Former minister, mother of fallen soldiers to be awarded Israel Prize
David Levy to be awarded Lifetime Achievement and Special Contribution to Society prize while Miriam Peretz, who lost two sons in the IDF and since 'devoted her life to educational work', will win Prize for Strengthening the Jewish-Israeli Spirit.
David Levy, who held the position of deputy prime minister and various ministerial posts—including foreign affairs minister—will be bestowed with the Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement and Special Contribution to Society this coming Independence Day, it was announced Thursday.
Miriam Peretz, the mother of two IDF soldiers killed in action, will receive the Israel Prize for Strengthening the Jewish-Israeli Spirit.
Education Minister Naftali Bennett, who announced Levy's win, wrote, "The boy who made Aliyah from Rabat, Morocco, to the ma'abara (refugee absorption camp) and the development town and then blazed a trail straight into the heart of Israeli society. A social, courageous leader, the essence of the story of Zionism, the shatterer of the glass ceiling."
"I gaze upon your image, David," Bennett concluded, "and see us. Congratulations to the people of Israel!"
In its reasoning for awarding the prize to Levy, the Israel Prize committee wrote, "David Levy's personal story is a story of a boy who made Aliyah from Rabat to the ma'abara and development town, and from that low point leapt into the heart of public and social work and was one of the instigators of Israeli society's melting pot.
"David Levy is a social warrior for the lower strata of society, a workers' leader and a representative of developments town and the periphery.
"He is an entrepreneur and leader of social and political programs, an activist in struggles for the poor and a political leader—all through rare, total conscription to the service of the people and the state.
"His unique image, devotion to his principles and posing as a social symbol are a source of inspiration and appreciation for the public. His vision, courage, struggles and deeds have left an indelible mark on Israeli society."
David Levy's son, Deputy Housing Minister Jackie Levy, was moved by his father's recognition. "I'm elated. There's no one worthier than my father and mentor. David Levy is a trailblazer, a man whose honest ways bridged many painful gaps existing in society, a man who built this country and led the country's largest ever social project—Project Renewal (for rebuilding decrepit neighborhoods—ed)—which today I am proud to lead," he said.
"David Levy is a role model, both for his humble ways, his achievements and his steadfast insistence on his principles, befitting a true leader."
President Reuven Rivlin congratulated Levy as well, saying, "Warm greetings to Israel Prize laureate, former minister David Levy. David reared generations of public servants, and his own years' long work in the public's service and endless devotion served as inspiration.
"Dear David, you were one of the first to blaze a trail from the periphery into the heart of Israeliness, a pioneer who made many others believe they could as well."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered his own comments, saying Levy was "richly deserving (to receive the award) in light of (his) deep work and commitment to our country."
From Morocco to deputy prime minister
Levy, a father of 12 who recently celebrated his 80th birthday, was born in the Moroccan capital of Rabat in 1937. He made Aliyah in 1957 and was elected to Knesset for the first time a little more than a decade later, in 1969.
After the 1977 political upheaval following the Likud's first election win, Levy received the duty of absorption minister in Menachem Begin's cabinet.
Following the 1981 elections Levy aroused public outcry by refusing to attend the second Begin government's swearing-in ceremony until he was appointed deputy premier. Thereafter, in the 10th and 11th Knessets, he served as deputy prime minister and housing minister, using the latter portfolio to push through Project Renewal—partly the reason he has now won the Israel Prize.
After failing to secure his party's leadership in 1983, Levy retained his positions in government and in 1985 was one of only two Likud ministers to vote against the IDF's withdrawal from Lebanon.
In March of 1990, Levy was sworn in as foreign affairs minister under Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, but had somewhat of a strained relationship with his deputy minister, a relative unknown named Benjamin Netanyahu.
In 1992, after failing to achieve a prominent position in the Likud primaries, Levy resigned from government and returned to his northern region hometown of Beit She'an, but reneged after being promised being Likud's second-in-command.
After the 1996 elections, and mending his relationship with now Prime Minister Netanyahu, Levy returned to the fold and was appointed acting prime minister and foreign affairs minister, as well as Security Cabinet member.
