Shimon Peres, who served twice as Israel’s prime minister and once as president, has died at the age of 93.
Mr Peres suffered a stroke two weeks ago and he died in a hospital near Tel Aviv early on Wednesday, with his family at his bedside.
Mr Peres had been in the intensive care unit of the Sheba Medical Centre after suffering a major stroke on September 13. His son Chemi led tributes to ‘one of the founding fathers of the state of Israel’ who ‘worked tirelessly’ for it.
World figures are expected to attend his funeral in Jerusalem on Friday, including US President Barack Obama, Prince Charles and Pope Francis. The Clintons, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UK Prime Minister Theresa May have also all confirmed they will attend, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said.
Mr Peres was one of the last of a generation of Israeli politicians present at the new nation’s birth in 1948.
He won the Nobel Peace prize in 1994 for his role negotiating peace accords with the Palestinians a year earlier.
He once said the Palestinians were Israel’s ‘closest neighbours’ and might become its ‘closest friends’.
Mr Peres’ funeral will be held at Mount Herzl, Israel’s national cemetery in Jerusalem.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his ‘deep sorrow’ over Mr Peres’ death.
Meanwhile US President Barack Obama called Mr Peres his ‘dear friend’ in a statement, and said: “He was guided by a vision of the human dignity and progress that he knew people of goodwill could advance together.”
