Tag Archive for Shimon Peres

| June 8, 2014
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Live feed: Peres meets the Pope at the Vatican to pray for peace along with Abbas

 

Vatican plays down any expectations or that the meeting will lead to any immediate breakthrough in the ailing peace process.


The prayer meeting is being billed as a ‘pause from politics.’

By Reuters

 

Israeli and Palestinian presidents were to meet in an unprecedented prayer meeting with Pope Francis on Sunday, a gesture he hopes will “re-create a desire, a possibility” of relaunching the Middle East’s stalled peace process.

Peres and the Pope - CTV screenshot

Peres and the Pope – CTV screenshot

The Vatican has played down any expectations that the Sunday evening meeting between Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas – billed as a “pause from politics” – will lead to any immediate breakthroughs in the region’s tortuous problems and says it is not meddling in regional issues. Continue Reading »

Category: The Diaspora | Tags: , ,
| June 8, 2014
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President Peres gets Prime Minister’s blessing to join Abbas & Pope for prayer at Vatican

Despite termination of peace-talks, Israel’s President will lead an interfaith delegation to Rome, where he will call upon leaders of all religions to work together towards inter-religious dialogue.

By GREER FAY CASHMAN

 

Despite Israel’s objections to the Palestinian unity government, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and members of the government, realizing the historic importance of the occasion, gave President Shimon Peres the green light to accept the invitation of Pope Francis and travel to the Vatican on Sunday for an interfaith prayer for peace in the Middle East.

Pope Francis meets President Shimon Peres – Photo: קובי גדעון/לע”מ

Although arrangements were made in advance, it was not certain until Thursday afternoon that Peres would receive the necessary approval. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| May 7, 2014
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Peres claims PM Netanyahu secretly sunk negotiated peace deal with Abbas

 

Israeli president says PA President Abbas agreed to secretly negotiated peace deal draft back in 2011, but PM Netanyahu stopped last meetings in Jordan.

By AFP

 

Israeli President Shimon Peres said Tuesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blocked a 2011 peace agreement he had secretly negotiated with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) stands next to President Shimon Peres (R) on May 5, 2014 at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem - AFP PhotoJim Hollander

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) stands next to President Shimon Peres (R) on May 5, 2014 in Jerusalem – Photo: AFP /Jim Hollander

Peres said he and Abbas had finalized a draft agreement in a series of secret meetings in neighboring Jordan but the draft was rejected by Netanyahu’s right-leaning government. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| April 12, 2014
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Peres Weibo page at ceremony in Beijing gains 50 million surfers in minutes

 

When asked in China about the secret to the Jewish people’s wisdom, Israel’s President writes, “Our secret is learning. It’s important to ask questions.”

By Yori Yalon

 

President Shimon Peres marked the end of a successful visit to China on Thursday by officially launching his account on the Chinese answer to Facebook, Weibo, becoming the first Israeli leader with an account on the social networking website.

President Shimon Peres launches his Weibo profile on Thursday – Photo: Amos Ben-Gershom / GPO

The ceremony for Peres’ Weibo profile launch took place at the company’s headquarters in Beijing, and in keeping with Chinese culture, Peres hit a gong set up for the occasion.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News, The Diaspora | Tags: , ,
| April 9, 2014
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Jerusalem ‘deeply disappointed’ by Kerry’s biased remarks on peace talks

 

In 1st response to Kerry’s pointing blame only on Israel for talks failure, Jerusalem says, ‘remarks hurt the negotiation’ process.

By i24news

 

Israel said on Wednesday that it was “deeply disappointed” by Secretary of State John Kerry’s remarks Tuesday, placing the blame for derailing the negotiations on Israel’s approval of more Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem, The New York Times reported.

