Shimon Peres

Ninth President of Israel

Shimon Peres (1923 -2016) made these remarks on his first official visit to Britain as President in 2008. He held numerous other important positions in his 70 years of service to Israel, including Defense Minister, Foreign Minister, and Prime Minister. Peres came to Mandatory Palestine in 1934 and attended the Balfour Elementary School and High School in Tel Aviv.

My family arrived in Israel when it was still under the British Mandate. In our pockets were British Palestinian passports. In our hearts the Balfour Declaration.

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