WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 28, 2016) – Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) today released the following statement regarding former Israeli President Shimon Peres’s passing.

“Today I join all those who seek peace around the world in mourning Shimon Peres, one of the last builders of the state of Israel. Peres was instrumental in helping Israel gain and maintain her independence, and there are lessons to be learned from his legacy. In his 93 years of life, he saw – and lived – the dangers of fear and hatred, but his own dark memories never clouded his view of mankind. He famously said, ‘Optimists and pessimists die the same way. They just live differently. I prefer to live as an optimist.’ Rather than let his heart be hardened, he reached out to those different from him, and dedicated his life to the pursuit of peace so the next generation may live free from turmoil.

“In his lifetime, he was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize, the Congressional Gold Medal, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. But his greatest honor was the love the people of Israel came to have for this great pioneer. His passing leaves a void that will be impossible to fill, but we are eternally grateful for his impact while he was here.”