Israeli protestors hold signs during a demonstration outside US Secretary of State John Kerry's hotel in Jerusalem, against the release by Israel of Palestinian prisoners, on March 31, 2014 ( Ahmad Gharabli (AFP) )

Israeli protestors hold signs during a demonstration outside US Secretary of State John Kerry’s hotel in Jerusalem, against the release by Israel of Palestinian prisoners, on March 31, 2014 – Photo: AFP/Ahmad Gharabli

Israel responded that it was the Palestinians who had “violated their fundamental commitments” by applying last week to join 15 international agencies of the UN. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| March 11, 2014
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Israel’s President tells Lapid: ‘Go Easy’ on Hareidi Draftees

Israel’s President Peres asked Finance Minister Lapid to reconsider criminalizing draft-dodging by the ultra-Orthodox. – The Finance Minister respectfully declined.

By David Lev

 

President Shimon Peres met on Monday morning with Finance Minister Yair Lapid to discuss the latter’s thoughts about the impending vote in the Knesset on the the enlistment bill, which will see hareidi yeshiva students become eligible for the draft for the first time in Israel’s history. In the meeting, Peres expressed his concern for the hareidi community’s feelings on the matter telling Lapid that he should go “a bit easier” on them.

Peres and Lapid meet Monday morning – Mark Neiman/GPO

According to Peres, many members of the community have complained to him about what they perceive as a negative attitude towards them and their lifestyle on Lapid’s part. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| February 7, 2014
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Shimon Peres holds Guinness World Record by teaching largest online civics class

Israeli President Shimon Peres breaks world record by delivering a civics class to about 9,000 high school students in over 200 classrooms across Israel.

By

 

Israel’s President Shimon Peres delivered an online civics class to more than 9,000 Israeli high school students in 215 classrooms across Israel, setting a new world record.

President Shimon Peres giving an online civics class to some 9,000 students, breaking world record.

President Shimon Peres giving an online civics class to some 9,000 students, breaking world record.- Photo: Facebook

The Presidential Class, held Thursday morning at Cisco Israel headquarters in Netanya, was billed as the largest online civics class in the world. Cisco officials decided to make that billing official.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| January 24, 2014
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Israel’s President honored with ‘Spirit of Davos’ award at Swiss ceremony

 

‘I would say I’m an insatiable optimist,’ President Shimon Peres tells audience in special ceremony, and that he will continue to work for benefit of the world.

By Noam (Dabul) Dvir

President Shimon Peres continued with his diplomatic actions in the World Economic Conference in Switzerland, as he was awarded a special honor Friday morning: A special plenary of the convention’s participants saluted Peres for his activity in the past two decades to promote the global forum.

Peres in Davos - Photo courtesy

Peres in Davos – Photo courtesy

“If you ask of me to describe myself – I would say I am an insatiable optimist. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| January 1, 2014
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Founder President Peres snubbed from Dimona reactor 50 years celebration

 

The ceremonial event celebrating 50 years for Negev Nuclear Research Center neglected to include the man who helped establish Israel’s nuclear reactor – President Shimon Peres

By Itamar Eichner

 

About 3,000 guests visited the newly inaugurated Negev Nuclear Research Center in Dimona last Thursday, but the event was missing one key figure in the reactors history, after someone high up decided to toss their invite.

The reactor in its early days (National Security Archive)

The reactor in its early days (National Security Archive)

The guests saw images of the reactors’ establishment in the 1950s, as now-President Shimon Peres‘s personal project when he was the director-general of the Defense Ministry; they heard about its development in the 60s under the supervision of then-Deputy Defense Minister Peres; they learned about the challenges that the reactor overcame against a wave of international criticism in the 80’s, supported by then-Prime Minister Peres. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| December 16, 2013
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Public committee to decide feasibility on Israeli ‘White House’ &/or Israeli ‘Air Force 1’

 

Cabinet ministers authorize the establishment of a public committee to examine the feasibility of purchasing a plane for Israeli PM and President, and the building of a new official PM Residence.

