On This Day in Jewish History: August 2nd, 1923
Shimon Peres was born #onthisday 97 years ago in Poland – August 2nd, 1923. He is known as one of founding fathers of Israel, the only person to be both Prime Minister and President, and a “warrior for peace.”
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Peres made Aliyah with his family when he was eleven in 1934 and grew up in Tel Aviv. In 1943, he was elected to be Secretary of the Labor Zionist youth moverment. He served in the Haganah and was the person responsible for manpower and arms. He held this position for the beginning of the War of Independence as well.
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In 1948, he became the head of the navy and at the end of the war he became the Director of the Defense Ministry’s delegation in the United States. From 1953 until 1959, Peres held the post of Director General of the Defense Ministry.
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While in that position he helped shape the relationship between Israel and France as well as establishing Israel’s nuclear program.
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Peres was elected to Knesset in 1959 and remained a Knesset member until June 2007 when he became the President. During his time in Knesset he held a multitude of positions such as Defense Minister, Minister of Immigrant Absorption, and Minister of Transport and Communication. He was one of the leaders behind the Entebbe rescue and was involved in discussions on a peace plan with Arafat (for which he received a Nobel Peace Prize).
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He was interim Prime Minister in 1977 after Yitzhak Rabin resigned and was elected to be Prime Minister twice: from 1984 to 1986 and from 1988 to 1990 and then 1995 held the interim role when Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated until the elections in May 1996.
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On June 13, 2007, the Knesset elected Peres as president. This was the first time that someone was both Prime Minister and President of Israel. Peres retired on June 10, 2014 and at that time was the world’s oldest head of state.
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Peres suffered a stroke on September 13, 2016 and passed away on September 27, 2016 at 93 years old and will forever be remembered for his staunch support of peace and a productive future between Israel and her neighbors.
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