Some of what was said Wednesday following death of Israel’s Shimon Peres

OTTAWA – Some of what was said Wednesday following the death of former Israeli president and prime minister Shimon Peres:

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“He was above all a man of peace and a man dedicated to the well-being of the Jewish people.” — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

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” Over the course of his long and distinguished life, Mr. Peres made enormous contributions to the founding and building of the state of Israel. He was devoted to promoting understanding between his country and its neighbours and shared a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to create peace in the Middle East.” — Trudeau

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“A great ambassador for peace has passed. Our condolences to the people of Israel and family of #ShimonPeres.” — Gov. Gen. David Johnston on Twitter

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“I had the honour to meet him when I was minister of intergovernmental affairs visiting Israel in 1999. He is a giant of our history. And why? Because he attached his name to the beautiful goal of peace and he did it with a love for his country, Israel, that should be an inspiration for all of us.” — Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion

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“Shimon Peres’s relationship with Canada was strong and lasting. In the 1950s, he visited Canada to secure assistance for the fledgling state. This soon cemented the special relationship between Canada and Israel and he paid tribute to Canada on his 2012 visit when he said Canada is ‘an extraordinary friend’ and ‘never indifferent, never neutral.’” — Conservative interim leader Rona Ambrose

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“Rarely does a man embody a country, but Shimon Peres, who passed away last night, was indeed such a man. He was a part of every bit of Israeli history, big or small, since before the nation was founded. President, prime minister Nobel Prize winner, he was a giant. He was one of the last of Israel’s founding generation.” — Anthony Housefather, Liberal MP for Mount Royal, speaking in the House of Commons

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“Laureen and I were saddened today to learn of the passing of president Shimon Peres, a towering figure in the history of the state of Israel and one of the great statesmen of our age.” — former prime minister Stephen Harper

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“Shimon Peres was a visionary, statesman, philanthropist and a giant of Israeli life whose private and professional accomplishments over seven decades read like the history of the modern state of Israel. As a strong proponent of conflict resolution who earned a Nobel Prize for his efforts, Peres embodied the timeless aspiration of the Israeli people for a future in which their children will live in peace and security.” — David Cape, chair of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, advocacy agent of the Jewish Federations of Canada

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“Shimon Peres woke up every day with one goal in mind — to serve the country he loved. Tomorrow and for the days that follow, the people of Israel, Jewish people everywhere and our friends in Canada will honour the life of this great statesman, but his legacy of peace and his vision for a better future will live on forever.” — Rafael Barak, Israeli ambassador to Canada

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