Israel: Shimon Peres of Israel Dies at 93; Built Up Defense and Sought Peace - by Marilyn Berger

Shimon Peres, one of the last surviving pillars of Israel’s founding generation, who did more than anyone to build up his country’s formidable military might, then worked as hard to establish a lasting peace with Israel’s Arab neighbors, died on Wednesday in a Tel Aviv area hospital. He was 93.

His death was announced by his son Nehemya Peres, who is known as Chemi, and his personal physician and son-in-law Dr. Rafi Walden, outside the Sheba Medical Center, where he had been hospitalized for the last two weeks.

Mr. Peres died just over two weeks after suffering a stroke. Doctors kept him largely unconscious and on a breathing tube since then in hopes that it would give his brain a chance to heal. But he deteriorated as the nation he once led watched his last battle play out publicly and leaders from around the world sent wishes for his recovery.

As prime minister (twice); as minister of defense, foreign affairs, finance and transportation; and, until 2014, as president, Mr. Peres never left the public stage during Israel’s seven decades.

He led the creation of Israel’s defense industry, negotiated key arms deals with France and Germany and was the prime mover behind the development of Israel’s nuclear weapons. But he was consistent in his search for an accommodation with the Arab world, a search that in recent years left him orphaned as Israeli society lost interest, especially after the upheavals of the 2011 Arab Spring led to tumult on its borders.

Note EU-Digest: Shimon Peres once said: Optimists and Pessimists both have to die. I rather die as an Optimist"". A great statesman who saw peace between Palestine and Israel as the only solution  to creating a stable Middle East.

Read more Shimon Peres of Israel Dies at 93; Built Up Defense and Sought Peace - The New York Times

The Seattle Times/EU-Digest: Iran signals interest in talks with U.S. following Obama's overtures to Iran (Impact on Israel) - by Warren P.Strobel

For the complete report from the Seattle Times click on this link

Iran signals interest in talks with U.S. following Obama's overtures to Iran (Impact on Israel) - by Warren P.Strobel

Iran gave its first sign Tuesday it's interested in exploring President Barack Obama's offers of dialogue, with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saying his country "is ready to hold talks, but talks in a fair atmosphere with mutual respect." It was the most positive response yet by an Iranian leader to Obama's repeated signals that he'll offer a new approach. "The new U.S. government has announced that it wants to create change and follow the path of talks. It's very clear that true changes should be fundamental and not tactical," Ahmadinejad said.

Note EU-Digest: "The recent "rapprochement" between President Barack Obama and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad should probably also be seen as a signal to Israeli President Shimon Peres to give Tzipi Livni, the head of the more moderate Kadima party, winner of yesterdays Israeli election, a fair chance to form a moderate Israeli unity government instead of one run by right-wing hardliner Benjamin Netanyahu and ultra-nationalist Avigdor Lieberman, who is battling a corruption investigation again him. Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni appealed today (Wednesday)to rightist Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu to join a national unity government that Livni would lead at the head of her centrist Kadima party."