- Title: Kerry reflects on the legacy of Peres
- Date: 28th September 2016
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 28, 2016) (STATE TV) WIDE OF SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY ON STATE AT THE WILSON CENTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHN KERRY - U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE SAYING: "He dedicated his life to the cause of an Israel that would be safe and secure and democratic and free and the home land of the Jewish people and I, he never lost that vision and so many times when I was traveling over there so frequently to meet with the prime minister, he would express a frustration frankly with the pace and with the lack of the seizure of opportunities but he always felt restrained and necessarily respectful of the incumbent prime minister having been the prime minister himself. So he never inserted himself in appropriately in the dialogue, but I can tell you he was impatient for peace for his country and impatient for the lost grabbed opportunities that were passing by." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHN KERRY - U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE SAYING: "This is a man who was long a towering figure of moral leadership, moral leadership. And as I listened to Jane talk about what's happening in Syria, never has there been a moment where we need our global sense and personal sense of morality more than now. Shimon Peres will be hugely missed a great gap exists now and everybody who knew him admired him, who was inspired by him and by his example for the pursuit of justice and peace will continue, I know to remain inspired and motivated by him and I hope his memory will be a blessing for all of us."
- Embargoed: 13th October 2016 16:56
- Keywords: Kerry Peres Israel Mideast peace
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00151HEDDZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Former Israeli president and elder statesman Shimon Peres, a joint winner of the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize and an influential figure in Israeli politics for 70 years, died in hospital on Wednesday aged 93, two weeks after suffering a massive stroke.
A convinced campaigner for Middle East peace who remained energetic until his final days, Peres was mourned by world leaders and praised for his tireless engagement.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reflected on Peres' contributions to the pursuit of peace in the Middle East on Wednesday (September 28).
"He dedicated his life to the cause of an Israel that would be safe and secure and democratic and free and the home land of the Jewish people and I he never lost that vision," Kerry said during a speech at the Wilson Center in Washington.
"This is a man who was long a towering figure of moral leadership" and "everybody who knew him admired him who was inspired by him and by his example for the pursuit of justice and peace will continue I know to remain inspired and motivated by him," Kerry added.
The announcement of the death was made at the Tel Hashomer hospital by his son Chemi and son-in-law Rafi Walden.
Polish-born Peres, whose family moved to then British-ruled Palestine in the 1930s, was part of almost every major political development in Israel since its founding in 1948. He served in a dozen cabinets and was twice prime minister, though he never won a general election, struggling to connect with ordinary voters. - Copyright Holder: STATE DEPARTMENT TV
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