President Shimon Peres will give his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama a set of rare historical documents from the time of Israel's establishment when he meets the U.S. president in Washington next week. Peres will be flying to Washington on Saturday night to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor that can be awarded in the U.S., from Obama during a special ceremony in his honor. The ceremony, to be held Wednesday, will include 140 guests of honor from the U.S. and Israeli governments as well as Peres' family. Both presidents will speak and the night will close with a formal dinner and cultural event. Peres is expected to deliver the president and first lady a set of unique gifts. The first lady is to receive a special ornament and Peres will give Obama a set of rare documents dating to before Israel's establishment. The documents detail then U.S. President Harry Truman's recognition of the State of Israel. Peres will also use his time in the U.S. to hold a series of security meetings and interviews with the press. The president is set to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk. Activists held signs on Thursday outside of the President's Residence calling on Peres to make efforts to have convicted spy Jonathan Pollard released. Pollard has been imprisoned in the U.S. for the last 26 years. During a recent visit with bereaved families of terror victims, Peres was asked to use all his political weight to try and secure Pollard's release during his upcoming trip.
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Peres heads to Washington bearing 'made in Israel' gifts
Peres set to fly to Washington D.C. on Saturday night to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Obama, the highest civilian honor in the U.S. • Activists protest outside President's Residence calling for convicted spy Jonathan Pollard's release.