Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., November 23, 2008 Cheshvan 25, 5769 | | Israel Time: 01:12 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File

Shimon Peres: State president, Nobel laureate and now - knight By Anshel Pfeffer LONDON - President Shimon Peres yesterday added 'Knight' to the long list of titles he has acquired over the years. Peres received the honorary knighthood of the Order of St. Michael and St. George from Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace in London yesterday. Further coverage on Page A4. Peres also met yesterday with Prince Charles, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Foreign Secretary David Miliband. Advertisement The president was greeted on his arrival at Buckingham Palace yesterday afternoon by the Master of the Household, Air Vice-Marshall David Walker, who escorted him to his private half-hour audience with the Queen. Peres later described the meeting as "friendly and informal." The president told the Queen that the British had learned the Bible, and Isael had learned democracy from the British. He added that the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict was divided into two parts: the period of war, and the period of peacemaking. The president thanked the Queen for Britain's friendship toward Israel. However, he said, there were shadows over the friendship, mentioning the White Paper that prohibited Jewish immigration to Palestine and recent attempts to institute an academic boycott of Israel. Before taking leave of Her Majesty, Peres asked her to meet the women aides who had accompanied him to London. After the meeting, Peres said he was very excited, and "this whole ceremony was in my opinion not for me as an individual, but recognition of Israel." The president explained that he had not invited the Queen to visit Israel because "a royal visit is something very complex that requires two years of preparation, and it is not suitable now to invite the Queen when it is unclear what government Israel will have in two years' time." Peres gave Queen Elizabeth two gifts: a letter that her father, George VI, had written officially recognizing Israel and initiating diplomatic relations between the two countries, and a pair of pomegranate-shaped candlesticks. Later, Peres met with Prince Charles at Clarence House, the prince's official residence, and invited Charles to visit Israel. Chales was in Israel to participate in prime minister Yitzhak Rabin's funeral, but has never been on an official visit as a representative of the British royal family. Last year, internal memos by the prince's aides came to light in which it was said that he would never visit Israel. Charles thanked Peres for the invitation but did not accept it. He said his lifelong dream was to visit his grandmother's grave in Jerusalem. Charles' grandmother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, is buried in the Church of Mary Magdalene on the Mount of Olives. Charles also noted that he celebrated his 60th birthday last week, and was the same age as Israel. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Mikaeel Jackson Report: Pop star Michael Jackson converts to Islam. Peace now Abbas calls on Obama to enact Arab peace plan as soon as he takes office.

Read & React 20,000 Jewish pilgrims to descend on Hebron amid settler violence Responses: 222 Experts argue: How close is Iran to its first nuclear weapon? Responses: 135 Video: Prof. Avi Shlaim says settlements turn Israel into Apartheid state Responses: 181 Debate over Museum of Tolerance - an exchange Responses: 23 PLO official Yasser Abed Rabbo: The Palestinian people need Obama's help Responses: 76 Gideon Levy: Israeli left was born in sin and died because of a lie Responses: 91 More Headlines 21:39 Settler teens attack Border police in Hebron 21:55 Qassams strike western Negev in latest threat to fragile truce 00:20 Obama's Mideast peace platform is coming into focus 15:00 Abbas calls on Obama to enact Arab peace plan as soon as he takes office 22:13 Top Israeli diplomats in Turkey kicked out of Istanbul university 22:49 Hollywood in Netanya: Ben Stiller and Chris Rock in coastal city for 'Madagascar 2' premiere 00:22 Hezbollah: 'Zionist Lobby' behind Germany's decision to ban Al-Manar TV station 10:08 Iran executes man convicted of spying for Israel 23:00 Visiting Argentine president offers Libya help with nuclear power 13:11 Your land is my land 20:47 Report: Pop star Michael Jackson converts to Islam 19:59 Peru police nab Israeli for plotting to smuggle a half a ton of cocaine to Europe 13:10 Report: Hezbollah carries out military drills in south Lebanon 16:10 Syria: No more UN visits to alleged nuclear site Previous Editions Select Day 21 nov 20 nov 19 nov 18 nov 17 nov 16 nov 14 nov 13 nov 12 nov 11 nov 10 nov 09 nov

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