Born in August 1923 (Vishneva, Poland)

Prime Minister of Israel
Cabinet official

Shimon Peres committed himself to the survival of an independent Israel at a young age. Beginning in his early teens, Peres developed the skills he would later use as a politician. By his late twenties he had reached the upper levels of the Israeli government and had begun a mission to make his country strong and secure. Working in the Ministry of Defense, Peres increased Israel's weapons supplies, established Israel's own aircraft industry, and developed his country's nuclear weapons capabilities.

As a politician, Peres has remained at the top levels of Israeli government throughout decades of change and controversy. He was...