Editing Shimon Peres (section)

==Early Knesset career (1959–1974)==
[[File:Levi Eshkol visits Mamram.jpg|thumb|Shimon Peres with [[Yitzak Rabin]] and [[Levi Eshkol]] in 1964]]

Peres was first elected to the [[Knesset]] in the [[1959 Israeli legislative election|1959 elections]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.knesset.gov.il/mk/eng/mk_eng.asp?mk_individual_id_t=104|title=Shimon Peres|access-date=28 August 2008|publisher=The [[Knesset]]'s internet site|archive-date=24 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624025614/https://www.knesset.gov.il/mk/eng/mk_eng.asp?mk_individual_id_t=104|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name = NYTdeath /> as a member of the [[Mapai]] party.<ref name = CV /> He was given the role of deputy minister of defense, which he filled until 1965 (holding this position in the [[Ninth government of Israel|9th]], [[Tenth government of Israel|10th]], [[Eleventh government of Israel|11th]], and [[Twelfth government of Israel|12th]] governments of Israel under Prime Ministers David Ben-Gurion and [[Levi Eshkol]]).<ref name = CV /> In this position, he held negotiations with [[John F. Kennedy]], which concluded with the sale of Hawk anti-aircraft missiles to Israel, the first sale of US military equipment to Israel.<ref name="auto2"/> Peres expressed great appreciation and praise for the American decision to sell Hawk missiles in a speech to the Knesset on 25 June 1963.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gazit |first=Mordechai |date=July 2000 |title=The Genesis of the US–Israeli Military-Strategic Relationship and the Dimona Issue |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/002200940003500305 |journal=[[Journal of Contemporary History]] |language=en |volume=35 |issue=3 |pages=413–422 |doi=10.1177/002200940003500305 |s2cid=160000072 |issn=0022-0094 |access-date=13 October 2023 |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031154723/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/002200940003500305 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Peres resigned from the 12th government in late May 1965, citing the growing rift between Prime Minister Eshkol and former prime minister Ben-Gurion (Peres was aligned with Ben Gurion).<ref>{{cite web |title=Ben-Gurion Willing to Head Election List |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/49933924 |work=The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle |agency=Jewish Telegraphic |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=19 July 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |archive-date=19 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719021558/http://www.newspapers.com/image/49933924/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Independent Slate Named by Ben Gurion |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/376233310 |via=Newspapers.com |work=Chicago Tribune |agency=Reuters |access-date=19 July 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=30 June 1965 |archive-date=19 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719014934/http://www.newspapers.com/image/376233310/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1965, Peres and Moshe Dayan were among those that left Mapai with David Ben-Gurion when Ben-Gurion formed a new party, [[Rafi (political party)|Rafi]].<ref name = CV /> Peres was a co-founder of the Rafi party.<ref name="failedtoconvince1">{{cite web |last1=Perry |first1=Dan |title=Peres fried to convince majority of need for peace |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/163346427/ |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Journal News (White Plains, New York) |agency=The Associated Press |access-date=17 August 2022 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=30 May 1996 |archive-date=13 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013172453/https://www.newspapers.com/image/163346427/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The party reconciled with Mapai in 1968, merging to form the [[Israeli Labor Party]]. The Labor Party then joined the [[Alignment (Israel)|Alignment]] (a left-wing alliance).<ref name = CV />

In 1969, Peres was appointed [[Immigrant Absorption Minister of Israel|minister of immigrant absorption]] in the [[Fifteenth government of Israel|15th government]] (led by Prime Minister [[Golda Meir]]), and in 1970 (also in the 15th government), he became [[Transportation Minister of Israel|minister of transportation]] and [[Ministry of Communications (Israel)|communications]].<ref name = CV /> After this, he served as [[Information Minister of Israel|minister of information]] in the Meir-led [[Sixteenth government of Israel|16th government]].<ref name = NYTdeath /><ref name = CV />