Former MK Sharansky awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom - Haaretz

Last update - 20:30 15/12/2006

Former MK Sharansky awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom

By Shmuel Rosner, Haaretz Correspondent

Former Likud minister Natan Sharansky was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on Friday.

Addressing the participants, United States President George W. Bush called Sharansky a symbol of "the moral emptiness of imperial communism" and a "champion for liberty and democracy."

"As a Jew applying to immigrate to Israel, he was refused and harassed by the Soviet regime," said Bush. "Natan Sharansky became a leading dissident and advocate for human rights, and after a show trial he was sentenced to a gulag for 10 years."

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"Today the Soviet Union is history, but the world still knows the name Sharansky," said the president. "He remains, above all, an eloquent champion for liberty and democracy."

"Natan reminds us that every soul carries the desire to live in freedom, and that freedom has a unique power to lift up nations, transform regions, and secure a future for peace," Bush continued. "Natan Sharansky is a witness to that power, and his testimony brings hope to those who still live under oppression."

Alongside Sharansky, legendary blues musician B.B. King and historian David McCullough recieved similar honors.

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1.	Bush a symbol of moral emptiness of imperial capitalism	20:03	\|	Michael	15/12/06

2.	This guy is a fool	20:43	\|	Sam	15/12/06

3.	Sharansky	21:08	\|	kevin reed	15/12/06

4.	He deserves the hypocrite award	21:08	\|	Swiss (Dino)	15/12/06

5.	#1 - you may disagree with Bush but `moral emptiness` - NO WAY -	21:09	\|	redmike	15/12/06

6.	To michael	21:11	\|	Lee smith	15/12/06

7.	(^_^)	21:25	\|	JJ	15/12/06

8.	Natan Sharansky	21:47	\|	sandra chitayat	15/12/06

9.	Redmike, Bush is a moral vacuum	22:05	\|	Michael	15/12/06

10.	critic, cowards and cynics	22:08	\|	Ruvane	15/12/06

11.	mazal tov-NOT!!!	22:22	\|	Kerwood Derby	15/12/06

12.	Sharansky embodies jewish paradox	22:22	\|	Joseph	15/12/06

13.	Nothing but shame to the American people	22:23	\|	Anoosh	15/12/06

14.	Sharansky Article	22:30	\|	DAVID KAPLAN	15/12/06

15.	Good Few Men	22:33	\|	salty	15/12/06

16.	Former MK Sharansky awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom	22:42	\|	Y.JACOBS	15/12/06

17.	Bush Needs Help	23:36	\|	Embarrassed American	15/12/06

18.	Disgusting photo	23:40	\|	hollingsworth	15/12/06

19.	sharansky	23:47	\|	aliyah activist	15/12/06

20.	Sharansky	23:51	\|	dissapointed	15/12/06

21.	The company you keep	01:04	\|	W	16/12/06

22.	Sharansky deserved half o a medal	01:31	\|	Jozef	16/12/06

23.	Sharansky Shmaransky	01:53	\|	raymond deane	16/12/06

24.	A sad day for the US	02:40	\|	Roger	16/12/06

25.	"...but the world still knows the name Sharansky"	03:00	\|	Roger	16/12/06

26.	#4	03:48	\|	Moshe	16/12/06

27.	Little you know	04:37	\|	Michael	16/12/06

28.	Hollingsworth Remember!	05:41	\|	Yosemite Sam	16/12/06

29.	Same Bunch Of Pro-9/11 Posters!	05:52	\|	Yosemite Sam	16/12/06

30.	Sharansky`s selective championing of human rights and "freedom"	06:23	\|	Bill	16/12/06

31.	Hope Runs Eternal ! Go BUSH !	06:39	\|	HonestAbe	16/12/06

32.	Sam #2	06:53	\|	HonestAbe	16/12/06

33.	# 26 Moshe	07:16	\|	Swiss (Dino)	16/12/06

34.	For Operation Enduring Freedom?	07:20	\|	justiceseeker	16/12/06

35.	Honest Abe	08:13	\|	Lisa Javner	16/12/06

36.	BUSH/Etc.: Dragging The World Down INTO SOMETHING VERY DANGEROUS!	08:22	\|	Proud Pal Defender	16/12/06

37.	what a hero!	08:44	\|	peacelover	16/12/06

38.	Congratulations to Mr. Sharansky,despite the bigots of `Talkback`	10:08	\|	Zuriel	16/12/06

39.	Sharansky the hypocrit	11:22	\|	Esther	16/12/06

40.	A medal of freedom to one who advocates opression	11:36	\|	Joe	16/12/06

41.	Sharansky the award winning hypocrit.	11:49	\|	Esther	16/12/06