Editing Shimon Peres (section)

==Post-premiership (1996–2007)==
===Labor in opposition (1996–1999)===
Peres was narrowly defeated by Benjamin Netanyahu in the [[1996 Israeli prime ministerial election]]. Not included in the new government, Labor became an opposition party again. This again placed Peres in the then-unofficial role of Knesset opposition leader.

In 1996, Peres founded the [[Peres Center for Peace]], which has the aim of "promot[ing] lasting peace and advancement in the Middle East by fostering tolerance, economic and technological development, cooperation and well-being."<ref name="peres-center.org"/>

Peres did not seek re-election as Labor Party leader [[1997 Israeli Labor Party leadership election|in 1997]]<ref name="belovedabroad"/> and was replaced by [[Ehud Barak]] that year.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schmemann |first1=Serge |title=Barak, Retired Israeli Army Chief, Elected Head of Labor Party |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/04/world/barak-retired-israeli-army-chief-elected-head-of-labor-party.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=10 February 2022 |date=4 June 1997 |archive-date=10 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210053538/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/04/world/barak-retired-israeli-army-chief-elected-head-of-labor-party.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Barak rebuffed Peres' attempt to secure the position of party president.<ref name="belovedabroad">[http://www.timesofisrael.com/beloved-abroad-polarizing-at-home-peres-was-the-peace-making-face-of-israel/ "Beloved abroad, polarizing at home, Peres was the peace-making face of Israel"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160928030115/http://www.timesofisrael.com/beloved-abroad-polarizing-at-home-peres-was-the-peace-making-face-of-israel/ |date=28 September 2016 }}, ''The Times of Israel'', 28 September 2016</ref>

===Minister of Regional Cooperation (1999–2001)===
In 1999, Ehud Barak [[1999 Israeli prime ministerial election|was elected prime minister]] and formed a Labor-lead government. He appointed Peres (who was seen as a political rival of Barak) to the minor post of [[Regional Development Minister of Israel|minister of regional cooperation]].<ref name="belovedabroad"/><ref name="puzzlesmany"/> The position was vaguely defined, being expected to be tasked with advancing economic and political ties between Israel and the Arab world.<ref name="KRN1"/><ref name="puzzlesmany">{{cite web |last1=Kampeas |first1=Ron |title=Barak's new Cabinet puzzles many Israelis |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/483492009 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Daily Item (Sunbury, Pennsylvania) |agency=The Associated Press |access-date=4 June 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=7 July 1999 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604182649/http://www.newspapers.com/image/483492009/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The position also did not come with any government funding.<ref name="puzzlesmany"/> Peres accepted the relatively low-ranked position reluctantly.<ref name="KRN1">{{cite web |title=New Israeli leader envisions 'peace of the brave' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/327874820 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Tampa Bay Times |agency=Knight Ridder Newspapers |access-date=4 June 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=7 July 1999 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604174316/http://www.newspapers.com/image/327874820/ |url-status=live }}</ref> For nearly all of time in this position Peres was sidelined, finding himself disallowed from playing a major role within the government.<ref name="scare1">{{cite web |last1=Goldenberg |first1=Suzanne |title=Polls scare Barak into alliance with Peres |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/259510250 |via=Newspapers.com |work=The Guardian |access-date=4 June 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=8 January 2001 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604190245/http://www.newspapers.com/image/259510250/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 1 November 2000, amid the [[Second Intifada]], Peres met in the Gaza Strip with Arafat on behalf of the Israeli government. The two agreed to terms of a [[truce]] in the early hours of the following morning.<ref>Multiple sources:
*{{cite web |title=4 Palestinians killed, dozens hurt |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/149957575 |via=Newspapers.com |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=4 June 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=1 November 2000 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604185246/http://www.newspapers.com/image/149957575/ |url-status=live }}
*{{cite web |last1=Marshall |first1=Tyler |title=Palestinians Curtail Gunfire to Reduce Their Own Casualties |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/157496711 |via=Newspapers.com |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=4 June 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=6 November 2000 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604185240/http://www.newspapers.com/image/157496711/ |url-status=live }}
*{{cite web |title=Talks Yield Mideast Truce |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/177065026 |via=Newspapers.com |work=Hartford Courant |access-date=4 June 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=2 November 2000 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604185245/http://www.newspapers.com/image/177065026/ |url-status=live }}
*{{cite web |last1=Marshall |first1=Tyler |last2=Wilkinson |first2=Tracy |title=Jerusalem Car Bomb Kills 2; Leaders Cling to Truce |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/158173049 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=4 June 2022 |date=3 November 2000 |archive-date=15 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615025857/http://www.newspapers.com/image/158173049/ |url-status=live }}
*{{cite web |title=Friday Crucial To Israeli-Palestinian Truce |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/friday-crucial-to-israeli-palestinian-truce/ |website=CBS News |access-date=4 June 2022 |date=3 November 2000 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604185238/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/friday-crucial-to-israeli-palestinian-truce/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