Merely a month after the Likud's win, however, the first crisis erupted between Levy and Netanyahu, with the former threatening to resign if a position was not found for Ariel Sharon. Netanyahu backed down and appointed Sharon, but Levy once again threatened to quit in August, 1996, and recanted the threat after being promised to be brought in on state decisions.
Eventually, Levy made good on his threats and resigned in January, 1998. After the 1999 elections, in which Levy's party joined up with Ehud Barak's Labor alliance, he returned to the foreign affairs ministry but resigned in August, 2000 and later returned to the Knesset as a Likud MK.
'I've had my fill of politics'
Two of Levy's children are MKs. His son Jackie, the former mayor of Beit She'an, is a Likud MK. His daughter, Orly Levy-Abekasis, recently quit Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beytenu party and announced she will be heading her own party in the 21st Knesset elections next year.
The family's patriarch recently gave an interview to Ynet in which he congratulated his daughter for creating a party of her own. "Orly is not only smart, but also courageous," he said. "There's no doubt she's an outstanding parliamentarian who has contributed much to the Knesset."
In the same interview, Levy said he had no aspirations to return to the political sphere, but claims that his daughter "continues my path and is loyal to our life's main principles. Orly is standing tall like a lioness, and I'm proud of her."
MK Levy-Abekasis also offered comments in her father's recgonition late Thursday, and recounted, "As someone who was there as a child and saw dad's work and struggles up close for those hundreds of thousands of people whose voices were not being heard, I could not be more excited to hear this news and know how much he deserves this award."
Levy-Abekasis further added that her father "blazed a trail for many, even at great personal cost to himself, and served as a role model for me and for an entire generation. Dad, I'm proud and happy at the immense recognition and appreciation you received today. I've learned much from you and will continue on your path."
Miriam Peretz to also receive Israel Prize
Along with Levy, another Israel Prize winner was announced Thursday—Miriam Peretz, the mother of IDF soldiers killed in action Uriel and Eliraz Peretz, who will receive the Israel Prize for Strengthening the Jewish-Israeli Spirit.
Education Minister Bennett visited Peretz in her home to inform her that she would be the recipient of the honor, to which she replied, "I'm unworthy, it's theirs—Uriel and Eliraz's—it's not mine."
The education minister later tweeted, "Miriam Peretz, who lost her sons, has devoted her life to educational work. Miriam did not choose the harsh circumstances of her life, but chose to live and thus revived an entire people. She's the mother of us all."
The Prize's committee explained her win by saying, "The Israeli Prize has been awarded to Miriam Peretz, an educator who has lost two of her sons. Ever since, Peretz has dedicated her life to education and instilling the Jewish and Zionist legacy by lecturing to teenagers and IDF soldiers and visiting communities abroad.
"Moreover, Miriam assists bereaved families and wounded IDF soldiers. She is a symbol of the Jewish and Israeli spirit and is a symbol and shining example of giving and helping others."
Peretz, like Levy, made Aliyah from Morocco. She came to Israel in 1964 with her family and resided in a ma'abara near Be'er Sheva. In the mid-seventies she married Eliezer Peretz and the couple moved to the Ofira settlement in Sinai, where Uriel and Eliraz were born.
In 1982, when Israelis were evacuated from the peninsula, the family moved to Givon and then to Givat Ze'ev, near Jerusalem, where she resides today and where she gave birth to four more children.
Miriam was the principal of Givat Ze'ev first school and today serves as supervisor at the Education Ministry's Youth and Society Administration.
Her eldest son, Lieutenant Uriel Peretz—commander of a reconnaissance platoon in Golani's 51st Battalion—was killed on November 25, 1998, in a south Lebanon ambush. On March 26, 2010, another son, Major Eliraz Peretz, was killed after encountering terrorists in the Gaza Strip.
She was previously chosen to light one of the traditional Independence Day torches in 2014, for the country's 66th Independence Day. "When they told me I'll be lighting a torch," she said then, "I thought, 'Who am I to deserve this honor?' I don't represent anyone. After thinking about it some more by myself, I told my living children, and then went to a wall with photos of the two sons I lost in battle, and told them as well."
