Kaine Statement On Passing Of Shimon Peres

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on the passing of former Israeli President Shimon Peres: 

“I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Shimon Peres, and I send my condolences to his family and the entire nation of Israel. During his eight decades of service to his nation—which included roles as Minister of Defense, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister and President—Peres embodied the devotion of Israel’s founding generation and played a critical role in forging the special relationship between the United States and Israel. His cooperation with Israel’s neighbors distinguished him as a man of peace, and I am grateful to have met him when he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014 and two other times during my visits to Israel.

“President Peres often stated that the concept of leadership is not to rule but to serve. Those words should inspire us to strive toward a better world, and I am certain that future generations will remember him as one of the great peacemakers of our time.”

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