The last leader of Israel’s founding generation

Published: 17 September 2016

Last updated: 4 March 2024

"The past is dead. You can't correct it. Focus on the future. You have to take risks… My own conclusion of how not to make mistakes is close your eyes a little. You cannot make love and you cannot make peace with open eyes… The greatest challenge of peace-making is not the enemy, but rather criticism from within.’ (Shimon Peres, at Israel Presidential Conference, Jerusalem 2012)

Shimon Peres, the last Israeli giant – Ben Caspit – Al-Monitor 14.09.16
The era of former president Shimon Peres, the last active leader of Israel’s founding generation, is coming to its end.

Shimon Peres' quixotic battle for Israeli-Palestinian peace – Yossi Verter – Haaretz 17.09.16
As he was wrapping his presidency, Israel's last founding father grasped that nothing productive would come from Benjamin Netanyahu and started to create bypass routes in order to reach an agreement with the Palestinians; his dream of such a deal now seems further away than ever.

Peace icon or impediment to 2-state solution? Palestinians split on Peres – Adam Rasgon – The Jerusalem Post 14.09.16
Palestinian leadership and civil society reflect on Peres in light of the former president's deteriorating health.

Shimon Peres, outsider who wanted so much to be loved – Gideon Levy - Haaretz
With his Yiddish accent, jacket and tie, he wasn’t seen as a real Israeli. In a state that invented the new Jew – sabra, tanned, a soldier, a daring adventurer – he was the old Jew, the exilic Jew.

Shimon Peres on peace, war and Israel’s future February 20, 2016