# Shimon Peres

_Israeli politician (1923–2016) –Former President of Israel (2007–2014) and Prime Minister of Israel (1977, 1984–1986, 1995–1996)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/shimon-peres
Last updated: 2026-10-13

> Shimon Peres was an Israeli politician and statesman who served as the prime minister of Israel from 1984 to 1986 and from 1995 to 1996 and as the president of Israel from 2007 to 2014. He was a member of twelve cabinets and represented five political parties in a political career spanning 70 years. Peres was elected to the Knesset in November 1959 and except for three months out of office in early 2006, served as a member of the Knesset continuously until he was elected president in 2007. Serving in the Knesset for 48 years, Peres is the longest serving member in the Knesset's history. At the time of his retirement from politics in 2014, he was the world's oldest head of state and was considered the last link to Israel's founding generation, as well as the last Prime Minister to make aliyah rather than being born on territory that would become Israel.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 2 August 1923 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57410#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Višnieva ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57410#P19))
- **Died:** 28 September 2016 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57410#P570))
- **Place of death:** Sheba Medical Center ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57410#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Israel; Mandatory Palestine ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57410#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; writer; poet; minister ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57410#P106))
- **Political party:** Kadima (2005–2016); Israeli Labor Party (1968–2005); Rafi (1965–1968); Mapai (1959–1965) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57410#P102))
- **Education:** New York University; Harvard University; The New School; The New School for Social Research; Ironi Alef High School ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57410#P69))
- **Spouse:** Sonia Peres ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57410#P26))
- **Positions held:** President of Israel (13 June 2007 – 28 July 2014); Knesset member (17 April 2006 – 13 June 2007); Minister of Foreign Affairs, Israel (7 March 2001 – 2 November 2002); Deputy Prime Minister of Israel (7 March 2001 – 2 November 2002); Prime Minister of Israel (4 November 1995 – 18 June 1996); Minister of Defense of Israel (4 November 1995 – 18 June 1996); Minister of Foreign Affairs, Israel (14 July 1992 – 22 November 1995); Minister of Finance (22 December 1988 – 15 March 1990); Minister of Foreign Affairs, Israel (20 October 1986 – 23 December 1988); Prime Minister of Israel (13 September 1984 – 20 October 1986); Minister of Religious Services (13 September 1984 – 23 December 1984); Prime Minister of Israel (22 April 1977 – 21 June 1977); Minister of Defense of Israel (3 June 1974 – 20 June 1977); Minister of Communications (1 September 1970 – 10 March 1974); Minister of Transport and Road Safety (1 September 1970 – 10 March 1974); Minister without portfolio (15 December 1969 – 22 December 1969); Deputy Minister of Defense (23 December 1964 – 25 May 1965); Deputy Minister of Defense (1 July 1963 – 22 December 1964); Deputy Minister of Defense (6 November 1961 – 26 June 1963); Deputy Minister of Defense (21 December 1959 – 2 November 1961); Knesset member (30 November 1959 – 17 January 2006) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57410#P39))
- **Awards:** Nobel Peace Prize; Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George; Presidential Medal of Freedom; Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize; Four Freedoms Award – Freedom from Fear; Philadelphia Liberty Medal; Steiger Award; Honorary doctor of the University of Liège; Planetary Consciousness Prize; Order of the Sun of Peru; Commander of the Legion of Honour; Golden Plate Award; Honorary doctor of the Bilkent University; Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class; Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57410#P166))

## Questions

**When was Shimon Peres born?**  
Shimon Peres was born on 2 August 1923 in Višnieva.

**What positions has Shimon Peres held?**  
Positions held by Shimon Peres include: President of Israel (2007–2014); Knesset member (2006–2007); Minister of Foreign Affairs, Israel (2001–2002); Deputy Prime Minister of Israel (2001–2002); Prime Minister of Israel (1995–1996).

**Where did Shimon Peres study?**  
Shimon Peres was educated at New York University, Harvard University, The New School, The New School for Social Research.

## Related

- [Isaac Herzog](https://diginpl.com/people/isaac-herzog)
- [Reuven Rivlin](https://diginpl.com/people/reuven-rivlin)
- [Chaim Weizmann](https://diginpl.com/people/chaim-weizmann)
- [Moshe Katsav](https://diginpl.com/people/moshe-katsav)
- [Chaim Herzog](https://diginpl.com/people/chaim-herzog)
- [Ezer Weizman](https://diginpl.com/people/ezer-weizman)
- [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://diginpl.com/people/benjamin-netanyahu)
- [Golda Meir](https://diginpl.com/people/golda-meir)
- [David Ben-Gurion](https://diginpl.com/people/david-ben-gurion)
- [Ariel Sharon](https://diginpl.com/people/ariel-sharon)
- [Yitzhak Rabin](https://diginpl.com/people/yitzhak-rabin)
- [Menachem Begin](https://diginpl.com/people/menachem-begin)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Shimon Peres](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimon_Peres) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q57410](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57410) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Shimon Peres 2010 (cropped 2).jpg by Avi Ohayon (CC BY-SA 3.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shimon_Peres_2010_(cropped_2).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Shimon Peres, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Shimon Peres 2010 (cropped 2).jpg — Avi Ohayon, CC BY-SA 3.0.

## Cite this page

"Shimon Peres". DigiNepal. Last updated 13 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/shimon-peres. Retrieved 21 October 2026.