon Peres, Former Prime Minister of Israel, Suffers a Stroke |last=Baker |first=Peter |date=13 September 2016 |newspaper=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=28 September 2016 |archive-date=26 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160926015102/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/14/world/middleeast/shimon-peres-israel.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Former-President-Peres-dies-at-93-467659|title=Shimon Peres, former president and veteran Israeli statesman, dies at 93|last=Wohlgelernter|first=Elli|date=28 September 2016|website=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=28 September 2016|archive-date=24 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524123841/https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/former-president-peres-dies-at-93-467659|url-status=live}}

On hearing of his death, tributes came from leaders across the world. The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin said: "I was extremely lucky to have met this extraordinary man many times. And every time I admired his courage, patriotism, wisdom, vision and ability."[http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/52976 Condolences on the death of Shimon Peres] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160929144006/http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/52976 |date=29 September 2016 }} 28 September 2016 10:55 The President of China, Xi Jinping said: "His death is the loss of an old friend for China."[http://french.xinhuanet.com/2016-09/28/c_135720668.htm Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed condolences to Israeli President following the death of Shimon Peres] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160929141101/http://french.xinhuanet.com/2016-09/28/c_135720668.htm |date=29 September 2016 }} French.xinhuanet.com, Posted on 28 September 2016 The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee said: "Peres would be remembered as a steadfast friend of India."[http://www.thestatesman.com/news/india/shimon-peres-was-a-steadfast-friend-of-india-pranab-mukherjee/167781.html#yOC96pLRct3It6Pp.99 Shimon Peres was a steadfast friend of India] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011205019/http://www.thestatesman.com/news/india/shimon-peres-was-a-steadfast-friend-of-india-pranab-mukherjee/167781.html#yOC96pLRct3It6Pp.99 |date=11 October 2016 }} thestatesman.com/Agencies, New Delhi, 28 September 2016 The President of the United States, Barack Obama said: "I will always be grateful that I was able to call Shimon my friend."

Peres was described by The New York Times as having done "more than anyone to build up his country's formidable military might, then [having] worked as hard to establish a lasting peace with Israel's Arab neighbors."{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/28/world/middleeast/shimon-peres-dies-israel.html|title = Shimon Peres Dies at 93; Built Up Israel's Defense and Sought Peace|first = Marilyn|last = Bergersept|date = 27 September 2016|access-date = 28 September 2016|newspaper = The New York Times|archive-date = 31 July 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210731032603/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/28/world/middleeast/shimon-peres-dies-israel.html|url-status = live}}

File:קבר שמעון פרס.jpg

The funeral was held at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem on 30 September 2016, with his burial place in the Great Leaders of the Nation section between former Israeli Prime Ministers Yitzhak Rabin and Yitzhak Shamir.{{cite news|author=|title=World leaders to attend funeral for Israel's Shimon Peres|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-37498086|newspaper=BBC News|date=28 September 2016|access-date=28 September 2016|archive-date=28 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160928150714/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-37498086|url-status=live}}{{cite news|author=Peter Beaumont|title=Shimon Peres funeral: Obama evokes 'unfinished business' of peace talks|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/30/shimon-peres-funeral-unprecedented-security-as-world-leaders-gather-for-ceremony|newspaper=The Guardian|date=30 September 2016|access-date=1 October 2016|archive-date=1 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001011920/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/30/shimon-peres-funeral-unprecedented-security-as-world-leaders-gather-for-ceremony|url-status=live}}

About 4,000 mourners and world leaders from 75 countries attended the funeral, with President Barack Obama among those who gave a eulogy.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey19AbwhPrw Obama speaks at Shimon Peres' funeral] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928130542/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey19AbwhPrw |date=28 September 2021 }}, Euronews, 30 September 2016[https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/09/27/statement-president-death-former-israeli-president-shimon-peres-0 Statement by the President on the Death of Former Israeli President Shimon Peres] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819143039/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/09/27/statement-president-death-former-israeli-president-shimon-peres-0 |date=19 August 2021 }} 27 September 2016 Since the funeral for Nelson Mandela, this was only the second time Obama traveled overseas for the funeral of a foreign leader. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also spoke.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5xuPoCb890 "Netanyahu gives speech at funeral of Shimon Peres"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928130537/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5xuPoCb890 |date=28 September 2021 }}, Times of Israel, 30 September 2016[http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Abbass-farewell-to-Shimon-Peres-stirs-controversy-among-Palestinians-469345 " Abbas's farewell to Shimon Peres stirs controversy among Palestinians"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928131902/https://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Abbass-farewell-to-Shimon-Peres-stirs-controversy-among-Palestinians-469345 |date=28 September 2021 }}, Jerusalem Post, 4 October 2016 Among the other delegates in attendance and speaking were former President Bill Clinton.[https://www.foxnews.com/world/thousands-join-world-leaders-for-peres-funeral "Thousands join world leaders for Peres funeral"], Fox News, 30 September 2016[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK9B9lTlm2A "Bill Clinton Speech at Farewell Ceremony for Former Israeli President Shimon Peres"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928130533/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK9B9lTlm2A |date=28 September 2021 }}, Channel 90, 30 September 2016 Other delegates included PA President Mahmoud Abbas, President François Hollande of France, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, German President Joachim Gauck, President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico and King Felipe VI of Spain.Baker, Peter. [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/01/world/middleeast/shimon-peres-funeral.html "World Leaders Gather to Mourn Shimon Peres, and Possibly His Dream"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928130539/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/01/world/middleeast/shimon-peres-funeral.html |date=28 September 2021 }}, New York Times, 30 September 2016 The UK delegation included Prince Charles, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, former Prime Ministers David Cameron, Gordon Brown, and Tony Blair, and Britain's chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis.

Peres described himself as a "Ben-Gurionist", after his mentor Ben-Gurion.{{cite web |url=http://forward.com/articles/147083/secrets-of-ben-gurions-leadership/?p=all |title=Secrets of Ben-Gurion's Leadership |work=Forward |date=5 December 2011 |access-date=12 June 2014 |archive-date=26 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726042320/http://forward.com/articles/147083/secrets-of-ben-gurions-leadership/?p=all |url-status=live }} He felt that Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel was a means to a progressive end in which the State of Israel both inspire the world and survive in a region of the world where it was unwelcome.Goldberg, Jeffrey. [https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/09/shimon-peres-benjamin-netanyahu/502319/ "The Unbearable Smallness of Benjamin Netanyahu."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308001517/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/09/shimon-peres-benjamin-netanyahu/502319/ |date=8 March 2017 }} The Atlantic. 29 September 2016. 30 September 2016.

As a younger man, Peres was once considered a "hawk".{{cite web|url=http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/article.aspx?id=591|title=Shimon Peres: From Hawk to Dove|access-date=13 June 2007|publisher=Vision.org|date=Winter 2000|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070507043854/http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/article.aspx?id=591|archive-date=7 May 2007}} 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. Subsequently, he was seen as a dove, and a strong supporter 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.

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 remained an adamant supporter of the Oslo Accords and the Palestinian Authority since their inception despite the First Intifada and the al-Aqsa Intifada (Second Intifada). However, Peres supported Ariel Sharon's military policy of operating the Israeli Defense Forces to thwart suicide bombings.

Peres's foreign policy outlook was markedly realist. To placate Turkey,[http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/israels-denials-armenian-genocide-are-hard-swallow-346187719 "Israel's denials of the Armenian Genocide are hard to swallow"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002043126/http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/israels-denials-armenian-genocide-are-hard-swallow-346187719 |date=2 October 2016 }}, Middle East Eye, 23 April 2015 Peres downplayed the Armenian genocide. Peres stated: "We reject attempts to create a similarity between the Holocaust and the Armenian allegations. Nothing similar to the Holocaust occurred. It is a tragedy what the Armenians went through but not a genocide."{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20010418/ai_n14382462 |title=Peres stands accused over denial of 'meaningless' Armenian Holocaust |author=Robert Fisk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214075836/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20010418/ai_n14382462 |archive-date=14 December 2007 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.anca.org/action_alerts/actionalerts.php?aaid=23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050301115214/http://www.anca.org/action_alerts/actionalerts.php?aaid=23 |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 March 2005 |title=Protest [against] Israeli foreign minister's remarks dismissing Armenian genocide as "meaningless" |publisher=Anca.org |access-date=12 June 2014 }}{{cite web |last=Ravid |first=Barak |url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/897273.html |title=Peres to Turks: "Our stance on Armenian issue hasn't changed" |work=Haaretz |date=26 August 2007 |access-date=12 June 2014 |archive-date=18 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418064148/http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/897273.html |url-status=dead }} Although Peres himself did not retract the statement, the Israeli Foreign Ministry later issued a cable to its missions which stated that "The minister absolutely did not say, as the Turkish news agency alleged, 'What the Armenians underwent was a tragedy, not a genocide.'"{{Cite book | last = Yair| first = Auron | title = The Banality of Denial: Israel and the Armenian Genocide | edition = 1st | year = 2003 | publisher=Transaction Publishers | location = New Brunswick (U.S.A.) | isbn = 978-0-7658-0191-3 | page = 127 | chapter = Chapter 5 – The Armenian Genocide's Recognition by States: The Israeli Aspect}} However, according to Armenian news agencies, the statement released by the Israeli consulate in Los Angeles did not include any mention that Peres had not said that the events were not genocide.

