World leaders mourn former President Peres as political giant, visionary and man of peace

World leaders mourn former President Peres as political giant, visionary and man of peace

„Shimon Peres changed the course of human history,” President Obama eulogizes • Former British PM Blair: Peres was a giant of this era or any era • Top EU official: He never lost hope in peace • Dozens of world leaders to attend Peres’ funeral on Friday.News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff

U.S. President Barack Obama and former President Shimon Peres  | Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons 
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Current and former world leaders mourned the passing of former President Shimon Peres, praising him as a patriot, visionary statesman, and man of principle who was deeply committed to pursuing peace in one of the most volatile regions of the world.

Israel’s ninth president died in the early hours of Wednesday morning, some two weeks after suffering a massive stroke. He was 93 years old.

President Barack Obama personally called Peres’ daughter Tsvia Walden to express his condolences.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Obama eulogized Peres as a man who represented „the essence of Israel itself.”

„There are few people who we share this world with who change the course of human history, not just through their role in human events, but because they expand our moral imagination and force us to expect more of ourselves. My friend Shimon was one of those people.

„Shimon Peres once said that ‘I learned that public service is a privilege that must be based on moral foundations.’ Tonight, Michelle and I join people across Israel, the United States and around the world in honoring the extraordinary life of our dear friend Shimon Peres — a founding father of the State of Israel and a statesman whose commitment to Israel’s security and pursuit of peace was rooted in his own unshakable moral foundation and unflagging optimism.

„Shimon always looked to the future. He was guided by a vision of human dignity and progress that he knew people of goodwill could advance together. … Shimon was the essence of Israel itself — the courage of Israel’s fight for independence, the optimism he shared with his wife Sonia as they helped make the desert bloom, and the perseverance that led him to serve his nation in virtually every position in government across the entire life of the State of Israel.

„Perhaps because he had seen Israel surmount overwhelming odds, Shimon never gave up on the possibility of peace between Israelis, Palestinians and Israel’s neighbors … Our thoughts are with his children Tsvia, Yoni and Chemi, their families and all who loved and admired Shimon Peres, of blessed memory. A light has gone out, but the hope he gave us will burn forever. Shimon Peres was a soldier for Israel, for the Jewish people, for justice, for peace, and for the belief that we can be true to our best selves — to the very end of our time on earth, and in the legacy that we leave to others. For the gift of his friendship and the example of his leadership, todah rabah [thank you very much], Shimon,” the American president’s tribute concluded.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton issued a statement saying they have „lost a true and treasured friend” with Peres’ death.

„With the passing of Shimon Peres, Israel has lost a leader who championed its security, prosperity, and limitless possibilities from its birth to his last day on earth. The Middle East has lost a fervent advocate for peace and reconciliation and for a future where all the children of Abraham build a better tomorrow together. And Hillary and I have lost a true and treasured friend,” the statement said.

Bill Clinton added, „I’ll never forget how happy he was 23 years ago when he signed the Oslo Accords on the White House lawn, heralding a more hopeful era in Israeli-Palestinian relations. He was a genius with a big heart who used his gifts to imagine a future of reconciliation not conflict, economic and social empowerment, not anger and frustration, and a nation, a region, and a world enhanced by caring and sharing, not torn asunder by the illusions of permanent dominance and perfect truth. His critics called him a dreamer. That he was — a lucid, eloquent dreamer until the very end. Thank goodness. Let those of us who loved him and love his nation keep his dream alive.”

Former U.S. President George W. Bush issued a statement saying, „Laura and I join the people of Israel and those around the world in mourning the death of Shimon Peres. As a young man, he worked for his country’s independence. For the rest of his life, he led it with a deep and abiding concern for his people and a commitment to freedom and peace. The Bush family will miss Shimon Peres and his grace, dignity, and optimism.”

Former British Prime Minister and Quartet envoy to the Middle East Tony Blair said, „I am sadder than words can express. This is a man who was a political giant, a statesman who will rank as one of the foremost of this era or any era, and someone I loved deeply. He was an inspiration, a mentor and a friend. His intellect, his way with words that was eloquent beyond description, his command of the world and how it was changing were extraordinary.

„Though he grew older, his spirit never did. Above all, his commitment to peace and his belief that it was in the interests of the country he adored marked him out as a visionary whose vision was never dimmed or displaced. He saw every setback as a spur to further action and every moment of hope as a sign of what could be done.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, „Peres was, above all, a man of peace and a man dedicated to the well-being of the Jewish people. Over the course of his long and distinguished life, Mr. Peres made enormous contributions to the founding and building of the State of Israel. He was devoted to promoting understanding between his country and its neighbors, and shared a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to create peace in the Middle East. Mr. Peres was an internationally respected statesman and a great friend to Canada. He visited our country often, and helped build relations that remain strong to this day. His legacy as a tireless advocate for peace will not be forgotten.”

