Mogherini on the passing of former Israeli president Shimon Peres: He never lost hope of peace

Shimon Peres passed away at the age of 93 on early Wednesday morning (28 September) after having being hospitalized for two weeks after he suffered a major stroke. His family members were brought in to say their personal good-byes to him.

Peres´ political carrier spanned six decades. He held almost every senior political office in Israel, including terms as prime minister. He was involved in Israeli defense but supported also the construction of settlements in the West Bank after the six-day war.  

He was the ninth Israeli president during 2007 – 2014, a largely ceremonial function that he used to promote his peace vision.

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 1994 together with Yitzchak Rabin, who was later murdered by a Jewish extremist, and the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, for their joints efforts in reaching an interim peace agreement (the so-called Oslo accords).

In her statement, EU High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini said “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 honour his memory with a daily commitment to reconciliation, preserving and advancing his vision for a two-State solution.​”

The current Israeli President Reuven Rilvin expressed his deep sadness on the passing of Israel’s former President and Prime Minister Shimon Peres. Rivlin – who was currently on a state visit to Ukraine - would be returning early from the visit, and would arrive back in Israel during the course of the day.

President Rivlin said, “A short distance from where I am visiting in Ukraine, in the city of Vishnyeva, Belarus, was born Szymon Perski, who grew to be a young man with great dreams. From here, from Eastern Europe, he emigrated to the land of Israel, and ever since never ceased to work for the sake of the Zionist movement, for the sake of the State of Israel, and the people of Israel.”

The Brussels Times