Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony Honoring His Excellency Shimon Peres

Leaders of the U.S. House and Senate held a ceremony honoring His Excellency Shimon Peres, President of Israel which took place in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda:

"For thousands of years, the Jewish people searched for a home.

"For almost 70 years, they've defended one.

"The world has marveled at the achievement of this once-nomadic people, subjected so often throughout their history to the worst of human nature, a people who raised a nation out of the sands with every odd stacked against them.

"It's an incredible tale.

"And since the birth of modern Israel, one man has been there every step of the way, standing at the very center of this remarkable drama.

"Shimon Peres. President of Israel. The man we honor today.

"He was there in pre-war Europe. He was there during the migration to Israel. He was there for the War of Independence.

"He has held virtually every major government post over the span of his nearly 70-year long political career.

"He served under Ben-Gurion. He dined with De Gaulle. He sparred with Nasser.

"His tenure in the Knesset spans momentous events in Lebanon. And Camp David. And the Olympics in Munich.

"He has both seen, and stood at the center of, so much.

"From Israel's earliest years as a dream in the desert, to its transformation to the modern, flourishing, diverse democracy of today, he's been there, a figure of reconciliation and strength.

"With his Arab neighbors, he has sought peace -- and made extraordinary, Nobel-winning efforts to advance it.

"His historic speech to the German people in 2010 moved and inspired many of us.

"And we know that President Peres put aside long-standing mistrust among domestic political adversaries in order to join hands with those interested in peace -- the kind of peace that seemed impossible at the time, and that remains sadly elusive today.

"But he hasn't given up.

"And that's not surprising, given that this is a man who once said that, for him, "dreaming is simply being pragmatic.' It's this remarkable approach to his life and work that's sustained Shimon Peres for decades in the political spotlight.

"In just a few weeks, President Peres will leave the presidency behind. He'll close the book on one storied political career and hand the reins to his successor. But what a story it has been. What a story it is.

"So today, we honor Shimon Peres, President of the State of Israel, for his numerous contributions to public life. We thank him for being such a great friend of the United States over the years -- for strengthening the unbreakable union between our two democracies.

"And we look forward to the next chapter in his extraordinary life. May it be as remarkable as those that preceded it."

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