WarSclerotic

President Peres bestows Medal of Distinction on Obama – Israel News, Ynetnews.

During ceremonial dinner in honor of visiting American leader, Israeli president says ‘Iran denies the Shoah and calls for a new one’; lauds Obama for ‘tireless work to make Israel strong’

Moran Azulay

In the course of the ceremonial dinner Peres presented Obama with Israel’s highest civic award – the Presidential Medal of Distinction.

“It is my privilege to present you with our country’s highest honor, the Medal of Distinction. This award speaks to your tireless work to make Israel strong. And peace possible. Your presidency has given the close ties between Israel and the United States a new height. A sense of intimacy. A vision for the future. The people of Israel are particularly moved by your unforgettable contribution to their security. To defending our skies. To the collaboration in the domain of intelligence, which is the right way to preempt bloodshed. The diplomatic and military bonds between us have reached an unprecedented level.

“When I visited you in Washington, I thought in my heart: America is so great and we are so small. But I learned that you don’t measure us by size, but by values. When it comes to values, we are you and you are us.

Obama awarded President’s Medal (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

“On occasion, when we were alone, you stood with us. So we were not alone. We were alone together. We shall never forget it. During your previous visit to Israel, you asked me if I had any advice to offer. It is not in my nature to let questions go unanswered. So I suggested that while people say that the future belongs to the young, it is the present that really belongs to the young,” Peres said.

Photo: Gil Yohanan

Addressing Obama’s speech in Jerusalem, Peres said “You noted in your address today that peace is the greatest hope. I share your vision. Your call to reopen the peace process may pave the way for the implementation of the Two State Solution agreed by all of us. As you said: A Jewish state – Israel. An Arab state – Palestine. Next to you sits the reelected Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. He opened his address to the Knesset by reiterating his commitment to the two-state solution.”

Turning his attention to the Iranian nuclear program, Peres said, “I am convinced that you will do whatever is necessary to free the world’s horizons and the skies of Jerusalem from the Iranian threat. Iran denies the Shoah and calls for a new one. Iran is building a nuclear bomb and denies it.

“The Iranian regime is the greatest danger to world peace. History has shown, time and again, that peace, prosperity and a stable civil society cannot flourish where threats and belligerence abound,” Peres said.

After receiving the Medal of Distinction, Obama said he “could not be more deeply moved” by the award, but stressed that he was accepting the honor not for himself but for the American people.

Dwelling on the Passover story, Obama drew parallels between the struggle of the ancient Israelites and Afro-Americans to rise from slavery to salvation.

The American leader praised Peres for his “extraordinary vitality” and said that whenever he sees him he asks who his doctor is.

In a toast to Peres, Obama wished him “ad mea ve’esrim” the traditional Jewish blessing that someone should live to be 120, which was the age of Moses when he died.

This entry was posted on March 21, 2013 at 10:48 PM and is filed under Uncategorized. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.