In the course of a visit on Thursday to Druse communities in the Galilee in
advance of of Id al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice, President Shimon Peres
asked students of the Darcha School to join him in praying for the speedy and
complete recovery of former Mossad chief Meir Dagan, who recently underwent a
liver transplant in Belarus.
Peres, who is a personal friend of Dagan,
said that together with the rest of Israel he prays for his quick
recovery.
Describing Dagan as a great fighter with many victories to his
credit, Peres expressed confidence that just as he had proved himself as a
warrior on the battlefield and had triumphed, he would also win the current
battle for his life.
Peres disclosed that when he had become aware of
Dagan’s illness, he had gone to Dagan’s home to join his friends and family in
strengthening his morale, and to do whatever could be done to get him
hospitalized and operated on.
Peres expressed appreciation to President
Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus for enabling Dagan to undergo surgery there
after attempts to have him hospitalized in other countries had
failed.
Peres said that he hoped that Dagan would not only be restored to
good health but would also resume a fully active and productive
life.
Peres noted that Dagan has earned considerable prestige not only in
Israel but in many parts of the world for the heroic manner in which he combated
terrorism. As a result said Peres, untold numbers of people in Israel and other
countries owe him their lives.
Later in the day, Peres called Dagan’s
wife, Bina, to enquire about Dagan’s progress and to give her the comfort of
knowing that so many people care.
He also asked her to convey his love to
Dagan and to tell him that the whole country is praying for him. Peres
reiterated to Bin Dagan his belief that her husband would conquer the foe to his
health, just as he conquered the enemies to Israel’s security.