You are legends, Netanyahu tells Israeli Paralympic delegation

President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday held a gala breakfast reception at the President’s Residence in honor of Israel’s Paralympic delegation, which returned to Israel Monday following a successful performance in London.

After a disappointing 2012 Olympic Games that resulted in zero medals, the Paralympic athletes achieved an impressive tally of eight, including a tennis gold medal by former air force pilot Noam Gershony.

Peres congratulated the delegation on its achievements.

“You have done the unthinkable and brought tremendous pride to the people of Israel and real hope to the younger generation that looks up to you. You are the golden, silver and bronze men of Israel,” he said.

“Some of you have fought in Israel’s wars, yet the real war is the inner one you went through and won, big time,” Peres told Gershony

Netanyahu called the athletes “wonderful.”

“You represent the Israeli spirit at its best. Tou have fought and won, touching everyone’s heart in the process,” he said.

The prime minister also riffed on Theodor Herzl’s famous saying. “This country was founded on a simple, brief and powerful saying: “‘If you will it, it is no legend.’ You willed it and became legends.”