New Series Explores Complex Legacy of Shimon Peres

A new three-part documentary series titled "Almost a Master" attempts to unravel the complex personality of former Israeli Prime Minister and President Shimon Peres, focusing on his political rivalries and public image. The series primarily covers the intense political struggles between 1984 and 1996, a period during which Peres served twice as prime minister and was involved in significant events like the "Dirty Trick" political maneuver and the Oslo Accords.

While the series provides factual context for those unfamiliar with the era, it offers little new information on these critical years. Instead, its strength lies in its exploration of Peres's personal motivations and emotional world, particularly his fraught relationship with Yitzhak Rabin. The documentary portrays their rivalry within the Labor Party as deeply personal, sometimes exceeding the animosity between Labor and Likud leaders. Rabin is depicted as actively working to undermine Peres, even attributing derogatory nicknames that followed Peres throughout his career, such as "relentless schemer" from Rabin's own book.

The series highlights the diverse and often contradictory descriptions of Peres by those close to him, including terms like "man of security," "political schemer," and "visionary." This variety underscores the difficulty in reconciling his multifaceted persona. The documentary wisely shifts focus from whether Peres was a "loser," a subjective and potentially outdated label, to the impact of such perceptions on him and the public.

With a record 47 years and 105 days as a Knesset member, Peres's extensive political career, separate from his later role as president, is examined. The series raises questions about the boundaries of political maneuvering and the personal cost of an obsessive pursuit of victory or the top position, even when aimed at advancing certain values.