[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 14014]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING SHIMON PERES

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute and reflect on 
the legacy of Israeli leader, two-time Prime Minister, and ninth 
President of Israel Shimon Peres. I extend my condolences to the family 
of Shimon Peres and to the people of Israel.
  Today you have lost a towering leader who leaves behind a legacy of 
moral clarity and hope. I had the opportunity to meet Shimon Peres on 
numerous occasions. After each meeting, I walked away inspired and 
hopeful, having benefited immensely from his insight and perspective on 
a number of difficult global issues.
  Shimon Peres was not only one of the world's greatest statesmen but 
an ardent and committed advocate for peace. Given Shimon Peres's 
personal history and journey, it is truly remarkable that in his final 
years he refused to give in to cynicism and acrimony.
  As an immigrant to Israel, he was part of the grand project that 
cultivated a thriving country and society. As a warrior, he made sure 
that Israel was always ready and able to defend itself. As a 
politician, he contributed to the lively and robust democracy that the 
Israelis enjoy today, but he never shied away from reaching out across 
lines if he thought that was in Israel's interest.
  As a friend to the United States, his legacy is the unshakeable bond 
between our two countries, our governments, and our people. As a 
leader, he showed the world that extending a hand and daring to work 
for peace is worthy and just. He shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 
with Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin. The legacy of the Oslo Accords 
remains active today.
  We must continue to work toward a two-state solution, a Jewish and 
Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security. Shimon 
Peres's legacy is the patient, difficult, taxing, and necessary work of 
negotiations. It is only through direct negotiations and direct contact 
between the two sides, Israelis and Palestinians, that we can achieve 
this objective.
  Shimon Peres leaves behind incredibly important initiatives, such as 
the Peres Center for Peace. This is a peace-building organization that 
seeks to foster personal and professional interactions between Israelis 
and Palestinians, Arabs and Jews.
  I want to pay tribute to Shimon Peres's morality and courage. He 
called for reconciliation in times of strife. We can fill his legacy by 
turning this sober and sad occasion to a call for direct talks between 
the Israelis and Palestinians, for boldness and courage to return to 
the negotiating table to fulfill the dream and meet the expectations of 
so many living in this part of the world who are so desperately seeking 
peace.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Cassidy). The Senator from Michigan.

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