On the issue of the nuclear program of Iran and the supposed existential threat this poses for Israel, Peres stated, "I am not in favor of a military attack on Iran, but we must quickly and decisively establish a strong, aggressive coalition of nations that will impose painful economic sanctions on Iran", adding "Iran's efforts to achieve nuclear weapons should keep the entire world from sleeping soundly." In the same speech, Peres compared Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his call to "wipe Israel off the map" to the genocidal threats to European Jewry made by Adolf Hitler in the years prior to the Holocaust.Pfeffer, Anshel. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/980926.html "Peres: 'Fight terror – reduce global dependence on oil'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091119061206/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/980926.html |date=19 November 2009 }}, Haaretz. May 5, 2008. In an interview with Army Radio on 8 May 2006 he remarked that "the president of Iran should remember that Iran can also be wiped off the map."[http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/world/2006/5/8/13207/Peres-says-that-Iran-can-also-be-wiped-off-the-map "Peres says that Iran 'can also be wiped off the map'"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717084638/http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/world/2006/5/8/13207/Peres-says-that-Iran-can-also-be-wiped-off-the-map |date=17 July 2012 }}, Dominican Today. 8 May 2006 However, after his death it was revealed that Peres had said that he prevented a military strike on Iran's nuclear program that had been ordered by Benjamin Netanyahu and Ehud Barak in 2010.[http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Peres-bombshell-I-stopped-an-Israeli-strike-on-Iran-469112 Peres bombshell: I stopped an Israeli strike on Iran] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160930041139/http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Peres-bombshell-I-stopped-an-Israeli-strike-on-Iran-469112 |date=30 September 2016 }} Jerusalem Post, 30 September 2016

Peres was a proponent of Middle East economic integration.{{Cite web|url=https://uwaterloo.ca/scholar/bmomani/home|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311234338/http://www.arts.uwaterloo.ca/~bmomani/WE-%20MEFTA.pdf|url-status=dead|title=Dr. Bessma Momani|archive-date=11 March 2012|website=uwaterloo.ca}}

Peres is regarded as one of the founders of Israel's technology sector. Through personal meetings with the French government, he established collaboration treaties with France's nuclear industry in 1954. In 1958, he founded the re-organized RAFAEL Armament Development Authority,{{cite web|title=President Shimon Peres - Seventy years of public service|url=http://www.president.gov.il/english/thepresident/pages/cv.aspx|access-date=29 September 2016|archive-date=1 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001102734/http://www.president.gov.il/english/thepresident/pages/cv.aspx|url-status=dead}} under the MOD's jurisdiction. From his desk he would control all aspects of Israel's nuclear program (first as director general and after 1959 as deputy minister).The Worst-Kept Secret: Israel's Bargain with the Bomb, By Avner Cohen (Columbia University Press, 2013), page 173 In the 1980s, he is credited with having laid the economic foundations for Israel's start-up economy.[http://www.timesofisrael.com/shimon-peres-urged-israel-to-dream-and-innovate How Shimon Peres laid the foundation for Start-up Nation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160929144910/http://www.timesofisrael.com/shimon-peres-urged-israel-to-dream-and-innovate/ |date=29 September 2016 }} By NIV ELIS, Jerusalem Post, 29 September 2016 In later years, he developed an obsessive fascination with nanotechnology and brain research.[http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/A-politician-and-a-statesman-467854 My Word: Memories of reporting on the life and times of Shimon Peres.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160930201132/http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/A-politician-and-a-statesman-467854 |date=30 September 2016 }} By LIAT COLLINS, Jerusalem Post, 15 September 2016 He believed that brain research would be the key to a better and more peaceful future.[http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/05/09/better-brain-research-wil_n_1503124.html Better brain research will make a better world: Israeli President Shimon Peres] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002103729/http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/05/09/better-brain-research-wil_n_1503124.html |date=2 October 2016 }} Canadian Press, By Diana Mehta, 5 September 2012 He launched his own nanotechnology investment fund in 2003, raising $5 million in the first week.[http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/business/peres-nanotechnology-fund-starts-off-with-5-million-1.93279 Peres' Nanotechnology Fund Starts Off With $5 Million] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002171058/http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/business/peres-nanotechnology-fund-starts-off-with-5-million-1.93279 |date=2 October 2016 }} Oded Hermon 6 July 2003, Haaretz In 2016, he founded the 'Israel innovation center' in the Arab neighbourhood of Ajami, Jaffa. The center aims to encourage young people from around the world to be inspired by technology. Laying its foundation stone on 21 July 2016, Peres said: “We will prove that innovation has no limits and no barriers. Innovation enables dialogue between nations and between people. It will enable all young people – Jews, Muslims and Christians — to engage in science and technology equally."[http://www.timesofisrael.com/peres-center-aims-to-showcase-israel-tech-spark-dreams New Peres center to showcase Israel tech, spark dreams] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927011610/http://www.timesofisrael.com/peres-center-aims-to-showcase-israel-tech-spark-dreams/ |date=27 September 2016 }} Times of Israel, 21 July 2016

