Shimon Peres, president of Israel and longest serving Member of Parliament (48 years), visited Kibbutz Degania Alef, to help the original kibbutz kick off a year of centennial celebrations.
“In my heart I know: The State of Israel wouldn’t be what it is today without the working settlement enterprise,” he told journalists, “the contribution of balance and the boldness that the movement provided our security status and social stability.”
Peres once lived on Kibbutz Geva and was a founder of Kibbutz Alumot. There was a good report in the Jerusalem Post about his visit and the centennial anniversary of Degania.