Under heavy rain, a square named for former Israeli president and prime minister Shimon Peres was inaugurated on Wednesday evening in central Paris.
Peres’ children stood beside the newly unveiled sign at the ceremony.
Among the attendees were two of his children, Prof. Tsvia Walden and Chemi Peres; former French President François Hollande; former Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve; members of parliament; Israel’s ambassador to France, Joshua Zarka; Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo; and Ariel Weil, mayor of the district and one of the project’s initiators.
Walden spoke of her father’s deep connection to French culture and said, “Paris salutes Shimon Peres and everything he represented: never giving up hope for peace, never giving up on social solidarity and, above all, remaining faithful to yourself, your homeland and humanity.”
Chemi Peres said, “This is a closure. My father forged the strategic ties with France, which to this day remains a partner of Israel. The decision to name a square in his honor is a deeply moving gesture.”
Mayor Hidalgo referred to rising antisemitism, saying, “The rise of hatred in recent years is toxic to democracy.”
First published: 08:40, 02.19.26