BREAKING NEWS

Peres was a 'true friend of Jerusalem,' says mayor Barkat

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat mourned the death of former president Shimon Peres on Wednesday morning, calling him a "true friend of Jerusalem."
He "participated every year in Jerusalem's "Good Deeds Day" as a volunteer who always took a paint brush in hand and personally worked to make Jerusalem more beautiful, Barkat recounted.
"With his endless vigor and energy, president Peres also experienced Jerusalem's nightlife. Wearing a leather jacket, (the) president joined us on several cold Jerusalem nights for tours of the City Center, at the Jerusalem Wine Festival, and at countless other events. Every time I met president Peres, he always had good advice to share. In every discussion, he offered a fresh perspective, and he always looked far into the future," Barkat said.
"President Peres played an important role in the founding of the State of Israel and in many important events in our country's past," the mayor said. "His story is the story of Israel. However, he was not only a wise scholar of global history. His rich history and deep knowledge and experience inspired him to dream and look towards the future.  He shaped the very essence of our world's history with his wisdom and actions. At the same time, he understood new technological advances and how to utilize them to benefit future generations."