“Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account.” (Hebrews 13:17)
In the last days of Shimon Peres’ presidency over Israel, the Polish-born 90-year-old met in shared sorrow with the families of some of the 35 Israeli soldiers slain since June 2014 when Hamas escalated its attacks against Israel.
Israeli President Shimon Peres spent the last days of his presidency comforting grieving families.
Greeting the mourners as if close friends—with heartfelt, compassionate hugs—Peres spent an emotional whirlwind last Monday visiting the loved ones of Bnaya Rubel, 20; Major Amotz Greenberg, 45; and Sgt. Eitan Barak, 20.
Visiting the homes of the Israel Defense Forces’ slain heroes, Peres served as a public servant, joining with parents, children and wives as they sat shiva (a seven-day mourning period), listening to stories of the soldiers’ lives, their passions, their dreams. (JPost)
Shimon Peres comforts a grieving family during Operation Protective Edge.
“I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners, creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near,” says the Lord. “And I will heal them.” (Isaiah 57:18–19)
When visiting fallen Reserve soldier Amotz Greenberg, Peres struggled with his emotions as he embraced Sagit Greenberg and her three children, Lihi, Ori and Shira.
Turning to Ori, Peres held the 12-year-old’s face in his hands and told him that at his father’s funeral, “I could hear your father through your voice, full of love and dedication.”
“You represent the third generation of the values which strengthen the State of Israel,” he added.
Shimon Peres sits shiva with a grieving father.
In his July 24, 2014, farewell speech to the nation three days later, Peres stated, “I am taking leave of my position as president, but not from my duty as a citizen. I was a president who loved his people. As of now, I am a citizen in love with my people.” (World Jewish Congress)
“Even if we serve as a target for evil—we will not deviate from our moral heritage,” the nation’s ninth president said. “I did not imagine that in the last days of my presidency I would be called upon, once more, to comfort bereaved families.”
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)
Israeli President Shimon Peres takes leave of his position as the president of Israel.
Peres also highlighted on Thursday the dangers engulfing the civilians of Gaza, that Hamas has turned the Gaza Strip into a “man-made tragedy.”
“We must alert the world to the madness of the terrorist threat,” Peres said, at his farewell speech. “Terrorism aims to spill our blood. And leads to blood being spilled among its people. Never has such a minority torn apart the fabric of whole societies, so cruelly sent children to serve as shields for its crimes.”
“They forced their children to serve as human shields, and sent them into the fire,” he said. “I say it again, I say it clearly, the Arabs are not our enemies. The policy of murder is the enemy. It is also the greatest danger to the Arab world.”
Peres has closed his seven-year presidency as the world’s oldest head of state after giving 66 years to Israeli statesmanship. He was elected twice previously as prime minister of Israel, and has served as minister of foreign affairs, minister of defense, minister of finance and minister of transportation.