After the resignation of [[Ezer Weizman]], Peres ran in the [[2000 Israeli presidential election]], seeking to be elected by members of the Knesset to a seven-year term as [[President of Israel|Israel's president]] (a ceremonial [[head of state]] position which usually authorizes the selection of Prime Minister). However, he lost to Likud candidate [[Moshe Katsav]]. Katsav's victory was regarded to be in reaction to the perceived indications that Peres intended to use the presidency to provide his support to the increasingly unpopular peace processes that Barak's government was pursuing.<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Mz-fXRsedPMC&q=Katsav+president+peres&pg=PA247|pages = 247–251|chapter = Israel|title = Profiles of People in Power: The World's Government Leaders|first1 = Roger|last1 = East|first2 = Richard|last2 = Thomas|publisher = [[Psychology Press]]|isbn = 978-1-85743-126-1|edition = 1st|year = 2003|access-date = 31 October 2020|archive-date = 1 May 2024|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240501072309/https://books.google.com/books?id=Mz-fXRsedPMC&q=Katsav+president+peres&pg=PA247#v=snippet&q=Katsav%20president%20peres&f=false|url-status = live}}</ref> His defeat was considered a significant [[Upset (competition)|upset]], as he had been regarded as a heavy [[front-runner]] to win the Knesset vote.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kifner |first1=John |title=Barak barely survives no-confidence vote in Knesset |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/532822996 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Rutland Daily Herald |agency=The New York Times |access-date=26 April 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=1 August 2000 |archive-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426085422/http://www.newspapers.com/image/532822996/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[editorial board]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' wrote that his defeat appeared to spell the end of Peres' long political career.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stay the Course, Mr. Barak |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/158737376 |via=Newspapers.com |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=26 April 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=2 August 2000 |archive-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426085423/http://www.newspapers.com/image/158737376/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

There was consideration given later that year to Peres potentially seeking the premiership again. On 20 November 2000, amid polls showing him to be in a virtual-tie with Ariel Sharon, an aide of Peres told the media that he would run in [[2001 Israeli prime ministerial election|the 2001 direct election for prime minister]]. Peres himself told lawmakers that he intended to run.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Myre |first1=Greg |title=It's now a three-way race for Israel's top position |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/643789367 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Miami Herald |agency=The Associated Press |access-date=4 June 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=21 December 2000 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604185240/http://www.newspapers.com/image/643789367/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite this, Peres did not become a candidate.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Curtius |first1=Mary |title=Sharon: Hawk Running on Peace Platform |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/187872281 |via=Newspapers.com |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=4 June 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=13 January 2001 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604185240/http://www.newspapers.com/image/187872281/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2001, there was some talk among Cabinet members that it would be best for Peres to be the candidate of the left.<ref name="scare1"/>
<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gross |first1=Tom |title=Barak urged to stand aside for Peres |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/752687282 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Sunday Telegraph (London) |access-date=4 June 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=14 January 2001 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604185244/http://www.newspapers.com/image/752687282/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, this did not happen. In early January 2001, in a joint television appearance with Barak that promoted the government's intent to work towards peace, Peres told the media that his own goal was, "not to become prime minister", but was instead, "to do the best for the state of Israel."<ref name="scare1"/>

===Minister of Foreign Affairs (2001–2002)===
Following Barak's defeat by [[Ariel Sharon]] in the 2001 direct election for prime minister, Peres made yet another comeback. He helped with bringing Labor into a grand coalition unity government with Sharon's Likud (the [[Twenty-ninth government of Israel]]) and secured himself the post of foreign minister.<ref name = CV /> [[2001 Israeli Labor Party leadership election|In 2001]], formal leadership of Labor passed to [[Binyamin Ben-Eliezer]], and [[2002 Israeli Labor Party leadership election|in 2002]] it was passed to [[Amram Mitzna]]. Peres grew to be heavily criticized by many on the left, who accused him of clinging to his position as foreign minister in a government that was not seen as advancing the peace process. Left critics accused Peres of not acting in accordance with his own dovish stance. Peres resigned from his post as foreign minister when Labor left the unity government in advance of the [[2003 Knesset election]].<ref name = CV /> Labor's departure from the unity government placed Labor in the opposition ahead of the 2003 Knesset election.

===Interim Labor Party leader (2003–2005)===
After the Labor Party suffered a crushing defeat in the 2003 Knesset election while under the leadership of Mitzna, Peres was made interim leader of the party [[2003 Israeli Labor Party interim leadership election|on 19 June 2003]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Israel's Labor Party Picks Peres as Its Interim Leader |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jun-20-fg-peres20-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=25 January 2022 |date=20 June 2003 |archive-date=25 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125193603/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jun-20-fg-peres20-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Vice Prime Minister (2005)====
Peres led the Labor Party into a coalition with Sharon once more, reaching an agreement the end of 2004, and entering the party into the [[thirtieth government of Israel]] in January 2005. This came after the Sharon's support of "disengagement" from Gaza presented a diplomatic program that Labor could support.<ref name = CV /> Sharon made Peres [[Deputy of the Prime Minister of Israel|vice prime minister]].
[[File:Shimon Peres 2005.jpg|thumb|Peres in 2005]]

As interim party leader, Peres favored putting off the elections for as long as possible. He claimed that an early election would jeopardize both the September 2005 Gaza withdrawal plan and the standing of the party in a national unity government with Sharon. However, the majority pushed for an earlier date, as younger members of the party, among them [[Amir Peretz]], [[Ophir Pines-Paz]] and [[Isaac Herzog]], overtook established leaders such as [[Binyamin Ben-Eliezer]] and [[Haim Ramon]] in the party ballot to divide up government portfolios.<ref name="2005nov1"/>

===Loss of Labor Party leadership and defection to Kadima===
Peres lost a bid for permanent leadership of the Labor Party to [[Amir Peretz]] in [[2005 Israeli Labor Party leadership election|the November 2005 leadership election]], held in advance of the [[2006 Israeli legislative election|2006 elections]].<ref name="2005nov1"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Peres loses party leadership bid |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/nov/10/israel |website=The Guardian |access-date=25 January 2022 |language=en |date=10 November 2005 |archive-date=25 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125193603/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/nov/10/israel |url-status=live }}</ref> Peres received 40% of the vote to Peretz's 42.4%.<ref name="2005nov1">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4423676.stm |title=Israel Labour head to meet Sharon |access-date=13 June 2007 |date=10 November 2005 |work=BBC News |archive-date=1 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501072230/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4423676.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Labor withdrew from the unity government on 23 November 2005.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Makovsky |first1=David |title=Campaign Season Begins in Israel (Part II): Labor's New Leader, Amir Peretz |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/campaign-season-begins-israel-part-ii-labors-new-leader-amir-peretz |website=The Washington Institute |access-date=8 February 2022 |language=en |date=23 November 2005 |archive-date=1 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501072322/https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/campaign-season-begins-israel-part-ii-labors-new-leader-amir-peretz |url-status=live }}</ref> On 30 November 2005 Peres announced that he was leaving the Labor Party to support Ariel Sharon and his new [[Kadima]] party.<ref name = CV /> In the immediate aftermath of Sharon's debilitating [[stroke]] days later (which left Sharon in a [[coma]]), there was speculation that Peres might take over as leader of the Kadima party; most senior Kadima leaders, however, were former members of [[Likud]] and indicated their support for [[Ehud Olmert]] as Sharon's successor.<ref>{{cite web  | last = Verter  | first = Yossi  | title = Under Peres, Kadima would win 42 seats; under Olmert – 40  | work=Haaretz  | date = 6 January 2006 | url = http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/667051.html  | access-date =21 July 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060113043619/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/667051.html |archive-date = 13 January 2006}}</ref> Labor reportedly tried to woo Peres to rejoin them.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Mazal Mualem |author2=Yossi Verter |author3=Nir Hasson  |name-list-style=amp | title = Shimon Peres calls on his supporters to vote Kadima  | work=Haaretz  | date = 9 January 2006 | url = http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/667313.html | access-date =21 July 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060113042519/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/667313.html|archive-date=13 January 2006}}</ref> However, he announced that he supported Olmert and would remain with Kadima. Peres had previously announced his intention not to run in the [[2006 Israeli legislative election|March 2006 elections]], but changed his mind.<ref name = CV />

Peres resigned from the Knesset on 15 January 2006 due both to [[Attorney General of Israel|Attorney General]] [[Menahem Mazuz]] issuing a decision that ruled Peres and several others could not be appointed to ministerial posts by Prime Minister Olmert<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hoffman |first1=Gil Stern |title=Shimon Peres resigns from Knesset |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel/shimon-peres-resigns-from-knesset |website=JPost.com |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |access-date=10 February 2022 |date=15 January 2006 |archive-date=10 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210053539/https://www.jpost.com/israel/shimon-peres-resigns-from-knesset |url-status=live }}</ref> and because of a law that, due to him having switched parties, would have prevented him from running for the next Knesset if he remained an incumbent member of the Knesset.<ref name="resignKnesset1">{{cite web |last1=Hoffman |first1=Gil Stern Stern |last2=Keinon |first2=Herb |title=Shimon Peres, Dalia Itzik quit Knesset |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel/shimon-peres-dalia-itzik-quit-knesset |website=JPost.com |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |access-date=10 February 2022 |date=15 January 2006 |archive-date=10 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210053538/https://www.jpost.com/israel/shimon-peres-dalia-itzik-quit-knesset |url-status=live }}</ref> By that time, he had served in the Knesset for more than forty-six consecutive years.

Peres was soon elected back to the Knesset in the 2006 election, this time as a member of Kadima. After the new Kadima-led [[Thirty-first government of Israel|thirty-first government]] was formed, Peres was given the role of vice prime minister and [[Development of the Negev and Galilee Minister of Israel|minister for the development of the Negev, Galilee and Regional Economy]].<ref name = CV />