Editing Shimon Peres (section)

===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"/>