Congresswoman Kelly Statement on the Passing of Former Israeli President Shimon Peres

Congresswoman Robin Kelly issued the following statement today in response to the passing of Former Israeli President Shimon Peres.

“Today we mourn the passing of former Israeli President Shimon Peres, an extraordinary statesman who dedicated his life to the establishment and preservation of the State of Israel, and the promotion of peace among all nations. In his unrelenting pursuit of peace – leading to his obtainment of the Nobel Peace Prize – President Peres also never wavered from his commitment to the Israeli Defense Force.  Like Israel itself, Shimon Peres showed the world how defending your borders and extending a welcoming hand to those who are different are not mutually exclusive. Born in Poland, losing much of his family to the Nazi regime, and on the front lines militarily and diplomatically of every single conflict since Israel’s founding, it would have been easy for President Peres to be pessimistic or cynical about our shared future.   But never once did he waver from his eternal optimism; from his commitment to transform the world ‘from bullets to ballots, from guns to shovels.’ Next week, people of the Jewish faith in the Second District, across Illinois, America, Israel, and the entire world will congregate for Rosh Hashanah – the Jewish New Year.  Assuredly, President Peres’s passing will make this New Year a little less sweet, but may we use his legacy to renew our undying commitment to his vision of a more peaceful world.  May his memory forever be a blessing for all those who seek peace in the world.”

Congresswoman Robin L. Kelly (IL-2) is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee