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Written by Prime Minister's Media Adviser

Published: 03 November 2013

The changeover ceremony for the position of National Security Adviser was held today (Sunday, 3 November 2013), in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Jerusalem office. IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz, Mossad Director Tamir Pardo, ISA Director Yoram Cohen and Atomic Energy Commission Director Dr. Shaul Horev participated in the ceremony. US Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro spoke and awarded outgoing National Security Adviser Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Yaakov Amidror a US flag that had flown over the US Embassy in Israel.



Outgoing NSC Advisor Amidror said: "I thank the Prime Minister for offering me the position, for having boundless trust in me, for giving me almost complete freedom to do what I thought best, for listening to my words and for backing my actions. He patiently listened to my arguments and was open to my views. It is important to remember that Israel has one clear existential danger and everything must be done to remove it; if possible, by negotiations and if it is not possible by negotiations, then in another way. The second thing is, today the Middle East is a place in motion. There have already been many upheavals and many more are to be expected in the future. This dangerous situation, perhaps the most dangerous in the 40 years in which I have been dealing with these issues, requires much caution and much thought."



Incoming National Security Adviser Yossi Cohen said: "I take up this office with a deep sense of mission. I thank you, Mr. Prime Minister, for your decision to appoint me to lead the National Security Council and serve as your National Security Adviser at a time when the world around us is in ferment and the State of Israel faces security challenges in all major and significant spheres. In the previous 30 years I have served the State of Israel in the framework of the Mossad. After long years of operational work abroad, as an operations officer and commander, as well as staff work in Israel, I view the position of National Security Adviser as a natural continuation. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have taken care that my taking up this office should be proper, successful, smooth and meaningful so that I might do well in my post. Anyone who is familiar with the logo of the Mossad knows that it has a menorah, which is, in effect, the values compass for all of us in the service of the State of Israel. Above it is written 'Where there is no counsel, the people fall.' [Proverbs 11:14] This is what I have done over the past 30 years and below it is written 'But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.' [Proverbs 11:14] Thus I will endeavor to do."



Prime Minister Netanyahu congratulated incoming National Security Adviser Cohen and thanked outgoing National Security Adviser Amidror: "The main thing is that, in the end, the thread of our existence depends on us and we will not let it be cut by anyone. The question is – how do we make certain that the most challenged and threatened state on the face of the earth not only continues to survive but continues to defend itself, to build up its strength, to prosper, and to ensure its future. This is our mission. Yaakov Amidror has greatly contributed to the State of Israel. He has helped me very much. I know that Yossi Cohen will continue this work. Yossi has a very long resume and I am certain this commitment and this professionalism will find expression."

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Written by Office of the President

Published: 24 October 2013

President Shimon Peres speaks to the Jerusalem Post Editor-In-Chief Steve Linde

Photo : Silvia G. Golan

President Peres on Iran

"An Iranian Spring is possible; don't underestimate the power and ability of the people"

President Peres on negotiations with the Palestinians:

"There is enough to bring the two sides together"

The President of the State of Israel, Shimon Peres, opened   The Jerusalem Post Diplomatic Conference, with an onstage interview with Editor-in-Chief Steve Linde. President Peres addressed the Iranian nuclear issue and said of President Rouhani's election, "I think it's part of a new puzzle. People voted for him not because he is a revolutionary but because he was the least extreme and most reasonable. All of us are concerned about the enrichment of uranium but there is a wider picture. Dictatorships only seem strong but they are the weakest, an Iranian Spring is possible; don't underestimate the power and ability of the people." President Peres addressed Iran's nuclear program and said, "Khamenei says that religion forbids the nuclear weapons, then why do they develop long range missiles with warheads capable of carrying nuclear weapons? Those missiles have no civilian purpose. As long as they keep enriching uranium, developing long range missiles, supporting the revolutionary guard then they will remain prisoners of their own work. It is not just a matter of speeches; they have complicated themselves into an impossible system."

