Birth
Shimon Peres was born Szymon Perski, on 2 August 1923, in Wiszniew, Poland (now Vishnyeva, Belarus).
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History of Shimon Peres
Thursday Aug 2, 1923 to Wednesday Sep 28, 2016
Israel, Palestine, Poland, Belarus
Shimon Peres (born Szymon Perski; 2 August 1923 – 28 September 2016) was an Israeli politician who served as the ninth President of Israel (2007–2014), the Prime Minister of Israel (twice), and the Interim Prime Minister, in the 1970s to the 1990s. He was a member of twelve cabinets and represented five political parties in a political career spanning 70 years. Peres was elected to the Knesset in November 1959 and except for a three-month-long hiatus in early 2006, was in office continuously until he was elected President in 2007. At the time of his retirement in 2014, he was the world's oldest head of state and was considered the last link to Israel's founding generation.
Immigrated to Palestine
In 1932, Peres' father immigrated to Mandatory Palestine and settled in Tel Aviv.
HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed
In 1941, he was elected Secretary of HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed, a Labor Zionist youth movement.
Marriage
In 1945, Peres married Sonya Gelman, who preferred to remain outside the public eye. They had three children.
Mapai delegation
In 1946, Peres and Moshe Dayan were chosen as the two youth delegates in the Mapai delegation to the Zionist Congress in Basel.
Predecessor of the Israel Defense Forces
In 1947, Peres joined the Haganah, the predecessor of the Israel Defense Forces.
Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Defense
In 1952, he was appointed Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Defense, and the following year, he became Director-General.
1956 Suez War
From 1954, as Director-General of the Ministry of Defense, Peres was involved in the planning of the 1956 Suez War, in partnership with France and Britain against Egypt.
First elected to the Knesset
Peres was first elected to the Knesset in the 1959 elections, as a member of the Mapai party. He was given the role of Deputy Defense Minister, which he filled until 1965.
Minister of Immigrant Absorption
In 1969, Peres was appointed Minister of Immigrant Absorption.
Minister of Transportation and Communications
In 1970 he became Minister of Transportation and Communications.
Information Minister
In 1974, after a period as Information Minister.
248 Paris-bound travelers
On 27 June 1976, Peres, as Minister of Defense, along with Rabin, had to deal with a coordinated act of terrorism when 248 Paris-bound travelers on an Air France plane were taken hostage by pro-Palestinian hijackers and flown to Uganda, Africa, 2,000 miles away.
Entebbe rescue operation
Peres and Rabin were responsible for approving what became known as the Entebbe rescue operation, which took place on 4 July 1976.
A Prime Minister
Perez became a Prime Minister.
The 1977 elections
Peres succeeded Rabin as party leader prior to the 1977 elections when Rabin stepped down in the wake of a foreign currency scandal involving his wife.
Israel–Jordan peace treaty
On 26 October 1994, Jordan and Israel signed the Israel–Jordan peace treaty.
A Prime Minister for Second Time
Shimon Peres served as Acting Prime Minister until 22 November 1995.
The Peres Center for Peace
In 1996, he founded the Peres Center for Peace, which has the aim of "promoting lasting peace and advancement in the Middle East by fostering tolerance, economic and technological development, cooperation and well-being".
Operation Grapes of Wrath
On 11 April 1996, Prime Minister Peres initiated Operation Grapes of Wrath.
2000 Israeli presidential election
In 2000, Peres ran for a seven-year term as Israel's President, a ceremonial head of state position which usually authorizes the selection of Prime Minister. However, he lost to Likud candidate Moshe Katsav.
Leaving the Labor Party
On 30 November 2005 Peres announced that he was leaving the Labor Party to support Ariel Sharon and his new Kadima party.
A President
On 13 June 2007, Peres was elected President of the State of Israel by the Knesset. 58 of 120 members of the Knesset voted for him in the first round (whereas 38 voted for Reuven Rivlin, and 21 for Colette Avital).
Honorary Knighthood
On 20 November 2008, Peres received an honorary knighthood, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George from Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace in London.
Last Day in Presidency
Peres announced in April 2013 that he would not seek to extend his tenure beyond 2014. His successor, Reuven Rivlin, was elected on 10 June 2014 and took office on 24 July 2014.
Diplomacy Award
Shimon Peres received the Israeli Diplomacy Award, November 29, 2015
Death
He died on 28 September 2016 at the age of 93.