Shimon Peres sworn in as ninth President of Israel
Israel-Palestine, Politics, 7/16/2007

Israel's Shimon Peres was sworn in yesterday as Israel's ninth president. The Israeli Ministry Of Foreign Affairs said Peres is "A Nobel laureate, Peres is the first former prime minister and longest serving member of Knesset to become president."

President Peres was further reported as having told the Knesset: "Israel must create equal opportunities for all segments of the population, regardless of race, religion, sex or nationality... The President must call on the religious and secular public to find common ground and urge the Palestinians and the Arab countries to participate in the great journey across a world built on intellect, not only on land."

Peres said "Wars are not ideals, in them the victor just as the vanquished pays a heavy price. Peace is maintained by living people who respect life."

He added "There is no place for depression. In fact, it is the Jewish people, that invented dissatisfaction. We are a people, which have never and will never reconcile ourselves to murder, to falsehood, to mastery, to slavery, to discrimination, to exploitation, to surrendering or to stand still. Since we established the state, we must maintain these principles in our country."

Peres said "He must encourage peace processes. At home. With our neighbors. In the whole region. The new era, in any case, lowers territorial borders and reduces discrimination among people. It is built more on creativity than on governing."

Peres said: On the future map of Israel four priorities must be marked: Jerusalem, the Negev, the Galilee and the Valley of Peace.
a. Jerusalem is yearning for momentum and is thirsty for renewal. To be the city, promised to us and holy to all believers. To be the spiritual and political center for the Jewish people and a nest of prayer for seekers of peace of all believers. To be a universal center for science and an intellectual challenge to all who come to her gates. The uniqueness of Jerusalem is also its destiny.
b. The Negev has begun to awaken. It must never be allowed to fall asleep again. The Negev makes it possible to double the settled area of Israel. We will combat the barrenness in it, just as we fought the hostility outside it. Missiles are now able to reach distant ranges, which blur the difference between the front and the hinterland. As the settlements are more scattered, the concentration of the targets of the missiles will be reduced.
The Negev enables us to harness the sun’s energy and to create clean electricity for the state and to desalinate water from the sea and underground ancient water. It enables a common ground of economic relations to be formed with the three neighbours: the Jordanians, the Egyptians and the Palestinians.
c. The Galilee: its charm is renowned. It possesses overwhelming beauty. Half of the people living there are Jews and half are Arabs. This is an opportunity to create true equality for all. The Galilee invites the young generation to enrich the Galilee with intellectual energy and to establish in it clean industries, to cover it with vines and to host tourists in it. The day will come when Lebanon will be freed of its destroyers and Syria will free it of its ropes, and from the north peace will come.
d. The Valley of Peace extends along the border between us, the Hashemite Kingdom and the Palestinians. It may become a haven of cooperation between Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians. All three have already given their agreement. The Arava will be an amazing tourist area. A number of artificial lakes in it are likely to make it alive and attractive. Along its length a water conduit will be built to the Dead Sea to compensate it for the loss of its water. 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. A partnership between organized Jordan and modern Israel will help the Palestinians overcome their destitution and establish their country.

Peres added "I believe that politics deals with borders and the economy in relations. Good relations are likely to make possible the marking of secure and agreed borders.
The Valley of Peace is a challenge which is likely to create enthusiasm among our brethren in the Diaspora to participate in the path of a broad vision aimed at creating life and peace. It may also bring support from the Gulf states. It is likely to enthuse the young people, as it binds science, development and peace into one sheaf. I intend to devote myself to promoting the relations between Israel and the Diaspora by adding an intellectual and creative dimension. And, this, alongside the encouragement of modern relations with Arab countries. Within us there are hidden enormous creative powers in the spiritual, philosophical, scientific and cultural fields. And deep in us is the obligation to attend to human distress in every place, the place of the poor of your people and the place of the deprived in your area."

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