Shimon Peres — Profile, Rankings & Fame Trend

Summary

Updated 2026-06-21

He was Israel's longest-serving parliamentarian — 48 years in the Knesset — and held the unusual trifecta of prime minister, president, and Nobel laureate. By the time he left office in 2014, Peres was the world's oldest head of state and the last Israeli prime minister born outside what became Israel.

Biography

About

Born Szymon Perski in Poland in 1923, he arrived young enough to be shaped by David Ben-Gurion, who spotted his oratorical skill and made him a protégé. He held military and diplomatic posts during the 1948 war, then became deputy director general of defense at 28 and full director by 1953. In 1956 he helped negotiate the Protocol of Sèvres, later praised by Anthony Eden as statesmanship of the highest order; in 1963 he persuaded JFK to sell Hawk missiles to Israel, the first U.S. arms deal of its kind. Elected to the Knesset in 1959, he served across five parties and a dozen cabinets, twice a…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Shimon Peres

Shimon Peres

said1 Sep 2007

If world is suspicious that Israel may detonate nuclear bomb and if the suspicion is a deterrent — that's good enough.

— As quoted in "Peres: Suspicion over Israeli nukes is good deterrent", Ynetnews (1 September 2007)

Shimon Peres

said26 Jul 2007

I will confine myself to reaffirming the Israel will not be the first country to introduce nuclear weapons to the region.

— As quoted in "Shimon Peres: 'Sanctions on Iran could work'" in Le Figaro (26 July 2007)

Shimon Peres

said29 Nov 2006

Iran is a great problem, but not necessarily a great country. In fact, I think it is a very weak country.

— As quoted in "Israel's Shimon Peres Calls Iran Weak", Comcast (29 November 2006)

Shimon Peres

said8 May 2006

The president of Iran should remember that Iran can also be wiped off the map.

— Remarks 8 May 2006, as quoted in "Iran can also be wiped off the map", in The Jerusalem Post (9 May 2006)

Shimon Peres

said6 Feb 2006

There isn't a single person in Israel who wants to destroy or harm Egypt. In contrast, there's a whole country that openly wants to destroy Israel, and that's Iran.

— ArabYnet online chat (6 February 2006)

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