In May 1945, Peres married Sonya Gelman, whom he had met in the Ben Shemen Youth Village, where her father served as a carpentry teacher. The couple married after Sonya finished her military service as a truck driver in the British Army during World War II. Through the years Sonya chose to stay away from the media and keep her privacy and the privacy of her family, despite her husband's extensive political career. Sonya Peres was unable to attend Shimon's 2007 presidential inauguration ceremony because of ill health. With the election of Peres for president, Sonya Peres, who had not wanted her husband to accept the position, announced that she would stay in the couple's apartment in Tel Aviv and not join her husband in Jerusalem. The couple thereafter lived separately.{{cite web |last=Fay |first=Greer |url=http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=204511 |title=Jerusalem Post article on Sonya Gelman |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=20 January 2011 |access-date=12 June 2014 |archive-date=22 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022063024/http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=204511 |url-status=live }} She died on 20 January 2011, aged 87, from heart failure at her apartment in Tel Aviv.{{cite news|last=Cebedo|first=Earl|title=Wife of Israeli President Shimon Peres dies|url=http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/7947329-wife-of-israeli-president-shimon-peres-dies|access-date=26 June 2013|newspaper=All Voices|date=20 January 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114193726/http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/7947329-wife-of-israeli-president-shimon-peres-dies|archive-date=14 January 2014}}

Shimon and Sonya Peres had three children. Their eldest child was a daughter, Dr. Tsvia ("Tsiki") Walden, who became a linguist and professor at Beit Berl Academic College. Their middle child was a son, Yoni, who became director of Village Veterinary Center, a veterinary hospital on the campus of Kfar Hayarok Agricultural School near Tel Aviv. He specializes in the treatment of guide dogs. Their youngest child, Nehemia ("Chemi"), became co-founder and managing general partner of Pitango Venture Capital, one of Israel's largest venture capital funds.[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=920227&contrassID=2&subContrassID=4 "Not like other murderers"], Haaretz, 5 November 2007 Chemi Peres is a former helicopter pilot in the IAF.

Peres was a cousin of actress Lauren Bacall (born Betty Joan Persky), although the two only discovered their relation to each other in the 1950s. Recalling this, Peres once remarked, "In 1952 or 1953 I came to New York... Lauren Bacall called me, said that she wanted to meet, and we did. We sat and talked about where our families came from, and discovered that we were from the same family".{{cite news| url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/culture/television/.premium-1.610399| title=Shimon Peres remembers 'very strong, very beautiful' relative Lauren Bacall| work=Haaretz| first=Nirit| last=Anderman| date=13 August 2014| location=Tel Aviv| access-date=28 September 2016| archive-date=2 October 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002101539/http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/culture/television/.premium-1.610399| url-status=live}}

Peres was a polyglot, speaking Polish, French, English, Russian, Yiddish, and Hebrew. He never lost his Polish accent when speaking in Hebrew.[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/28/shimon-peres-obituary Shimon Peres obituary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103162603/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/28/shimon-peres-obituary |date=3 January 2021 }} by Lawrence Joffe, Wednesday 28 September 2016