Lapid objects, ‘Gov’t must maintain modesty,’ 

By Moran Azulay

The government has authorized the establishment of a public that will look into purchasing a plane for the travel purposes of the prime minister and president.

Visualization of potential new PM residence planned in 2009

Visualization of potential new PM residence planned in 2009

The committee will also examine the possibility of building a single structure to house the Prime Minister’s Office and his residence – the Israeli “White House.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| December 15, 2013
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Cabinet to discuss Netanyahu’s proposal to purchase plane for PM & President

Finance Minister Lapid objects to PM’s proposal, saying gov’t should demonstrate austerity in times of financial hardship.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
 

 

The cabinet will discuss Sunday a proposal by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to purchase a private airplane for official state trips as well as building a new office and official residence for the prime minister.

PM Netanyahu boards a plane – Photo: Baz Ratner/Reuters

Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres are expected to make use of the airplane.

If passed by the cabinet, a public committee will be formed to examine the cost-effectiveness of the proposal.

Finance Minister Yair Lapid expressed objection to the proposal on Sunday morning, saying there is no financial justification to purchasing an airplane and building a new residence. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| December 5, 2013
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Mossad’s Best Receive Honors

Israel’s President Peres gives Israel’s Citation of Excellence to 12 of the spy agency’s very best men & women.

By Gil Ronen

 

 

A ceremony honoring the Mossad intelligence agency’s best officers took place Thursday evening at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.

President Shimon Peres gave citations of excellence to 12 of the espionage agency’s finest, with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Mossad Head Tamor Pardo in attendance.

The officers honored received the citations for standing at the forefront of the effort to thwart the unconventional weapons threat, the war on terror and the prevention of other therats against Israel. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| November 29, 2013
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Israeli President meets Mexican President to cement strategic ties

 

Israel’s President Shimon Peres accompanied by 80 leading Israeli businesspeople to Mexico for expanding cooperation.

In his speech at the airport with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, President Peres expressed confidence in the ongoing peace process between Israel & the Palestinians.

By Reuters & Israel Hayom Staff

Israeli President Shimon Peres said during a state visit to Mexico on Wednesday he was glad peace negotiations with the Palestinian Authority had been restored, and that he hoped a two-state solution to the long conflict with the Palestinians would be put into writing.

President Shimon Peres at the press conference at Mexico City’s airport – Photo: Mark Neiman/GPO

Peres, a Nobel peace laureate, flew into Mexico on Tuesday at the head of an 80-member Israeli business delegation for a six-day visit to Mexico.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| November 26, 2013
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Eli Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, honored with President’s Medal of Distinction

 

Holocaust survivor Eli Wiesel, accepts Israel’s President’s highest civilian award, calling himself an honorary Israeli: ‘Even though I don’t live in Israel, Israel lives within me.’

Shimon Peres: ‘It’s a great honor & privilege for me’

Noam (Dabul) Dvir

Eli Wiesel, a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, received the President’s Medal of Distinction from President Shimon Peres Monday night. He received the prize for “his unique contribution to the memorial of the Holocaust and in light of his uncompromising drive for peace and tolerance.” The medal is the highest civilian award in Israel, which was also given to US President Barack Obama when he visited Israel. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| October 14, 2013
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Pope Francis I will make 1st visit to Israel in March

 

Israel’s TV Channel 2 reports pontiff will arrive with close Argentinian friend Rabbi Abraham Skorka.

They plan to visit both Israel & the West Bank.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

Pope Francis will make his first visit to Israel in March.

The pope told his close friend, Argentinian Rabbi Abraham Skorka, of his lifelong dream to visit the Holy Land, and of his intentions to visit Israel and Bethlehem, Channel 2 reported on Sunday.

President Shimon Peres with Pope Francis at the Vatican, April 30, 2013 – Photo: Kobi Gideon/GPO

Skorka is expected to join Pope Francis on his visit.

According to Channel 2, the pope hopes his visit will bring a message of reconciliation.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
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