The building from which the late Ninth President of Israel, Shimon Peres served as Defense Minister and Director General of the Defense Ministry for many years will henceforth be called "Shimon Peres House."
In a special ceremony held Thursday morning, the procurement building at the Ministry of Defense was named after Peres. A new sign was unveiled at the building's entrance. On the ground floor, alongside his portrait and sculpture, a permanent exhibition with pictures from throughout Peres' life will be erected.
Attending the ceremony were Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman (Yisrael Beytenu), IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot, the Director General of the Ministry of Defense and employees, and the Peres family.
Defense Minister, Avigdor Liberman said, "Shimon Peres was undoubtedly one of the people who contributed the most to Israel's security. His contribution is still evident to this day, and Israel's security has been based, throughout the years, on the strong foundations that he laid."
"Just one year has passed since Shimon Peres left us, but it is clear to everyone that he is still with us – we see all of the signs that he left for us. It is clear to see everywhere, through the years of effort that he put in. Shimon Peres was undoubtedly one of the people who contributed the most to Israel's security, as Director General of the Ministry of Defense at the age of 29, as Defense Minister, Prime Minister and as President.
"His contribution is still evident to this day, and Israel's security has been based, throughout the years, on the strong foundations that he laid. I am sure that this building, which from today bears his name, will be a living testament for many years to come, and will always remind us that security requires daring, investment, initiative and vision."
Professor Tzvia (Peres) Walden, daughter of the late President Peres, spoke in the name of her family.
"I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, from the entire family, for the proper and professional manner in which the Ministry of Defense handled the commemoration of my father. The speed, the attention to every detail, and the tasteful ceremony and exhibition," Walden said. "From my father's place of work, from morning to evening, and even from morning until morning, the security affairs of the country were conducted."
"From his humble office they ensured the security of the country - from procurement to manufacturing of missiles and aircraft. From this bureau they dealt with the affairs of bereaved families, the wounded and the disabled.
"I find this verse from the mishna particularly meaningful and rooted in security: 'He that walks uprightly walks surely; but he that perverts his ways shall be known.' Our father has now left this place, which from now on will be called the 'Shimon Peres House.'
"He sought to procure for Israel the weapons it needed to fight, but also to guarantee its power of deterrence. He sought to advance the nation's brainpower in the form of computers and to provide the State of Israel with insurance in the form of a nuclear reactor. He strove to assure Israel's strength in the air, by sea and on land. But he knew that our real strength comes from the heart - courage.
"As Israel grew stronger and he understood that there was no longer any fear that it would fall, our father dedicated himself to becoming a fighter for peace."