Peres was a lifelong writer of poetry and songs. As a child in Vishnyeva, Poland he learned to play the mandolin.{{cite news | url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/larger-than-life-shimon-peres-a-legacy-in-pictures/ | title=Larger than life: Shimon Peres, a legacy in pictures | work=The Times of Israel | author=Raphael Ahren | date=28 September 2016 | access-date=29 May 2017 | archive-date=11 July 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711025657/http://www.timesofisrael.com/larger-than-life-shimon-peres-a-legacy-in-pictures/ | url-status=live }} He wrote his first song when he was 8. He was inspired to write, including during cabinet meetings. Peres was noted to sometimes write stanzas during Cabinet meetings.[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32453580 Poems turn to song as ex-leader turns 86] AP, updated 17 August 2009 7:55:07 PM ET As a result of his deep literary interests, he could quote from Hebrew prophets, French literature, and Chinese philosophy with equal ease. Many of his poems were turned into songs, with the proceedings of the albums going to charity. His songs have been performed by artists including Andrea Bocelli and Liel Kolet.[http://www.jpost.com/Arts-and-Culture/Music/A-ray-of-hope A ray of hope] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002094135/http://www.jpost.com/Arts-and-Culture/Music/A-ray-of-hope |date=2 October 2016 }} Jerusalem Post, 28 October 2008 The most recent of his songs was "Chinese Melody" (recorded in Mandarin with Chinese and Israeli musicians), released in February 2016, which he wrote to celebrate the Year of the Monkey ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef6LcKQeWNw Music Video of 'Chinese Melody'] on YouTube).[http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/videos/1.702095 Shimon Peres Writes a Song to Celebrate Chinese New Year] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002102312/http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/videos/1.702095 |date=2 October 2016 }} Reuters, Haaretz, 8 February 2016

During his presidency (2007–2014), Shimon Peres was noted for his embrace of social media to communicate with the public, being described as "Israel's first social media president",Esther D. Kustanowitz, [http://www.jewishjournal.com/israel/article/shimon_peres_israels_first_social_media_president Shimon Peres: Israel's first social media president] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002055535/http://www.jewishjournal.com/israel/article/shimon_peres_israels_first_social_media_president |date=2 October 2016 }} Jewish Journal, 28 September 2016 which included producing comedic videos on his YouTube channel such as "Be my Friend for Peace" and "Former Israeli President Shimon Peres Goes Job Hunting". After retirement, he led a viral campaign to encourage children to study mathematics. In one video, he sends his answer to the teacher by throwing a paper plane ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJp6SzincgE Video: Shimon Peres throws a paper airplane in the name of education] on YouTube).Sharon Udasin, [http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/WATCH-Shimon-Peres-throws-a-paper-airplane-in-the-name-of-education-413706 WATCH: Shimon Peres throws a paper airplane in the name of education] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818202359/http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/WATCH-Shimon-Peres-throws-a-paper-airplane-in-the-name-of-education-413706 |date=18 August 2016 }} 30 August 2015, Jerusalem Post. According to The Wall Street Journal, his presence on platforms such as Snapchat, allowed him to "pack more punch—and humor—into the causes he championed, especially peaceful coexistence with the Palestinians."Rory Jones, [https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-his-90s-shimon-peres-became-social-media-star-1475078534 In his 90s, Shimon Peres Became Social Media Star] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220182528/http://www.wsj.com/articles/in-his-90s-shimon-peres-became-social-media-star-1475078534 |date=20 December 2016 }} 28 September 2016, Wall Street Journal.

Following his death, it was announced that Israel's Negev nuclear reactor and atomic research center, that had been constructed in 1958, would be named after Peres. Netanyahu stated: "Shimon Peres worked hard to establish this important facility, a facility which has been very important for Israel's security for generations.."[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4864800,00.html PM to name Dimona reactor after Shimon Peres] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010181336/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4864800,00.html |date=10 October 2016 }} Moran Azulay, Published: 09.10.16

File:65th Anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (6).jpg ceremony with Polish president Lech Kaczyński, 2008]]

Shimon Peres is the author of 11 books, including:

• The Next Step (1965)
• David's Sling (1970) ({{ISBN|978-0-297-00083-9}})
• And Now Tomorrow (1978)
• From These Men: seven founders of the State of Israel (1979) ({{ISBN|978-0-671-61016-6}})
• Entebbe Diary (1991) ({{ISBN|978-965-248-111-5}})
• The New Middle East (1993) ({{ISBN|978-0-8050-3323-6}})
• Battling for Peace: A Memoir (1995) ({{ISBN|978-0-679-43617-1}})
• For the Future of Israel (1998) ({{ISBN|978-0-8018-5928-1}})
• The Imaginary Voyage: With Theodor Herzl in Israel (1999) ({{ISBN|978-1-55970-468-7}})
• Ben Gurion: A Political Life (2011) ({{ISBN|978-0-8052-4282-9}})

• 1957: Commander of the Legion of Honour.
• 1994, 10 December: Nobel Peace Prize together with Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat.
• 2008, 18 November: Honorary doctorate of law from King's College London.{{cite web|url=https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/headlines|title=Headlines - King's News Centre - King's College London|website=www.kcl.ac.uk|access-date=22 April 2019|archive-date=22 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422103519/https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/headlines|url-status=dead}}
• 2008, 20 November: Honorarily appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/protocol/honours/2008-honoraries|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925225259/http://www.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/protocol/honours/2008-honoraries|url-status=dead|title=Foreign and Commonwealth Office|archive-date=25 September 2012}}
• 2012, 13 June: Presidential Medal of Freedom from US President Barack Obama.
• 2014, 19 May: The United States House of Representatives voted on {{USBill|113|HR|2939}}, a bill to award Peres the Congressional Gold Medal.{{cite web|title=H.R. 2939 – Summary|url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/2939|publisher=United States Congress|access-date=20 May 2014|archive-date=20 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520222248/http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/2939|url-status=live}} The bill said that "Congress proclaims its unbreakable bond with Israel."{{cite news|last=Marcos|first=Cristina|title=House votes to award medal to Israeli president|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/206560-house-votes-to-award-medal-to-israeli-president/|access-date=20 May 2014|newspaper=The Hill|date=19 May 2014|archive-date=20 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520094712/http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/206560-house-votes-to-award-medal-to-israeli-president|url-status=live}}
• 2015, 31 May: The Solomon Bublick Award of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in recognition of his contributions to the State of Israel, the pursuit of peace, higher education, and science and technology.{{cite web|title=Awarding of the 2015 Solomon Bublick Prize to President Shimon Peres|url=https://www.afhu.org/awarding-of-the-2015-solomon-bublick-prize-to-former-israeli-president-shimon-peres/|website=afhu.org|publisher=American Friends of the Hebrew University|access-date=13 January 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116162648/https://www.afhu.org/awarding-of-the-2015-solomon-bublick-prize-to-former-israeli-president-shimon-peres/|archive-date=16 January 2017}}

Peres twice officially served as prime minister (Israel's head of government). His first stint spanned from 13 September 1984 through 20 October 1986, leading the 21st government during the first half of the 11th Knesset. His second stint lasted from 4 November 1995 through 18 June 1996 (serving in an acting capacity from 4 November through 22 November 1995; and in permanent capacity thereafter), leading the 25th government as interim prime minister and the 26th government as permanent prime minister during the latter portion of the 13th Knesset. In addition to these two official stints as prime minister, Peres is also considered to have served as the de facto acting prime minister from 22 April through 21 June 1977 (with Yitzhak Rabin remaining the de jure prime minister). Peres served as president (Israel's head of state) from 15 July 2007 through 24 July 2014.{{cite web |title=Shimon Peres |url=https://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/aboutisrael/state/pages/shimon%20peres.aspx |website=www.mfa.gov.il |publisher=Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs |access-date=10 February 2022 |archive-date=10 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210053540/https://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/aboutisrael/state/pages/shimon%20peres.aspx |url-status=live }} Peres was a member of the Knesset (Israel's legislature), first from November 1959 through 15 January 2006 (a record 47-year tenure), and again from March 2006 through 13 June 2007. His overall Knesset tenure of 48 years is the longest tenure in the history of the Knesset.{{cite web |last1=Beaumont |first1=Peter |title=Shimon Peres: what you need to know about Israel's outgoing president |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/10/shimon-peres-what-you-need-to-know-israel-president |website=The Guardian |access-date=10 February 2022 |language=en |date=10 June 2014 |archive-date=10 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210053538/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/10/shimon-peres-what-you-need-to-know-israel-president |url-status=live }}

Peres, four times, served as the leader of the Knesset's opposition. For his first three stints in this role, the opposition leader was an unofficial and honorary role. His final stint in the position came after Knesset formalized the role as an official position. Peres was the unofficial opposition leader from 20 June 1977 through 13 September 1984, during the entirety of the 9th and 10th Knessets. During this stint, he led the opposition to the Menachem Begin-led 18th and 19th governments and the Yitzhak Shamir-led 20th government of Israel. His second stint as opposition lasted from 15 March 1990 through 13 July 1992, when in lead the opposition to the Yitzhak Shamir-led 24th government during a portion of the 12th Knesset. Peres' third stint lasted from 18 June 1996 to 1 July 1997, and saw him lead the opposition to the Benjamin Netanyahu-led 24th government during a portion of the 14th Knesset. Peres' final stint as opposition leader lasted from 25 June 2003 through 10 January 2005, and saw him lead the opposition to the Ariel Sharon-led 30th government during a portion of the sixteenth Knesset.

