Peres receives Medal of Freedom from Obama at White House ceremony
WATCH: President Barack Obama present President Shimon Peres with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civic award in the U.S..
Source: Haaretz
At 88, after 65 years in politics, it seems that the veteran statesman Shimon Peres won't be excited about yet another award bestowed upon him - but Wednesday night at the East room of the White House the Israeli President had a shy smile on his face, looking at the faces of the U.S. and Israeli officials that gathered around the tables decorated with tall white candles, to honor him - as if hardly believing Senya Persky from Wiszniewo shtetl, really got there.
“The United States is fortunate to have many allies and partners around the world. Of course, one of our strongest allies, and one of our closest friends, is the State of Israel," Obama said in his speech before he presented Peres with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civic award in the U.S.. :"And no individual has done so much over so many years to build our alliance and bring our two nations closer as the leader we honor tonight—our friend, Shimon Peres.”