Washington, DC Wednesday, June 25, 2014 As Delivered

Good evening everyoneerev tov. And, thank you so much, Ron, Rhoda, for this lovely evening. Its a true honor, Ron, to be asked to celebrate one of Israels greatest sons and a walking global treasure, my friend President Shimon Peres.

Over the years, Mr. President, you have been many thingsa dreamer, a state-builder, a founding father, a prime minister, a peacemaker. Your life has been the life of the state of Israel. You all sometimes hear him called an elder statesman, but I know every one of us in this room would kill to have the energy that you have (Laughter), Youve won the worlds admiration and most of its medals, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and, tomorrow, the Congressional Gold Medaltogether, Americas highest civilian honors. And you didnt just win the Nobel Peace Prize, you earned it, and you earn it every single day. So thank you, Mr. President, for your tireless efforts to make this world a better placefor your tireless commitment to the state of Israel and tikkun olam.

President Peres and I became friends after we met in 2009 in New York, and he invited me to Israel later that year to speak at the incredible conference that he convenes. And since then, Ive been extremely privileged to meet with him many times and to benefit not only from his extraordinary wisdom but also from his unbelievable kindness. On more than one occasion, when from very far away, he sensed that perhaps I was having a bit of a rough patch, he would call or write or find some other special way of letting me know that he was there, and that I was in his thoughts. What a wonderful man. Thank you.

Someone once asked Meir Dizengoff, the first mayor of Tel Aviv, how it is that you become mayor of a city in Israeland he said, first, you build the city (Laughter). So, if someone asks President Peres how he came to lead the state of Israel, wellfirst, you build the state of Israel. And that is just what you have done, more than any other man alive. And, that makes him a great gift to all of usthe last of Israels founding lions.

From the moment that President Truman made the United States the very first country to recognize the Jewish state, 11 minutes after Shimons great mentor David Ben-Gurion declared Israels independence in Tel Aviv, the relationship between our two proud democracies has grown like a mighty oak. As President Obama reaffirmed when he met with President Peres today, the United States commitment to the peace and security of Israel is unbreakable and unshakable. Our peoples share a friendship thats rooted in our common values: liberty, democracy, human rights, and human dignity. You can see it in this room tonight, where weve all gatheredleaders and citizens from across Americas political spectrum, united in our love and support for Israel. And so much of that, too, is because of the personal effortsover a lifetimeof Shimon Peres.

Now, everyone here knows that hes eminently quotable. Hes the inventor of the Peres-ism (Laughter). Im sure all of you have your favorites. Theres the one that every campaign manager should know, and I quote, he actually said it today, Polls are like perfumenice to smell, dangerous to swallow (Laughter). Especially apt in this room. But the one that most stays with me is pretty simple. He said, There are no hopeless situations, only hopeless people.

Shimon Peres is someone who believes that despair is a sin and service is a duty. And, serve is what you have done your entire lifefrom your early days on the kibbutz, making the desert bloom, and throughout your decades of dedication to Israel. Thats the spirit in which Shimon Peres has worked with every American president since John F. Kennedy. Thats how hes earned admirers the world over. And thats why he remains so committed to advancing the cause of peace between Israelis and Palestinians, including through his meeting with President Abbas and Pope Francis at the Vatican this month.

Mr. President, you set an example for us all. And so, we too will stay true to the cause of peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Because ultimately, the only path out of this tragic conflict is a secure, democratic, Jewish state living side-by-side in peace and security with a viable, independent Palestinian state (Applause).

Tonight as well, all of our hearts are hurting for the three Israeli students who were kidnapped in the West Bank, one of whom, as you all know, is also an American. President Obama and all of us in the U.S. government are deeply concerned. We have offered every assistance, and, as parentsin my case of a sixteen year old boywe all feel this very personally. So, we pray for their safe return and for the strength for their families through this agonizing vigil. And, continued cooperation between Israel and the Palestinians is also criticalboth to ensure that the search succeeds and to prevent the situation in the West Bank from further destabilizing.

One might argue that these are difficult days. But there are no hopeless situations, only hopeless peopleand President Peres reminds us never to count ourselves among them. What counts is working to bend history in the direction of hope.

So, in the book that I know as Psalms, and that many of you know as Tehillim, Moses beseeches the Lord, quote, establish thou the works of our hands upon us. Many of us were raised on that prayer, though some of you learned it in the original. And I hear in it not only a cry to heaven, but a call to action here on earth. Thats a call you have answered, Mr. President, every day of your life. And, we are all inspired by the work to which you have put your able hands. This room is full of people deeply moved by your service, your courage, and your determination to pursue progress, security, and peace.

So, tonight, we celebrate the next chapter in the life of Shimon Peres. We join you in recommitting ourselves to the cause of peace. And, together, we ask for that ancient blessing: Establish thou the works of our hands, oh Lord. On behalf of President Obama and all of your friends here in the United States, we wish you, like Moses, Ad meyah vessreem! May you live to 120! (Laughter) Thank you.