Milner and Peres
Milner and PeresPhoto: GPO

President Shimon Peres on Monday bid a farewell on behalf of the government to long-time government photography chief Moshe Milner. Milner accompanied Prime Ministers and Presidents to hundreds of venues around Israel and the world, taking the photos that make them “look good,” said Peres.

During the event, Milner presented Peres with several rare historical photos that had not been displayed in public before, some of them dating back to the days of Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion. After viewing the photos, Peres told Milner “you are an amazing person. You take the photo that is needed from the angle that it requires, whether than entails laying down on the floor or climbing up on a rock. You never compromise on the quality of a photo.

“You have done so much to portray Israel in a positive light,” Peres said. “I have never seen you get tired or lazy, and your camera lens has always been full of love for Israel, even when it was critical. I am very proud of you,” he added.

An emotional Milner told Peres how much he had enjoyed his work. “Throughout the years I made sure that all the photos I took would present Israel properly and positively,” he said. “I am grateful that I had an opportunity to serve the nation.”