Israellycool

Shimon Peres has received an honorary knighthood from the Queen despite earlier reports suggesting otherwise. That makes the President of the Jewish state Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG).

According to the Ha’aretz report titled Arise Sir Shimon: Peres receives honorary knighthood from Britain’s Queen, Peres will not be able to use the title “sir,” as he is not a British national.

Meanwhile, here is a photo of Peres meeting the queen.

“Keep your distance, Mr Peres. I’ve been warned about you.”

Is it just me, or does this scene look similar to the one depicted in the background painting?

Do you recall the recent speculation about Israeli President Shimon Peres being knighted?

How is it going, I hear you ask?

About as well as his Club Med Gaza idea. But thanks for asking.

The Queen has been drawn into an embarrassing diplomatic wrangle with Israel after Britain snubbed efforts to have the Jewish state’s President Shimon Peres knighted.

She will meet Mr Peres, the architect of several stalled Middle East peace plans, when he begins a three-day official visit to Britain on November 18.

But the Queen, on the advice of ministers, has rejected efforts by Israeli diplomats to secure an honorary knighthood for Mr Peres.

“It’s not going to happen. There is no knighthood,” a British official told the Express.co.uk, only hours after Israeli diplomats indicated it was something that was still under discussion.

The 82-year-old monarch was dragged into the controversy after Israeli officials breached protocol by leaking early discussions about the knighthood to their media, perhaps in an attempt to force the issue.

Reports in Israel said the Queen would make Mr Peres an honorary knight commander of the Order of St Michael and St George for his contribution to the Middle East peace process and to improve British-Israeli ties. Foreigners can be made knights but are not allowed to use the prefix Sir.

Israeli officials breaching official protocol and leaking discussions to the media? I couldn’t see that coming.

But seriously, there seems something wrong about having the President of the Jewish state an honorary knight commander of the Order of some saints.

Perhaps the British can think of bestowing on Peres some other kind of knighthood. Like honorary knight commander of the Order of Big Ears or honorary knight commander of the Order of Lord Tampon.

(hat tip: Jameel)

So to speak.

Queen Elizabeth II is expected to bestow an unusual honor on President Shimon Peres in a few weeks, and name him a knight in her order.

Peres is to be awarded the title, regarded as the United Kingdom’s highest honor, for his contribution to world peace and the relationship between Israel and the UK.

Peres is expected to leave for an official presidential visit in Britain on November 18. When in London, he is slated to meet with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

The highlight of Peres’ visit will be a speech before both houses of the British Parliament – the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

Peres is also scheduled to visit Oxford University and speak before 1,000 of its students. The president will also meet with heads of the British Academia and urge them to lift the unofficial academic ban placed on Israeli institutions.

The next stop on the tour will be the City of London, where he will usher the London Stock Exchange’s trading day.

Once officially titled “Sir”, Peres will join an exclusive list of modern world figures the like of ex-Beatle Paul McCartney, former US President Ronald Regan, U2’s lead singer Bono and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Oh Lord.

Update: Oops!

Efforts to have President Shimon Peres “knighted” during a visit to London next month may have been set back by premature publication of the move, Foreign Ministry sources said Thursday.
President Shimon Peres.

Yediot Aharonot, under a headline “Sir Peres,” reported Wednesday that Peres was expected to be appointed an honorary knight by Queen Elizabeth II in appreciation of his contribution to peace efforts in the Middle East and to furthering Israeli-British ties.

While admitting that the embassy in London was working on the issue, the sources said that revealing these efforts prematurely could lead anti-Israeli forces in Britain to try to scuttle the idea.

My contribution:

The Queen meets the world gurning champion, and gives a look not seen since she met US President George Bush last year.