INSPIRING LIVES: SHIMON PERES, THE DREAMER WHO REFUSED TO GIVE UP ON PEACE

Author: World Economic Forum from Cologny, Switzerland

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INSPIRING LIVES:

SHIMON PERES, THE DREAMER WHO REFUSED TO GIVE UP ON PEACE

Few world leaders embodied hope with as much steadfastness as Shimon Peres—a statesman, visionary, and moral voice whose long life mirrored the turbulent history of Israel itself. Born in 1923 in a small Polish town, Peres arrived in British-mandated Palestine as a young boy. What he carried with him was not wealth or privilege, but a remarkable sense of possibility—a belief that nations could be built through courage, imagination, and unshakable faith in the future.

Peres rose early and fast in public life. As a young man he worked closely with David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s founding father, helping to build the institutions of a new state. It was Peres who secured arms during Israel’s early wars, strengthened its defense capabilities, and helped establish what eventually became the Israel Defense Forces. Yet, ironically, this man who played such a key role in Israel’s security architecture would later become one of the world’s most passionate advocates for peace.

Throughout his long career—spanning almost seven decades—Peres held almost every major office in Israel, including Prime Minister (twice) and President. But titles alone do not define him. What truly distinguished Shimon Peres was his ability to dream boldly, even when critics dismissed him as naïve.

Peres believed that peace was not just a political strategy but a moral duty. His most famous contribution, of course, was his central role in the Oslo Accords of the 1990s. Alongside Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat, Peres sought to bring Israelis and Palestinians closer to peaceful coexistence. The road ahead would prove far more complicated than anyone anticipated, but the courage to attempt peace in a region long consumed by conflict earned Peres and his partners the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994.

Even after setbacks, violence, and political criticism, Peres refused to surrender his belief in dialogue. “An optimist is someone who believes that the future is better than the past,” he once said—and he lived by those words with unwavering sincerity.

Interestingly, Peres was not only a political figure but also a futurist, deeply fascinated by science and technology. Long before it became fashionable for statesmen to talk about startups and innovation, Peres predicted that Israel’s greatest strength would lie in the creative power of its people. As President, he championed Israel as the “Nation of Innovation,” encouraging young people to pursue science, entrepreneurship, and big ideas. His speeches were sprinkled with references to nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and genetic engineering—remarkable for a leader in his eighties and nineties.

Shimon Peres’ personal character also endeared him to millions. Known for his kindness, soft-spoken manner, and poetic way of speaking, he conveyed hope even in difficult times. He was often described as someone who thought in decades, not days—someone who navigated politics but was never consumed by its bitterness.

His passing in 2016 marked the end of an era. Yet his life continues to inspire diplomats, thinkers, and young dreamers across the world. In a region where cynicism can be overwhelming, Peres remains a symbol of relentless optimism—a reminder that peace, however distant, is worth striving for.

Shimon Peres once wrote, “You are as young as your dreams.”

By that measure, he stayed young until the very end.

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World Economic Forum from Cologny, Switzerland, Flickr and WIKIMEDIA COMMONS for the beautiful image of Shimon Peres!🙏🙏🙏