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini issued a statement saying: „President Shimon Peres has never lost hope in peace, and has never stopped working to turn hope into reality. Even in the darkest moments his wit, his irony, his obstinate pursuit of dialogue have been a source of inspiration for many around the world, including myself.

„President Peres believed that the best way to serve the State of Israel and to deliver security to the Israeli people was through peace with the Palestinians. We can only honor his memory with a daily commitment to reconciliation, preserving and advancing his vision for a two-state solution.”

‘One of the greatest Jewish leaders of our time’

„On behalf of the entire New York Jewish community, we deeply mourn the passing of Shimon Peres, one of the greatest Jewish leaders of our time. President Peres was one of the extraordinary visionaries of our age, a towering Zionist hero of deep courage who devoted his life to serving and defending Israel and the Jewish people,” Eric Goldstein, head of the United Jewish Appeal Federation of New York, said in a statement.

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said, „The world has lost a true legend and statesman. Shimon Peres was a gift to the country he helped establish and lead, and a persistent voice for the cause of peace. President Peres’ countless contributions to the world earned him the Nobel Peace Prize, Congressional Gold Medal, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. While we join the State of Israel and people around the globe in mourning his death, we also give thanks for his incredible life.”

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said, „Shimon Peres’ story was the story of modern Israel — a saga of daring, dynamism and wisdom. With all of his heart, this farmer, fighter, author, Nobel Peace Prize winner, prime minister, and president worked to guide his nation into a secure and confident future. I valued his friendship. He was an intellectual resource who personified the unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel.”

French President Francois Hollande said that with Peres’ passing, „Israel lost a statesman who advocated peace and was a loyal friend of France.”

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement saying he „admired Peres’ efforts to promote the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Peres worked tirelessly to advance the two-state solution, which would allow Israel to live in security and harmony with the Palestinians and the rest of the nations in the Middle East.”

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power tweeted, „So saddened to hear of the passing of Shimon Peres, one of Israel’s founding fathers, who never ever gave up on the cause of peace.”

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull issued a statement saying, „My wife Lucy had the honor of visiting Shimon Peres a few months ago, at the Peres Centre for Peace. He told her the secret of perpetual youth was to ensure that your list of dreams always remained longer than your list of achievements. On that test, Shimon Peres remained the youngest of leaders.”

German President Joachim Gauck lauded Peres as a „model for peace.”

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto sent his condolences to Israel and Peres’ family, saying he was „saddened to learn of the passing of former President of Israel and Nobel Peace Prize [laureate] Shimon Peres. Our condolences go out to his family and countrymen.”

Iconic singer Barbra Streisand, who performed at Peres’ 90th birthday, issued a statement saying: „My heart is bleeding. My tears are falling because President Shimon Peres is no longer in this world. He was a father figure not only to his beloved country of Israel, but also to me, because he was what I imagined my father would have been like. Shimon’s mind was expansive and his heart was compassionate. He was a brilliant statesman, gifted with the ability to listen to others who did not share his views and still remained determined to find a path forward.

„He was a voice of reason, who also happened to have the sensibility of a poet. Thoughtful and soft-spoken, but his words echoed loudly around the world. I adored Shimon. And I’m so grateful that I was able to spend some time with him over the years, and sing for him at his 90th birthday celebration in Israel. Thank God his spirit, his wisdom, and his ideals will live forever.”

The passing of Israel’s ninth president received extensive media coverage worldwide, as numerous television stations and news websites covered the life and legacy of the man hailed as one of Israel’s founding fathers.

Peres’ funeral will take place on Friday. He will be laid in state at the Knesset Plaza on Thursday, to allow the public to bid farewell to Israel’s most veteran statesman.

Dozens of world leaders are expected to attend the state service, which will be held at the Great Leaders of the Nation’s plot on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.

Among the leaders who have confirmed their arrival are U.S. President Barack Obama, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, former President Bill Clinton and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, French President Francois Hollande, Britain’s Prince Charles and former British Prime Minister David Cameron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Minister Stephane Dion, German President Joachim Gauck, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, Togo President Faure Gnassingbe, Australian Governor General Peter Cosgrove, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann, Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, and Portuguese Foreign Minister Augosto Santos Silva.

The Foreign Ministry said officials from Egypt and Jordan are also expected to attend the funeral, along with other representatives from Arab states, although none have confirmed their arrival at this time.