Peres thrice served as leader of the Israeli Labor Party.

Peres held numerous ministerial posts over the course of his Knesset tenure. He held major ministerial posts in twelve governments.

From 1952 through 1953, Peres was the deputy director general of the Israeli Ministry of Defense. From 1952 through 1959, he was the director general.

Peres served as vice president of Socialist International. He was elected vice president in 1978.

{{Election box begin no change|title=1996 Israeli prime ministerial electionDieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) [https://bechirot22.bechirot.gov.il/election/about/Documents/yalkut_4414.pdf CE|Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume I] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122001546/https://bechirot22.bechirot.gov.il/election/about/Documents/yalkut_4414.pdf |date=22 November 2020 }} {{ISBN|978-0-19-924958-9}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|candidate = Benjamin Netanyahu

|party = Likud

|votes = 1,501,023

|percentage = 50.50

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|candidate = Shimon Peres (incumbent)

|party = Israeli Labor Party

|votes = 1,471,566

|percentage = 49.50

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 2,972,589

|percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no party no change|title=1974 Israeli Labor Party leadership election{{cite web |title=Approval sought of new Israeli premier |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/351504504 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Rapid City Journal |agency=The Associated Press |access-date=4 February 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=23 April 1974 |archive-date=5 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205100045/http://www.newspapers.com/image/351504504/ |url-status=live }}}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Yitzhak Rabin

|votes = 298

|percentage = 53.99

}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Shimon Peres

|votes = 254

|percentage = 46.02

}}

{{Election box total no party no change

|votes = 552

|percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no party no change|title=February 1977 Israeli Labor Party leadership election}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Yitzhak Rabin (incumbent)

|votes = 1445

|percentage = 50.72

}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Shimon Peres

|votes = 1404

|percentage = 49.28

}}

{{Election box total no party no change

|votes = 1997

|percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no party no change|title=April 1977 Israeli Labor Party leadership election{{cite web |title=Peres steps into Israel fray |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/678698784 |via=Newspapers.com |work=The Herald Statesman |agency=The Associated Press |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=11 April 1977 |access-date=15 February 2022 |archive-date=15 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215225035/http://www.newspapers.com/image/678698784/ |url-status=live }}}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Shimon Peres

|votes = unchallenged
(acclamation)

|percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no party no change|title=1980 Israeli Labor Party leadership election}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Shimon Peres (incumbent)

|votes = 2123

|percentage = 70.81

}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Yitzhak Rabin

|votes = 875

|percentage = 29.19

}}

{{Election box total no party no change

|votes = 2998

|percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no party no change|title=1984 Israeli Labor Party leadership election}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Shimon Peres (incumbent)

|votes = unchallenged

|percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no party no change|title=1992 Israeli Labor Party leadership election{{cite web |title=Rabin wrests Labor Party leadership from Peres |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/66438715 |via=Newspapers.com |work=The Bangor Daily News |agency=The Associated Press |access-date=8 February 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=20 February 1992 |archive-date=8 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208014927/http://www.newspapers.com/image/66438715/ |url-status=live }}}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Yizhak Rabin

|votes =

|percentage = 40.6

}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Shimon Peres (incumbent)

|votes =

|percentage = 34.5

}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Yisrael Kessar

|votes =

|percentage = 19.0

}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Ora Namir

|votes =

|percentage = 5.5

}}

{{Election box total no party no change

|votes = 108,347

|percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box turnout no party no change

|votes =

|percentage = 70.10

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no party no change|title=2003 Israeli Labor Party interim leader election{{Cite web |title=פרס נבחר ליו"ר הזמני: "נחזיר את המפלגה לגדולתה" |trans-title=Peres was elected temporary chairman: "We will return the party to greatness" |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2662173,00.html |access-date=24 June 2022 |website=ynet |language=he |archive-date=4 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504162247/https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2662173,00.html |url-status=live }}}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Shimon Peres

|votes =631

|percentage = 49.14

}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Efraim Sneh

|votes =359

|percentage = 27.96

}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Danny Atar

|votes =281

|percentage = 21.89

}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Abstaining

|votes =11

|percentage = 1.01

}}

{{Election box total no party no change

|votes =1,284

|percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box turnout no party no change

|votes =1,284

|percentage = 52

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no party no change|title=2005 Israeli Labor Party leadership election{{Cite web |title=התוצאות הסופיות בבחירות לראשות מפלגת העבודה |url=http://www.havoda2005.org.il:80/primeries/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051130020222/http://www.havoda2005.org.il:80/primeries/index.html |archive-date=30 November 2005 |access-date=4 May 2022 |website=Israeli Labor Party |language=he}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Amir Peretz

|votes =27,098

|percentage = 42.2

}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Shimon Peres (interim inccumbent)

|votes =25,572

|percentage = 39.82

}}

{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Binyamin Ben-Eliezer

|votes =10,764

|percentage = 16.76

}}

{{Election box turnout no party no change

|votes =64,204

|percentage = 63.88

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{Portal|Israel|Biography|Politics}}

