In death, Peres brings people together
Even in death, Shimon Peres managed to bring Israelis and Palestinians together.
With peace efforts in a deep freeze, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas made his first trip to Jerusalem in six years to attend Peres’ funeral Friday, shaking hands and making small talk with his longtime adversary, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and challenging the government’s narrative that he is not a reliable partner for peace.
It was a fitting tribute to Peres, who was the mastermind of the historic Oslo interim peace accord with the Palestinians in 1993. Despite years of setbacks, he remained Israel’s most outspoken advocate for peace until his death.
The Oslo process is in tatters after two decades of on-again, off-again negotiations and sporadic bouts of violence. The sides have only held two brief, failed rounds of negotiations since Netanyahu took office in 2009. The two leaders rarely speak and spend more time accusing one another of hindering peace prospects.
Friday’s encounter was brief but cordial. As Abbas arrived, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, greeted him. Mrs. Netanyahu invited the Palestinian leader to come back for a visit.
Netanyahu and Abbas exchanged handshake at an international summit in France last year, but have not had a working meeting since 2010.
“Long time. Long time,” Abbas said.
“Thank you for coming,” Netanyahu responded. “Thank you, Mr. President.”
Turning his attention to Abbas’ aides, Netanyahu said: “Thank you for coming here. It’s something that I appreciate very much on behalf of our people and on behalf of Israel.”
During the ceremony, Abbas sat in the front row, alongside other world leaders.