Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., July 11, 2008 Tamuz 8, 5768 | | Israel Time: 08:30 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Incoming President Shimon Peres speaking at his inaugural ceremony. (Channel 2) Last update - 06:53 16/07/2007 President Peres: I have devoted myself to unifying the nation By Haaretz Staff New President Shimon Peres vowed in his inaugural address Sunday to "devote myself to unifying" the nation. Expressing sorrow at leaving the Knesset, Peres noted: "I am leaving this house, the beating heart of Israeli democracy, after having saddled its benches for 48 years, more than half of my life. I loved its deafening volume, the great debates, the soul-reaching tumults and the unexpected reconciliations." Yet, he said, he was excited by the new challenge facing him: "I am no longer the messenger of a party but a trustee of the nation, of all the citizens of the state. From this moment I will be the voice and the address for every citizen of the State of Israel, for every baby and child, for woman and man, for the poor and the elderly. My home will be open to all- my hands will be extended to each and every one." Advertisement He returned to that theme repeatedly. The president, he said, "must encourage peace processes. Within the house. With our neighbors. In the whole region ... The president must call on the religious and secular public to find that which is common between them ... [Israel] must be a good and warm home for Jews who are not Israelis, as well as for Israelis who are not Jews. And it must create equal opportunities for all segments of the population without differentiating between religion, nationality, community or sex." In addition, he said, "I see the need to encourage the young generation to enter political life and the hierarchies of leadership in order to begin again. Its enthusiasm is essential for our future." Peres also listed four other priorities: "Jerusalem, the Negev, the Galilee and the Valley of Peace," which "extends along the border between us, the Hashemite Kingdom and the Palestinians." This valley "may become a haven of cooperation between Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians ... The Arava will be an amazing tourist area ... Along the valley, industrial parks will be established which will offer many opportunities of work for all the partners. In the Valley of Peace we will see how, for the first time, it will be possible to harness the economy as a bulldozer for peace." Recounting a 1992 visit to his birthplace of Vishniova, in what is now Belarus, where several of his relatives perished in the Holocaust, he said: "It seemed to me as if I heard a scream from the mouths of my grandfather, grandmother and their only son who had remained to support them. I wished that I could I whisper into their ears about our independence and tell them about the IDF, about Dimona, about Entebbe. About the outstanding privilege given to their grandson to participate in the restoration of the ruins of our people, to cast true content to the oath, 'Never again.'" Looking back on "almost 60 years of the state," he said, "my heart is proud of what we have all achieved together. And of what we, as one, are dreaming of: to live in faith, to seek peace, to build a better future." It came at "a heavy price," he acknowledged, recalling the killed, the wounded, and the three kidnapped soldiers. Nevertheless, he said, "there is no place for depression." "My years place me at an observation point from which the scene of our life as a reviving nation is seen, spread out in all its glory," he concluded. "It is true that in the picture, stains also appear. It is true that we have [been] flawed and have erred. But please believe me  there is no room for melancholy. The outstanding achievements of Israel in its 60 years, together with the courage, wisdom and creativity of our young generation, give birth to one clear conclusion: Israel has the strength to reach great prosperity and to become an exemplary state as commanded us by our prophets. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Photoshopped launch Did Iran doctor an image of its provocative missile test launch? 'Hitler was a good boss' Nazi bodyguard describes the fuhrer's last moments in a Berlin bunker.   1.   you would think peres would want to take care of his wife 04:38  |  Shepherd 16/07/07   2.   Happy Talk 05:12  |  Yoram 16/07/07   3.   BY "GET RID OF TERRITORIES" HE`S DIVIDING THE NATION,NOT UNIFYING 07:35  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 16/07/07   4.   President LOONY TOONS to the rescue!!! 08:06  |  Josh 16/07/07   5.   Guardian 08:31  |  Petya 16/07/07   6.   An out of date president 09:07  |  Jack Davis 16/07/07   7.   unite? the first day you split it!!!! poor job! 09:13  |  uli 16/07/07   8.   At least chosen an 83 y old man, not likely for sex harassment 09:13  |  Alain 16/07/07   9.   # 8, ALAIN 09:46  |  indrajaya 16/07/07   10.   Oslo accord is the worst sell-out in history 09:59  |  Bo 16/07/07   11.   PERES IS OBVIOUSLY GA GA 11:14  |  paul harris 16/07/07   12.   Ecology and Shimon Peres. 12:20  |  Vital 16/07/07   13.   Peres is President now 12:25  |  sh 16/07/07   14.   To Bo # 10 - Land without Peace.... 12:51  |  Dagma 16/07/07   15.   Peres please go to jail for me then 12:59  |  Steven 16/07/07   16.   We Need To Give Peres Time! 07:12  |  David Ben-Israel 11/07/08

Read & React Defense Min. Barak: Israel is not afraid of taking action against Iran Responses: 320 2 Qassams hit Negev after IDF kills unarmed Gazan at border Responses: 199 Olmert: I can persuade U.S. to sponsor Israel-Syria talks Responses: 56 Peres to get hotel in Olympic village so he can keep the Sabbath Responses: 51 Ze'ev Sternhell: It's pricier than ever to exist as a Jewish state Responses: 56 Rosner's Domain Is the Arab love affair with Obama over? (WTR) On Iraq, Obama draws to the ground of reality Poll: The more religious the Jewish voter, the more pro-McCain Iran's bomb-building potential more than doubled (WTR) More Headlines 07:18 Police source: Anyone but Olmert would have been arrested by now 08:03 ANALYSIS / Olmert won't be able to recover from this interrogation 07:34 IDF officer, civilian wounded by Palestinian fire near Qalqilyah 08:11 Hezbollah swap set for Wed., barring last-minute changes 07:15 Defense officials: Renew diplomatic pressure on Syria as Hezbollah rearms 05:36 The latest trend in wedding presents: direct deposit 05:36 Hitler's bodyguard: The Fuhrer was a good boss 07:16 Winner of September Kadima primary will form new government 01:07 French police file charges against 3 suspects in attack on Jewish teen 02:50 Ex-soccer star Revivo leaving Israel following underworld 'banishment' 07:16 Israel denies Gaza journalist claims of abuse at West Bank crossing 06:49 Did Iran doctor an image of its missile test launch? Previous Editions Select Day 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul 06 jul 04 jul 03 jul 02 jul 01 jul 30 jun 29 jun 27 jun

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Dan Hotels Israel Live the Legend & experience an Unforgettable Summer Vacation Yossi Avrahami Presents: New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury Right In the heart of Tel-Aviv The Meier on Rothschild tower Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved