President Obama last night issued a name-dropping, self-referential statement about Israeli President Shimon Peres, who died Tuesday at 93, noting three times that he and Shimon were “friends.” “My friend Shimon” “Our dear friend Shimon Peres” “I will always be grateful that I was able to call Shimon my friend.” Like, what kind of friends? As in, Hey Shimon, I’m calling because you’ll never guess what happened to me today!” They weren’t friends. I doubt if Peres, whose personality was seared in the struggle for the birth and preservation of Israel, had much respect for this man who rose to...