President Peres was asked about the negotiations with the Palestinians and said, "I've known Abbas for 30 years, I believe his choice is to arrive to an agreement and he has said there is no need to return to the old cities and if we reach an agreement there won't be further demands. I'm not saying he agrees with us but there is enough to bring the sides together. At the beginning of negotiations and both sides start with maximum positions, the aim of negotiations is to bring the two sides together."

Photo  Silvia Golan

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Written by MFA

Published: 31 October 2013

The Conference, held in cooperation with UN Women and the United Nations Development Programme, will provide a forum for meeting and dialogue among worldwide colleagues, with special focus on gender equality and women's empowerment.

The 28th International Women Leaders’ Conference, which will be held from November 3-8, 2013 will focus on the subject of the centrality of gender equality and women’s empowerment in formulating the next sustainable development goals agenda of the U.N.

The 50 participants from throughout the world will include government ministers (from Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Romania, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa), members of parliament, scholars and senior representatives of U.N. agencies and international aid organizations.

The Conference will be held in cooperation with UN Women and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and will provide a forum for meeting and dialogue among worldwide colleagues on global issues on today's agenda in the area of international development, with special focus on gender equality and women's empowerment.

The Conference will open on Sunday, November 3, at the Krieger Center for Arts in Haifa in a festive ceremony with the participation of the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Israel Minister of Culture and Sport Livnat, and the Mayor of Haifa.

This, the 28th conference of its kind, is sponsored by the Golda Meir Mount Carmel International Training Center (MCTC), the oldest extension institution of MASHAV - Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation at the Foreign Ministry.

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Written by Office of the President

Published: 03 September 2013

President Peres on the situation in Syria:

"Assad will disappear one way or the other"

"If Syria attacks us, we will overcome them"

"Assad has lost the right to be a leader by killing a hundred thousand people"

President Peres on a possible American response in Syria:

"I admire President Obama's attempt to examine every possibility to bring this horrible situation to an end."

The President of the State of Israel, Shimon Peres, hosted a reception and raised a toast for the Jewish New Year with the foreign ambassadors in Israel (the diplomatic corps). President Peres delivered remarks in which he addressed the tension in Syria, the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations and other major diplomatic issues while stressing again that Israel has no part in the Syrian conflict but would defend itself if attacked, ""If Syria attacks us we will overcome them and that is why I believe it won't happen. We have enough of a deterrent, enough strength and defense. We have one of the best security infrastructures and one of the best militaries in the modern world."

President Peres addressed the killing in Syria and said, "Assad has lost the right to be a leader by killing a hundred thousand people. He caused it. He wasn't elected properly, it was never a real democracy but even in a democracy you don't have the right to kill your own people. Assad will disappear one way or the other."

On President Obama's decision regarding an American attack on Syria, President Peres said, "War is a very serious business and I would suggest to every leader to think as much as they can before rather than afterwards. I admire President Obama's attempt to examine every possibility to bring this horrible situation to an end. None of us can ignore it, we do not have the right to. I believe it will reach an end because moral borders are not less important that physical borders. Physical borders can be crossed by missiles, moral ones cannot be crossed. You are either wrong or right."

Addressing the resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians President Peres said, ""We begin this year with good news and bad news. The good news is that the peace process has been renewed, t wasn't simple for the Prime Minister of Israel, who had to overcome serious problems, who has had to take a risk and to embark upon the desired but also the unknown. He did it, he did it rightly and I think he, and his government, deserves our appreciation.  Abu Mazen continues to be against terror, he continues to strive for peace and I think he has shown courage by saying that though he's from Safed he won't return there which is a meaningful declaration. Before the start of negotiations there was a great deal of doubt but the fact that the two parties are talking is a victory for reason, I hope we shall continue."

We used to live in a world where children buried their fathers who fought in war but to see babies being killed by their own ruler, I do not believe that any human being can pass over it without considering it as the worst demonstration of evil.  The peace process has been given nine months so at least we have nine months of optimism."

photo Mark Neyman