• List of Israeli Nobel laureates
• List of Jewish Nobel laureates

{{clear}}

{{Reflist}}

• Bar-Zohar, Michael. Shimon Peres: The Biography (Random House, 2007).
• Crichlow, Scott. "Idealism or Pragmatism? An Operational Code Analysis of Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres." Political Psychology 19.4 (1998): 683–706.
• Golan, Matti. The Road to Peace: A Biography of Shimon Peres (Grand Central Pub, 1989).
• Weiner, Justus R. "An Analysis of the Oslo II Agreement in Light of the Expectations of Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas." Michigan Journal of International Law 17.3 (1996): 667–704. [https://repository.law.umich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1505&context=mjil online]
• Ziv, Guy. Why hawks become doves: Shimon Peres and foreign policy change in Israel (SUNY Press, 2014).
• Ziv, Guy. "Shimon Peres and the French-Israeli Alliance, 1954–9." Journal of Contemporary History 45.2 (2010): 406–429. [https://www.academia.edu/download/38226269/JCH_2010.pdf online]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
• Ziv, Guy. "The Triumph of agency over structure: Shimon Peres and the Israeli nuclear program." International negotiation 20.2 (2015): 218–241. [https://www.academia.edu/download/60386255/International_Negotiation_2015.pdf online]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{Commons|Shimon Peres}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• [http://www.president.gov.il/English/Pages/english.aspx Official Israeli Presidency website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313073850/http://www.president.gov.il/English/Pages/English.aspx |date=13 March 2013 }}
• {{MKlink|id=104}}
• [https://www.youtube.com/Peres Official channel] on YouTube
• [http://www.parsine.com/fa/news/62558 The day Peres became a Sheikh!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616073947/http://www.parsine.com/fa/news/62558 |date=16 June 2012 }}{{in lang|fa}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20190315030421/https://www.peres-center.org/ Peres Center for Peace]
• [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9059215/Shimon-Peres Biography] at the Encyclopædia Britannica
• {{Nobelprize}} with the Nobel Lecture
• [https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/peres.html Shimon Peres biography] at the Jewish Virtual Library
• {{C-SPAN|1851}}
• {{Charlie Rose view|144}}
• [https://www.theguardian.com/profile/shimon-peres Column archive] at The Guardian
• {{Haaretztopic|Shimon_Peres}}
• {{JPosttopic|Shimon_Peres}}
• {{NYTtopic|people/p/shimon_peres}}
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4134419.stm BBC] – Sharon seals new Israel coalition
• [https://archive.today/20130706010146/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1131367067166&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull Peres's metaphysical propensity to lose] by Matthew Wagner, published in The Jerusalem Post, 10 November 2005.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060316032623/https://www.isracast.com/transcripts/291105a_trans.htm Former Labor Leader Shimon Peres Heading For Sharon's new party] – recorded Report from IsraCast.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070510070640/https://uc.princeton.edu/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=608&Itemid=11%2F Shimon Peres speaks at the Council on Foreign Relations about the Israel/Lebanon conflict] on 31 July 2006
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120502212331/https://www.cornell.edu/video/viewer/peres.cfmv Shimon Peres speaks at Cornell University – "A Conversation with Shimon Peres"]
• [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArtStEngPE.jhtml?itemNo=870789&contrassID=2&subContrassID=1&title=%27Presidency%20rounds%20off%2066-year%20career%20%27&dyn_server=172.20.5.5 "Presidency rounds off 66-year career"] by Amiram Barkat, Haaretz
• [https://www.un.org/ga/63/generaldebate/israel.shtml President Peres's address to the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly], 24 September 2008
• {{YouTube|b8Nv7L7Gl9I|Segment Interview}} by Leon Charney on The Leon Charney Report
• {{YouTube|AfTTI2A-Lf0|Full Interview}} by Leon Charney on The Leon Charney Report

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Category:1923 births

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Category:Prisoners and detainees of Mandatory Palestine

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